ARC 2016 – Crossing the Atlantic

“The ARC is for everyone; families with children, tough racers, cruising couples, big boats and modest boats. Crossing the Atlantic together, but having their own adventures. More than just a boat race, the ARC is about friendships made ashore in the two weeks of pre-departure activities continued over the radio net at sea. It’s about arriving in Saint Lucia to be met on the dock with a rum punch and a chilled beer, knowing you have achieved something fantastic – crossing an ocean on a small sailboat.” (www.worldcruising.com)

Sunday 20^th November saw the departure from Las Palmas Gran Canaria of the 31^st Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC). The event organised by the World Cruising Club is arguably one of the most diverse sailing events on the planet with 212 yachts and 1,307 sailors from 31 countries taking part in cruising and racing divisions in everything from stripped-out Maxi racers to wooden classics. With the finish line some 2,700 miles away in St.Lucia, the average crossing time is 18-21 days although the fastest may pass by St.Lucia’s famous Pitons within just 8-10 days.

Taking part in the ARC this year are a number of yachts and owners well known to us here at Grabau International. The Najad 490 ‘LA CONTENTA’ sold by Grabau International earlier this summer is one such entrant. It is also great to see representation from Hylas with the US-owned Hylas 54 ‘WINGS’ already making fantastic progress towards the Caribbean. The Baltic Yachts entry is also very strong this year with two C&C designed Baltic 51’s and a Bill Tripp designed Baltic 50 making very short work of the shifty winds to the South West of Gran Canaria.

We look forward to monitoring the fleet as they make their way across the Atlantic, choosing a variety of routes both north and south of the rhum line. The World Cruising Club offer a fantastic fleet viewing application which can be found here.

Casting an eye through the eclectic entry list in the 2016 ARC, there are a number of yachts taking part for which sisterships are offered for sale through the Grabau International brokerage pages. These include:-

Racing Maxi – SAGAMORE

Ocean Star 56.1 – ATHENA OF SOUTHAMPTON

Hylas 54 – DUET OF COWES

Baltic 50 – Hull No.7

Beneteau Oceanis 50 – AIDA

X-Yachts Xc 45’s – ELIXIR and ORYA

Hallberg Rassy 371 – ADINA

Our full list of available blue water yachts can be found on our brokerage pages.

Do you have a yacht like these to sell? Grabau International are always looking for new high quality cruising yacht listings both in the UK and internationally. For further information about our tailored brokerage services, please look here or feel free to contact us.