The ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) occurs every year in late November to help prepare and organize sailboats doing "The Crossing" ....  about 3,000 miles from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia.  Today, with the part of our crew that has arrived, Scott and Cap, we participated in the Parade and Opening Ceremony.  There are about 24 countries represented, with about 225 sailboats participating....9 boats from USA!  At the opening ceremony, the USA was well represented with three large flags from "Arbella"....we also had a group from California with a Continental Flag (they wanted to remind the Brits who won the Revolutionary War) and a CA state flag.  The parade was about 1 mile long, ending with the posting of one flag from each country, some welcoming speeches from local Spanish leaders...and the firing of the "Arbella" canon from the bow of our boat....6 foot flame, black smoke, and 85 decibels!