Position           14:04.48N 60:56.96W

Date                2359 UTC - 4 Saturday 18 December 2010

(All times in this entry refer to local time, UTC -4 unless stated as UTC)

We have spent a week in Rodney Bay marina recovering from our trip, cleaning the boat, socialising with friends made both before and during the crossing, welcoming other boats and taking part in various ARC organised activities.  A further time consuming activity has been repairing various items that were worn out or broke during the crossing; some of these will be done when we visit the AMEL service base in Martinique.

Caduceus was given an excellent berth alongside the main gangway.

During the week the majority of the other boats arrived, by the time of the prize giving on 18 December there were only 6 boats still at sea that were making their way to St Lucia.  The Rodney Bay Marina became a very jolly and sociable place.

One of our tasks whilst in St Lucia was to organise a party for Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) members and prospective members.  The main qualification for membership, other than being recommended by an existing member, is to have completed a non-stop passage of over 1,000 miles on a sailing boat of less than 72 feet.  I, Martin, have been a member since 1973; Elizabeth is now one our newest members and very proud of her membership.  Caduceus was distinctly down by the stern and with a list to port.

With the party in mind we purchased a quantity of sparkling wine in Las Palmas.  To all Amel 54 owners out there did you realise that there is a bottle cooler built in, in the form of the cockpit sump under the helmsman’s feet; just add ice and water.

I was mainly occupied with boat matters but Elizabeth was able to escape on a couple of occasions.  Her expedition for the High Zip Wire day was one that I was happy to miss.  She enjoyed it and the experience of visiting St Lucia rain forest.

I assume that the cry coming from Elizabeth is one of enjoyment and not terror?

And then, of course, was the shopping with a trip to the market in Castries, the capital of St Lucia.

Her are friends Su Brook from the Oyster 56 Sulana and Celia Sharpe from the Moody 54 Alice getting the retail experience first hand.

Finally we got to the prize giving, always one of the major events of the ARC.  We knew that we were not in the prize money for sailing performance but there were lots of other prizes to be given.  We got almost to the end of the second half of the evening and then the penultimate award, The Arch Marez Trophy for a unique contribution came up and there was a mention of a double handed boat and bagpipes being played as it crossed the start line, not many fitted that description.  We were both delighted and surprised.  Apparently my rendition of Auld Lang Syne as we crossed the start line was clearly heard on the bridge of the Spanish warship that was the start boat and went down well, especially as the Mate had to steer through the mass of other boats whilst this went on.

The first photograph shows us on stage.  You can see how well the ARC team laid things on.  For every prize awarded there were suitable photographs projected onto the backdrop.  You may be able to make out the two of us, taken on the finish line and Martin playing the pipes in Las Palmas. 

We had to give the large cup back but have a small one as a memento.  We also won a weekend in the Windjammer Landing Resort which we will be able to take up later in the season when we return up the island chain.

This was a happy ending to a really great experience.  Thank you to the World Cruising Club and the ARC 2010 team.