Atlantic Crossing

An annual event, this year supporting over 250 boats. Departing from Gran Canaria to St Lucia a distance of approximately 2700 miles. With informal radio scheds and weather reports the rally offers security in numbers. You will have to be a party animal and have a good sense of humour, before during and after the ARC.

Off to a flying start. Diva were the second boat to windward across the line, climbed up high to clear air in order to set her pretty ocean green kite. To our horror we found out on VHF that the girls were already in front of us. Over the radio we heard the biggest screams and giggles known to mankind.

But not for long, the testosterone kicked in and Diva picked her skirts up leaving both Arc Angel and our friends Shilling in her wake.

A full moon enabled us to keep the kite up overnight. A couple of starters reported collision damage and had to return to fix their boats.

Almost all of the fleet experienced very light airs for three to four days, caused by a Low centred over the rumb line. Typically the days run being less than 50 miles. The girls were more unfortunate with a days run of 26 miles, because they took the sails down to get rid of the strap marks. At the same time us boys whiled away the hours swimming with an inquisitive Minki whale. An experience not to be forgotten!

A couple of days into the race weather reports warned the fleet of an approaching depression with a strong South Westerly. Advising the fleet to head Southerly to avoid the worst. Further into the race weather reports became increasingly unreliable and most of the fleet set a course for St Lucia.

Simeon was delighted to catch his first fish ever, an Amberjack, approximately two and a half foot long. Once filleted, we marinated it in lemon and chilli sauce.

Tonto says to him "now son the bigger the hook, the bigger the fish." We then cast a supermarket carrier bag with a suitably large hook and pulled in a packet of fish fingers. Followed by a five and a half foot Amberjack.

Tonto says "what you need is an even bigger lure for that hook son." We dutifully landed a six foot Barracuda.

Simeon was by now getting the hang of this "Just think BIG." With twenty meters of parachute cord a F*** off hook and bin liner for a lure the boat suddenly started going backwards! Needless to say all tackle was lost overboard. End of fishing.

The days rolled into one, SSB (Single Side Band) radio proved to be an asset on the ARC. It became a challenge of wits, leg pulling and fish tales.

After three weeks of light winds the lights on Martinique appeared on the horizon land ahoy. By daybreak we could clearly see St Lucia and we crossed the finish line at 10:40 local time on the 13th December. The 120 boats ahead of us gave us a rapturous applause and welcome. It was all quite emotional, the welcoming ARC team supplied us with run punch, we had truly arrived in the Caribbean. The rest of the day was a bit of a haze.