While the Atlantic Cup fleet in Bermuda has been enjoying the festivities following Leg 1 of this year’s ARC Europe & Atlantic Cup rallies, the Old Bahama Channel fleet has been slowly making their way down the ‘milk run’ between the Bahamas and Cuba.
“Arrived south coast of Florida,” wrote Tim Szabo, skipper on Kinship on his Facebook page. “All is well.”
Kinship has returned to the USA for the first time in a couple years, having completed an Atlantic Circle with World Cruising Club rallies. In 2011, Tim and crew sailed south from the Chesapeake Bay with the Caribbean 1500, spending the winter in the BVI.
Last spring, Tim entered the ARC Europe event, sailing with the rally to Portugal. Andy and Mia, World Cruising Club USA staff were onboard for the crossing, happily participating in the event which they are currently working on!
Tim and Kinship were then set to return to the Caribbean with the ARC last fall, but were forced back to Las Palmas to undergo repairs after the first 24 hours at sea. They returned via the Trade Wind route in January, sailing direct to Tortola and back to Nanny Cay. Now, for the first time in two years, the boat is back in her home country.
Kinship led the OBC fleet into Ft. Lauderdale, followed shortly thereafter by Miles Poor and Karina and the remaining boats in the fleet (Avanti had departed a day earlier, and was actually the first boat to arrive, though they did not take the start line).
“All well here with the OBC group,” Miles wrote last week from Karina’s onboard email. “Everyone really enjoying this route. Lots of talk on SSB and VHF about how glad that WCC put this on. Thanks for making it possible!”
Miles recently reported that Moonshadow, the smallest of the fleet had arrive safely in Ft. Lauderdale. The OBC fleet is set to have their farewell dinner this evening at Oasis Café on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale, just a short walk down the road from Bahia Mar Marina, who is hosting the group.
Pendragon, meanwhile, diverted to Key West as planned, and made their arrival in mainland USA’s southernmost town a few days ago. “90 Miles to Cuba,” the signs say, though Pendragon would have been much closer en route as they sailed just north of Havana to get there.
“Pendragon stylin’ Key West!” they wrote on their Facebook page under a photo of Scott, Jennifer and crew.
The Old Bahama Channel marks the end of the line for the Atlantic Cup fleet, who will now split up and make their way back to their home ports on the US East Coast. Pendragon, plans to hangout in the Florida Keys for a bit. Jeremi on Avanti is on the way to Connecticut, while Merrill on Serenity is bound for Block Island and then Newport. Kinship will depart for the Chesapeake and plans to stop in Charleston en route, while Karina, Thales and Moonshadow will make the run north to Annapolis where they spends their summers.
Until next year!