Participants of the 2007-2008 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers who just didn’t want to go home have had the opportunity of continuing on around the world for another 14 months. On March 26th 2009, they will be approaching St Lucia again having circumnavigated the world.
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers provides sailors with the opportunity of crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a sheltered environment by travelling as a group. There are usually over 200 yachts that start from the Canary Islands and complete the journey in St Lucia. The World Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is an event designed for those who just want to keep on going.
The route took the 37 vessels involved, from St Lucia last January through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos, across the Pacific via Fiji and Tahiti to Australia, then past the Maldives to South Africa and onto Brazil. Plenty of time was allowed to stop off at places of interest and to cruise independently off the “beaten track”.
The event was organised to ensure that both the Pacific and the Indian Oceans were crossed at the most favourable time for weather conditions. Travelling in a group provides support in terms of health, safety and security. However, the route did avoid particularly dangerous parts where there are known pirates or political instability.
Yachts taking part are from 13 different nations and have had plenty of opportunity to socialise throughout the trip. Brazil’s city of Recife hosts the world’s biggest street party for Carnival time and St Patrick’s Day was celebrated at Port Louis Marina, Grenada.
As the yachtsmen make their way back to their starting point of St Lucia, memories of different lands will be at the forefront of their minds. There will be more celebrations of their achievements before they are free to cruise the rest of the Caribbean and then maybe make their way back to their own lands.
Many yachtsmen make their homes in the Caribbean as there are such varied and interesting sailing opportunities here, including year round sailing and marina properties with their own dockage for those who need a little more space. If you would like to know more about these properties, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
