Items of kit and spares for an offshore or ocean passage are seemingly endless, but some are essential. Sophie Dingwall finds out what this year’s ARC crews made sure was on board
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) has supported hundreds of boats crossing the Atlantic Ocean for over 35 years. It’s become an iconic voyage, is one of the largest ocean rallies for amateur crews and is organised by the World Cruising Club.
Last year the docks in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria welcomed 143 boats from all over the world, of which 138 set sail for the Caribbean on 20 November 2022.
Participants had to navigate 2,700 miles of open ocean to reach their destination in Rodney Bay at the north-west tip of St Lucia. Most of the fleet took 18 to 21 days to cross the finish line, where they were greeted with fresh local fruits and ice-cold rum punch. It’s just one of the rewards for completing the rally.
In the 1980s, while talking to cruisers planning to adventure across the Atlantic, journalist Jimmy Cornell was inspired to organise a rally that focused on celebrating and boosting the community spirit and confidence of sailors, by implementing safety protocols to help develop strong bonds between entrants.
This idea led to…
