As you already know we did not start yesterday due to a missing Genoa. In addition one of the crew put 50 liters of water in the fuel tank...........

We went out with Mats on the Match Cup RIB to watch the start. The conditions where perfect sunny,15 kn wind from north east thus everybody started with spinakers. The latest news on our Genoa is that Lufthansa put it on a plane in Munich this morning and it is duae to land here on the Island at noon today.

Fortunately Michael(we met Michael Ericsson the first night we got here, he stay here in his Swan for the winter doing some work on Boats and he is fluent in Spanish) is helping us out to clear the sail trough the customs, without his help I think we would be stuck here all week.

The plan is as follows: We will go to the airport at 13:00 to meet up with the sail while the crew finisih up the fuel system and if the stars are bright and positive thinking we should be on the water by late afternoon.

The mood of the crew is better today, we where pretty down yesterday. The mood will be even better when the sail is on the boat.................

AGAIN, this will be my last entry until we get to St Lucia, count on 14 days of sailing if the current weather forcast stands.

The Genua didn't arrive in time for the start 12 am. Hopefully we will leave by noon tomorrow (monday 27th) Hans and me watching the others start.

This will be the last entry before the start, we are casting off at 9am tomorrow. We have worked on the boat all day and it is in OK shape, the biggest concern is that we are missing a genoa. They trashed tho old one last week and a new have been airfreighted from South Africa. The only thing they know is that has been in Frankfurt but since then it seems that nobody knows.

The boat.

We have really had a great time here and we have met so many different people, that i probably could write a book about this week.

The crew seems OK, but it will be interesting to see how they will cope with 2-3 weeks at sea. Hans and myself is on the B-watch and got bunks on the starboard side.

Our bunks.

Crew meeting

The boat is hase the 3rd highest rating in the race but it seems that the rating do not match the actual condition of the boat. The boat has a lot of milage but structurally it seems OK and since it is heavy we proably are going to get a smooth ride.

Erik Nordborg has run the race in Expedition to find an ideal track. But this year it is not clear since the is a big low over north europe there is an alternative route to the traditional southerly course in the tradewinds. If the boat had been in top shape we proably would have been favourde by a northern crossing, but with the strong tradewinds the southern down to 20th north is not a bad choice.

We will report our position 12.00 UMT every day so you can follow our progress on the ARC home page (Link below), but since we have no satmail we will not be able to post any comments on the internet.

The day have been focused on safety, we started out in the morning by lighting different signal flares. Then the Spanish coastguard came with a boat and helicopter showing how you lift peple out of a dangerous condition. It then continued at the boat club swimming pool where a life raft was infalted. They showed different ways to lift people into the raft and how you turn it arounsd should it have flipped upside down.




The day ended with a coctail party at the dock hosted by Raymarin. We are now eagerly waiting to get on the boat, it should be here late tonight and we will have the first crew meeting at lunch tomorrow.

The 100' Swan is the largest boat in the race. It might also be our worst competitor.

Today we have been at two seminars and loaded up on povisioning for the race.

We are now registered for the race.

Here you can see the formal registration

Starting monday 27/11 as we head across the Atlantic, there will be daily logs from the boat via satellite to the web site.These log entries are designed to be more than simple position and status reports; they are our way of sharing the excitement and drama as it is seen and felt by us that are aboard.All log entries will be displayed here the day they are filed. Use the calendar to find previous log entries, or select the team Creightons to find all the logs filed by our team.

 

Racing in the ARC 2006!!!
The race start November 26, 2006 and I am sailing on the 80' Creightons

You can follow the race and get daily POSITIONS and WEATHER on the Race Viewer: Visit the ARC Event Website

We first signed up with Challenge Business to Race on one of their 72' boats, but they went bankrupt 2 weeks after we had made the full payment. After some search (research) we signed up with Creightons Naturally that is a sister boat to the old racing boat "The Card". During 1991-1992 she undertook a Global Voyage – retravelling the route of the Whitbread, but taking a year, to allow time to explore and enjoy the ports of call. A documentary film was made of this voyage, her third circumnavigation of the globe. Creightons Naturally's present owner, Stuart Bowen-Davies, bought her in 1994, sailed her in South African and Caribbean waters, and then successfully presented her as one of the first yachts to be used for corporate hospitality. As with any lady of ‘a certain age', she has had her adventures and experiences and emerged with her dignity intact and her reputation the stuff of legend . . .

We will not win the race, she is to heavy for the expected light tradewinds that will be the prevailing conditions, but we sure hope we will have lots of fun.

The ARC is a annual transatlantic rally starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has now become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. The largest transocean sailing event in the world, every year the ARC brings together over 200 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St.Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 12 and 24 days.

Now in its 21st year, the ARC has attracted another large entry list that currently stands at 234 yachts representing a staggering 27 nations. Many more nationalities are represented across the crews, making the ARC not only the World’s largest transocean sailing event, but also the most diverse.

The ARC is open to cruising monohulls from 8.23m to 25.91m (27-85ft) LOA and cruising catamarrans from 8.23 - 18.29m (27ft to 60ft) LOA, with a minimum crew of two. The World Cruising handicap is used to calculate results in the cruising classes, in which motoring is permitted. A racing class, rated under the IRC System, is run for those wanting more a competitive crossing, under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Yachts in this class may be sponsored.

Conceived as a friendly race for cruising yachts to make the Atlantic crossing both safer and more enjoyable, participating yachts must carry a range of safety equipment including a liferaft, EPIRB and VHF radio. Daily radio nets contribute further to the safety of participants. The presence of experienced sailors is another incentive for those with little offshore experience.

The ARC has a special flavour, which successfully combines racers with cruisers, old with young, and provides entertainment for all. A wide ranging programme of entertainment takes place both before the start and after the finish. The ARC enjoys the support of the Tourist Authority of Gran Canaria, the Port Authority of Las Palmas, Rol Nautic and the St.Lucia Board of Tourism.

KEY DETAILS:

- The ARC departs from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and crosses to Rodney Bay, St.Lucia on the following dates:
ARC 2006
26 November
ARC 2007
25 November
ARC 2008
23 November
- The competitive side of the event will be catered for by the Racing Division, rated under the IRC Handicap System, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.