A fleet of 23 yachts set sail from Saint Lucian shores, last Saturday, for the 13th edition of the World ARC circumnavigation rally.
After departing from the Rodney Bay, under bright blue Caribbean skies, the vessels made their way to the ‘start-line’ off the Vigie coast, en route on the round-the-world journey.
The first destination is Santa Marta in Columbia, before heading through the Panama Canal and on into the Pacific.
The fleet enjoyed a Force 5 north easterly for the start, with many opting for a reef – there’s 26,000 nautical miles to cover over the next 15 months and World ARC isn’t a race. Ian and Jacqueline Kirkpatrick’s Shipman 63 Fatjax (GBR) was first over the line, followed by Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 Bahati (GBR) and Sundeer 64 Crazy Horse (USA).
Rally supporters on the water to send off friends and family included Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, Dr Ernest Hilaire, who spoke to the fleet via VHF radio: “You’re looking fantastic out there. I want to say a special thank you to everyone. I wish I could be in your rally, but someone has to be here to welcome you back in 2025!”
Lane Jacobs, owner of Bristol 57 Corsair (USA), sums up the aspirations of many sailors: “I’ve wanted to sail around the world since 1976, and it’s taken me almost 50 years to learn to sail, save the money, get the right boat and find the time to do it. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here at last for the start of World ARC”.
The first arrivals were expected in Santa Marta, Colombia by Tuesday. One-off Roger Hill Yacht Design catamaran Nica (DEU) is leading the fleet, followed by Oyster 62 Skyelark 2 (GBR). The forecast is for strong trade winds, and all boats are making good time on the 815 nautical mile passage.
From Santa Marta the fleet will explore the San Blas Islands of Panama, before a Panama Canal transit in February and on into the Pacific to Galapagos, French Polynesia and Oceania.
A total of 37 yachts will take part in the rally over the next 15 months as it sails around the world, with the option of breaking the rally half way in Australia or Indonesia to extend the adventure with independent exploration. Fourteen yachts will leave the rally in Australia or Indonesia with another 11 joining, the majority of which took part in World ARC 2023.
Nineteen of the yachts starting from Saint Lucia sailed with World Cruising Club across the Atlantic, crossing with the 2022 or 2023 editions of the ARC and ARC Plus rallies.
Sixteen yachts are already signed-up for the next edition of World ARC, which will set sail from the Caribbean in January 2025.
Petr Cozier, Caribbean Events Manager for World Cruising Club (WCC) spoke to reporters after the fleets’ departure.
She said the sailors were thoroughly prepared for the journey, and notably, this time where were no children aboard the boats.
“The groups jelled very well together, it was intimate and they got to know each other during the different events that we had in the week, culminating with the farewell reception,” said Cozier.
Moving along, the WCC official explained that at the half-way point, within six months’ time the boats would have reached Australia “and that’s where boats will decide to stay or go on to New Zealand or stay in that area and join the World ARC returning or following them all in one go.”
She added, “While they have some free time in Australia …and then we start back onto the second half (leg) of World ARC returning to Saint Lucia.”
[R.A].