ARC Europe 2018 is open for business!
by World Cruising Club 2 May 2018 12:54 BST
30 April 2018
2018 ARC Europe - Nanny Cay - Welcome drinks © World Cruising
Early Monday morning the ARC Europe flag was hoisted up the flagpole on the breakwater marking the official opening of the ARC Europe 2018 office in Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola. With further yachts still expected in the marina, those who are already here were checked-in throughout the day. The rally team talks each boat through the numerous events on the rally pre-departure programme; plenty of activities will be taking place this week, including sun-downers, seminars, safety demonstrations and dinners keeping crew busy until their day of departure. By 1700 11 boats had been checked in and safety inspections had taken place.
This year's Safety Team, Mark Burton and Jake Albano, have been out on the docks checking the whole list of items that each boat is required to carry in order to participate. It is not just ticking through a check list, but a chance for the safety team to share their knowledge and explain why each item is important and the different approaches there are to each situation that may occur whilst at sea.
At 1830 on Monday evening, the participants made their way to the beach bar where rum punch and canapés were waiting for them as the sunset behind the hills surrounding the marina. There will be 20 boats starting from Tortola on Saturday 5th May this year and after the first social between them last night it is clear to see this years' group will enjoy the parties more than ever.
Most of the boats starting in Tortola have sailed with World Cruising Club before; it is always nice to see a familiar face from a recent rally such as ARC, ARC+, ARC Caribbean 1500 or World ARC. However, it is even better to welcome new people on the rally as they will soon be part of the ARC family.
Facilities here at Nanny Cay are a luxury considering the destruction hurricane Irma left behind. Pontoons with electricity and water, warm running water and Wi-Fi connection throughout the marina shows how much they appreciate having us here and the Herculean effort from the staff that have made hosting the rally possible. When you look around, there are still numerous scars from the hurricane still visible on cars, houses and yachts several months on and it's clear the area has suffered enormously. World Cruising Club and the ARC Europe participants are looking forwards to enjoying a special programme here to kick-off the six week rally and playing a part to rebuilding it to what it was before.