Early yesterday morning the ARC Europe flag was hoisted up
the flagpole on the breakwater marking the official opening of the ARC Europe
2018 office in Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola. With further yachts still expected in the marina, those who are already here were checked-in throughout the day.
The rally team talks each boat through the numerous events on the rally pre-departure programme; plenty of activities will be
taking place this week, including sun-downers, seminars, safety demonstrations and dinners keeping crew busy until their day of departure. By 1700 11 boats had been
checked in and safety inspections had taken place.
This year's Safety Team, Mark
Burton and Jake Albano, have been out
on the docks checking the whole list of items that each boat is required to
carry in order to participate. It is not just ticking through a check list, but
a chance for the safety team to share their knowledge and explain why each item
is important and the different approaches there are to each situation that may
occur whilst at sea.
At 1830 on Monday evening, the participants made their way to the beach bar
where rum punch and canapés were waiting for them as the sunset behind the
hills surrounding the marina. There will be 20 boats starting from Tortola on
Saturday 5th May this year and after the first social between them
last night it is clear to see this years’ group will enjoy the parties more
than ever.
Most of the boats starting in Tortola have sailed with World
Cruising Club before; it is always nice to see a familiar face from a recent
rally such as ARC, ARC+, ARC Caribbean 1500 or World ARC. However, it is even
better to welcome new people on the rally as they will soon be part of the ARC
family.
Facilities here at Nanny Cay are a luxury considering the
destruction hurricane Irma left behind. Pontoons with electricity and water,
warm running water and Wi-Fi connection throughout the marina shows how much
they appreciate having us here and the Herculean effort from the staff that have made hosting the rally possible. When you look around, there are still numerous scars from the hurricane still visible on cars, houses and yachts several months on and it's clear the area has suffered enormously. World Cruising Club and the ARC Europe participants are looking forwards to enjoying a special programme here to kick-off the six week rally and
playing a part to rebuilding it to what it was before.