Two ARC yachts fly the flag for the Royal Naval Sailing Association

Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) members Mike Buggy (Raparee - Westerly Ocean Ranger) and Clive Woodman (Cosmic Dancer V - Sweden 38) are keeping the RNSA burgee flying in the ARC this year.

Both Raparee and Cosmic Dancer are 38 footers so rank amongst the smallest yachts in the 220 strong fleet but both skippers are highly experienced sailors, with Clive Woodman having a penchant for high latitude sailing too:

“For those of us like Mike and myself who started offshore sailing on Electrons I and IIs in Collingwood in the 70’s and 80’s and it was almost inconceivable that one day we would be sailing our own 38 foot yachts in what has become the world’s largest transocean sailing event. Yachts of that size were almost universally regarded as the preserve of the ‘super rich’, with perhaps a 24 -26 footer being the limit of aspiration for mere mortals like us! It is therefore with a slight touch of irony that today we look from our 38 footers across at the assembled rows of 60-80 ft ‘super yachts’ moored on the other side of the marina and somehow get the feeling that we won’t be contenders for line honours in Saint Lucia.”

“However, none of this stops us from enjoying the pre start festivities in Las Palmas. With 2days to go to the start, most of the fleet are now assembled in Las Palmas, enjoying a full on programme of social events that is destined to leave our livers crying out for a rest by the time we actually get to sea. The waterfront Sailors Bar is awash with competitors taking a quick sharpener before moving on to the next social event, and although dozens of different languages are to be heard in the general hubbub, there is one phrase which rises above all else and appears to be universally understood – ‘mas cerveza por favour.’ The challenge has been finding enough time between the parties and socialising to get on with the myriad of other last minute preparations needed before a transatlantic crossing, continues Clive.

Following the progress of Raparee and Cosmic Dancer via the ARC website http://www.worldcruising.com/arc or on the individual yacht blogs http://raparee.blogspot.com/ and http://www.cosmic-dancer.com .

More info on Cosmic Dancer V: Clive Woodman’s boat is a Peter Norlin-designed Sweden 38 which was built in 1988 and purchased m in October 2006. The boat was extensively refitted to prepare her for high latitude sailing. She has already sailed over 20,000 nm, including a circumnavigation of Britain in 2007, a cruise to Finland in 2008, and a cruise to Spitsbergen and 80 degrees North in 2009. 2010 saw her return from the Arctic.

Raparee is Mike Buggy’s Westerly Oceanranger which he bought five years ago. Her home port is Gosport, Hampshire. As a marine surveyor and RYA ocean examiner and instructor, Mike has a vast amount of sailing experience under his belt and he will be sailing with a group of friends.