After departing Rodney Bay on the 10th of Jan the 2015 World ARC fleet have commenced their 15 month circumnavigations. It has been a windy passage across the Caribbean Sea with the yachts making great time toward their first destination in the programme, Santa Marta on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast.
First yacht to arrive was British yacht Juno who completed the 800 NM passage in just over 4 days. It was quite a spectacle as Juno was escorted across the finish line by 2 vessels from the Colombian Coast Guard. Rally Control joined the flotilla along with a party of local representatives, press and friends of marina owner Manuel Julian Davila aboard his 70ft motor yacht Mamo. A sounding of horns marked the occasion as the first ever World ARC yacht to arrive in Colombia crossed the finish line.
Caroline Frew of Juno commented on arrival "It's great to have included Santa Marta on the route of World ARC and we're excited to explore all the cultural opportunities in the area".
World Cruising Club are very excited to include this wonderful location in the World ARC Programme. Founded in 1525 Santa Marta is the oldest surviving city on the South American Continent and an important Colonial city of Colombia. It is a beautiful historic city and a rapidly developing tourist destination. Santa Marta is blessed with stunning sandy beaches backed by the dramatic Sierra Nevada Mountain range and the nearby beauty of Tayrona National Park. The newly constructed IGY Santa Marta Marina is an excellent facility for cruising sailors and will be home to the fleet during our stopover.
There is a very exciting program planned for the fleet here in Santa Marta over the next week commencing with city tours of Santa Marta and a Tropical Party with live Colombian music and dancing hosted by IGY Santa Marta Marina tomorrow evening.