When the wind finally calmed down in Lanzarote I left with Luigi on the afternoon of the 11th and sailed quietly down to Las Palmas, where we arrived early next morning. We immediately got immersed in the ARC seminars, though occasionally nodding off to sleep, having been alert most of the night and only in the afternoon can we take our well-earned rest, having successfully completed a boat transfer all the way from Turkey to the Canary Islands, a trip of over 2700 miles.

Seminars attended so far have included, routing and weather forecasting, rigging maintenance and sextant use. The next day was entirely devoted to completing the stringent ARC safety regulations, buying new equipment and optmising  and improving existing equipment, to get the boat ready for the official inspection of the ARC Safety Committee. A spectacular evening was offered by the Las Palmas City Council including floor show and fireworks.

The next day, the much dreaded visit of the safety committee minutely examining the boat and its equipment and on Sunday, a grand parade with flag-bearing of the 30 countries participating in the ARC and official flag-raising opening ceremony of the rally. Afterwards, a dinghy regatta with water-fights. 

 

 

Lorenzo (Laurence) Camillo

 

Agenzia Immobiliare Porto Cervo
Vicolo degli Archi, 1
07020 Porto Cervo OT
Italy
Tel. +39-0789-92550 
Fax. +39-0789-94354  
 
www.porto-cervo-realestate.com
 
Our other related web-site:
www.mediterranean-yachting.com
 
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