The 13-member mixed national crew aboard the mega yacht No Rush decisively crossed the finish line first at IGY Rodney Bay Marina last Friday, marking the arrival of the ARC and ARC+ transatlantic rally yachts in the Caribbean.
Both rallies, which kicked off in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in November, saw the ARC+ fleet sail to Grenada via Cape Verde while the ARC fleet sailed directly to Saint Lucia.
A welcoming party composed of tourism officials, World Cruising Club (WCC) representatives, and media personnel was present to greet the sailors as No Rush docked at Pigeon Point, due to the vessel’s size preventing it from being accommodated at the IGY Marina pier.
Paul Tetlow from the WCC welcomed and congratulated the No Rush crew, stating that a fantastic programme of events was planned for participants. He highlighted the crew’s impressive crossing time of 12 days, 5 hours, 8 minutes, and 43 seconds, declaring it a remarkable achievement.
“We wish all those visiting Saint Lucia a wonderful time exploring and enjoying what it has to offer,” Tetlow stated.
In comments to reporters, skipper Diogo Cayolla, a Portuguese national, described the expedition as an amazing experience, stating, “It was a long crossing, and it’s a pleasure to arrive on such a beautiful island as Saint Lucia.”
He further expressed the crew’s satisfaction with their performance, stating, “We had minor damages, but we stayed safe and executed our plan effectively.”
Cayolla described ‘No Rush’ as a maxi yacht measuring 105 feet, asserting, “It’s a large vessel that requires careful handling, and I believe my crew is the best.” He praised the qualifications and professionalism of his crew, which represents diverse nationalities, including Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, Egyptian, and Brazilian.
Having participated in the ARC event previously, Cayolla remarked, “It’s an incredible experience. The owners of the boat always wanted to achieve this, as it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Ghada Barsoum, owner of No Rush from Cairo, Egypt, shared that she acquired the boat only a month prior to the crossing. “My dream was to make this journey. My family thought it was a crazy idea, but now that I’m back on land, I am thrilled to have accomplished it,” she declared.
Despite having limited sailing experience, Barsoum personally navigated a challenging year of racing, competing in regattas leading up to this event. She confidently declared this ARC crossing as her first full-fledged sailing expedition, stating, “I’m very happy and proud to have completed it.”
ARC to Saint Lucia
According to a WCC report, 140 yachts set sail from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on November 24, heading directly to Rodney Bay in Saint Lucia.
The largest yacht in the fleet, the Southern Wind 105GT No Rush, skippered by Diogo Cayolla, finished first on Friday, December 6. Cayolla explained, “We played it safe; our priority was to avoid any damage and maximize our experience.”
Despite this cautious approach, the yacht achieved top speeds of 22.6 knots. On the same day, Jean Philippe Blanpain’s Vismara 62 Leaps & Bounds 2 was the first IRC racing division yacht to finish, arriving in Saint Lucia after dark.
Matthias von Blumencron’s JV43 Red 2 followed closely, completing the journey in an impressive 13 days, 22 hours, 8 minutes, and 15 seconds. “We had a blast!” Mathias exclaimed. In the cruising division, Italian-flagged Swans emerged as the first finishers. Alessandro Fabbri’s Swan 75 FD Maimai crossed the line on Sunday, December 8, closely followed by Daniele Banchini’s Swan 82 S Nazca 2.
The competition among leading cruising multihulls concluded late Sunday night, with Morgan Hayes’ MC75 Jack finishing just 30 minutes ahead of Laurent Chatelenat’s Outremer 5X Addiction. Christian Prié’s Marsaudon ORC 57 Avel Vaez crossed the line shortly after.
Crews ashore are rightfully celebrating their achievements, but they remain mindful of the recent loss at sea of a crew member from Ocean Breeze. “His family and friends are very much in our thoughts,” the WCC release emphasizes.
During the 2024 ARC season, all 234 boats have endured a range of conditions, from classic trade winds to fierce squalls. Those still on the water are anticipating lighter winds, with the final boats expected to arrive in Grenada on December 11 and in Saint Lucia around December 21, just in time for the prize-giving ceremony.