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.