ARC Europe boats arrive in the Azores following Atlantic crossing
by World Cruising Club 4 Jun 14:42 BST
The first ARC Europe boats have started to arrive in Faial, Azores, following their transatlantic voyage from Bermuda.
The 1800NM passage was the second leg of this multi-stage cruising event organised by World Cruising Club, and mixed weather conditions proved to be challenging for the participants of the Rally.
The leg began on 21 May in very light winds which are not uncommon for this time of year in the North Atlantic. Unlike the well-known 'trade winds' which persist towards the tropics further south, crossing the Atlantic in an easterly direction can be challenging as the position of the 'Azores High' weather pattern can present unpredictable winds.
Initial progress of the fleet was slow, meaning some boats were forced to spend more time motoring than they had initially anticipated. As a result of this, yacht Queen Bee II (GBR) began to run low on fuel, but they were assisted by fellow ARC Europe participants on yacht Dany (BRA), who completed a fuel transfer to help them on their way. Fuel transfers are something which has happened before on other World Cruising Club rallies, and it represents the fantastic camaraderie among all the participants from different nations.
After the light wind start to the Rally, the fleet were able to pick up south-westerly winds, allowing them to make better progress. As part of the Rally, participants receive a daily weather forecast which allows them to make the best possible decisions when deciding their route. This is something which many people find useful when navigating their way through the Azores High.
Chris Eakin, who is skipper of Cadans, summed up his emotions after successfully making the crossing from Bermuda. He said:"I feel fantastic- to be honest, I feel a little bit tearful actually! It's been hard work, but we've really enjoyed it and it's great to be here.
"The weather was challenging with three gales blowing through, but we missed them all by being further south. We listened to the advice at the skippers' briefing and used the barometer for the first time which worked really well.
"My advice to anyone doing ARC Europe in the future would be to be well prepared. We took the comfortable and safer route, so we didn't have any breakages. The route is everyone's own choice, but we were very pleased with ours.
"The World Cruising Club have been great. I know it's basic advice to use the barometer, but I've been sailing for decades, and I've never actually done that because I've never really sailed offshore. It's little pieces of advice like that which are so helpful."
Now that the fleet are starting to arrive in the Azores islands, the participants will be able to enjoy the shoreside social programme organised by World Cruising Club. This will include drinks events hosted at the iconic 'Peter Café Sport' which is now synonymous with sailors passing through Horta and islands tours.
Whilst in the Azores, the ARC Europe fleet will have the opportunity to visit at least three islands; Faial, Terceira and São Miguel. Each of the islands is different, and participants can visit unique attractions like Angra on Terceira Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the massive volcanic crater on São Miguel, famous for its green and blue twin lakes. They will also have chance to cook their own food over volcanic stone in Horta.
Following the fleet's arrival in the Azores, Operations Director of World Cruising Club, Suzana Tetlow, said: "It is especially rewarding to see the ARC Europe fleet begin to arrive in the Azores following what has been a particularly challenging Atlantic crossing from Bermuda this year.
"All of the participants should feel incredibly proud about completing this leg of the Rally, as sailing across the Atlantic Ocean W-E is a feat achieved by only a small number of people. A voyage of this magnitude often takes years of planning and can present challenges even to experienced sailors.
"We look forward to seeing the participants make the most of the shoreside programme we have organised in the Azores. They are an undeniably beautiful chain of islands and exploring them should be a memorable experience."
After the Leg 2 Prizegiving on June 11, the Rally will restart on June 13 as the fleet sets sail for Lagos on the Portuguese coast. This 875NM voyage is expected to take most yachts 5-7 days. Then there will be a final ARC Europe 2026 Prizegiving on 21 June, capping off an amazing six weeks of sailing and social activities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sharing such a range of experiences together will undoubtedly create bonds between the participants, which will last long beyond the finish point of the Rally. While this may be the end of the event, they will have many fond memories to look back upon for years to come.