![Image: Saphir one of the many participating yachts in this years ARC. [Anthony De Beauville]](https://thevoiceslu.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Saphir-one-of-the-many-participating-yachts-in-this-years-ARC-mid1.jpg)
FOR sailors on the ARC+ route of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, Wednesday night’s prize-giving ceremony marked the end of their Atlantic adventure that began in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on the eastern side of the Atlantic six weeks ago.
The alternative route to the traditional ARC route saw over 250 crew enjoy the same great activity programme before and after their ARC crossing, but also an interesting and enjoyable stopover on São Vicente, in the Cape Verde islands.
The ambience at the prize-giving reflected a large family party, everyone knowing each other so well within the smaller fleet of 59 boats. Participants were served ice cold fruit punch on arrival at the Pigeon Island National Park and relaxed with magnificent views out to sea and across the northwest coast of Saint Lucia.
Enjoying the warm evening, crews were invited to listen to the prize-giving under the covered grass area (thankfully the sporadic Caribbean rain showers held off for the night). Welcoming them to the ceremony, World Cruising Club’s Andrew Bishop recounted a few tales as he worked his way through numerous awards. Dahlia Guard, Special Events Manager from the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, kindly assisted in presenting prizes to all the lucky winners.
Those visiting the stage to collect their prizes included Nix, who took Line Honours for leading the ARC+ fleet into Saint Lucia in an elapsed time of 10d 4h 51m 18s and Division winners Havhunden (Multihulls), Anorak (Class B), and Corona AQ (Class C) .
As is traditional in the ARC too, it was not just crews who were successful in the competitive side of the rally who received prizes; there were many other awards given out for happenings at sea, successes and achievements as well as recognising the families and double-handed crews who took part. The shortest distance sailed, and therefore closest to the rhumb line route, won a bottle of rum, whilst a joke picked up in a blog which involved a yellow shirt buying a can of deodorant won themselves just that!
