World ARC 2023 - A fitting first send-off from French Polynesia
by World Cruising Club 16 May 2023 10:40 BST
World ARC 2023 © World Cruising Club
The rendezvous at the Bora Bora Yacht Club signifies the culmination of the World ARC 2023 fleet's 6-week cruising through French Polynesia. In this time the fleet have explored the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands and now prepare to embark on the next leg of their adventure westwards. From Bora Bora they will complete a multi-stage leg into Tonga, with stops planned at the remote and unpopulated Suwarrow atoll and the equally remote nation-state of Niue. This leg of the rally is set to be one of the most interesting so far as the crews get to effectively explore a different country each week.
Due to the nature of how remote the next locations are, the fleet has been divided into two groups. The first group's programmes culminated this evening with a meal at the Bora Bora Yacht Club, hosted by World Cruising Club. Crews were welcomed ashore with a traditional local music trio, provided by the Comité du Tourisme Bora Bora, and a Tahiti Tiare.
The crews gathered as the sun was setting and there was plenty to talk about! With so long apart as a large group there was not a quiet moment with crews sharing stories of where they have been, what they have been getting up to, and what they want to do next.
During the Tahition buffet meal, the group was entertained by a local dance group who quickly got the crews on their feet and joining in, both dancing and drumming. It was a fitting way to round off 6 weeks in French Polynesia and a great send off to see more of the Pacific.
Group 1 received a Skippers' Briefing this morning and will start at 12 noon on Sunday, 14 May. To follow the fleet progress, see www.worldcruising.com/world_arc/world_arc/eventfleetviewer.aspx