Today's programme for ARC+ participants began kicked off with the safety demonstrations; a great opportunity to get hands on experience with equipment that all ARC boats are required to carry but hopefully never need to use. Being prepared should the worse happen whilst out at sea and knowing how to cope in an emergency is really important for yacht crews and the experienced ARC Safety Team were on hand to lead the demonstrations and answer any questions.
A flare demonstration was conducted on the Northern breakwater to enable any crew that had not experienced the use of flares or seen them ignited before to get some hands on experience with these safety devices. Demonstrations of the safe ignition of the orange smoke and the red handheld flare were provided and participants were then invited to fire off some recently expired flares, a great practice exercise, as you never know what conditions you might be in when you have to do it for real!
With the temperature rising, crews were then only to happy to cool off with the liferaft demonstration at the rooftop pool of the Club Varadero. Guided through the demonstration, they were shown how to deploy a liferaft, board it (easier said than done) and recover the liferaft should it capsize. Participants enjoyed the morning of safety information, and were very happy to have either their memory jogged on important safety issues or for some, learning some vital safety techniques for the first time.
Meanwhile supporters of the ARC from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Patronato de Turismo de Gran Canaria, Ayuntamiento de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the Port Authority of Las Palmas gathered to present the 2016 edition of the rally to the local press. Assembling on the ARC platform, journalists from over a dozen publications came to hear about the importance of the ARC to the local community of Las Palmas and the wider promotion of Gran Canaria as a tourist destination attracting sailors and holidaymakers from all over the world. People from 46 different nationalities join this years ARC and ARC+ and during their time on the island they will support the local economy utilising marine businesses, hotel accommodation and restaurants. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has welcomed the ARC every year since the rally began in 1986 and it has become very much a feature of the city each November. Continuing support of the tourism and port authorities ensure its success every year and in return ARC participants fondly remember their time here before setting off across the Atlantic, just as thousands of mariners have done before them.
The marina is certainly filling up with final preparations for the ARC+ fleet's departure on Sunday 6th November, and the arrival of boats from the ARC fleet, who set off two weeks after them. All ARC+ boats have now arrived and checked in, and final safety checks continue throughout the afternoon before the sundowner this evening. For ARC participants, their first social is a big one - the ARC+ Farewell and ARC Welcome party, taking place on Friday night at Tao hosted by the Las Palmas City Council.