ARC across the Atlantic
Neroli
Charles Tongue
Wed 19 Nov 2008 17:47
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28:07.75N
15:25.51W
Neroli and the
ARC
 Yachts
gathering in Las Palmas
Neroli reached
Las Palmas on Gran Canaria at 0930 on 12th November 2008 and since then the
skipper and crew have been continuing preparations for the ARC (Atlantic Rally
for Cruisers) which leaves for St Lucia in the West Indies on Sunday 23
November. 225 yachts will be taking part and they range in size from 32ft to
85ft. At 42ft Neroli is 166th on the list so we are well below average size.
Boat type varies enormously with some very racey yachts and others like Neroli
that are very much more sober!
The organisation
by the World Cruising Club is very efficient with excellent seminars on matters
such as weather, SSB Radio, first aid at sea, safety, provisioning and such
like. There are also representatives for many of the larger boat builders
(Including Hallberg Rassey) and equipment manufacturers. Admiral, Neroli's
insurers, also offered a free rig check to all their clients' yachts. Ours was
done today and, despite a brand new set of standing rigging a fairly serious and
fundemental problem was identified at the top of the mast! We have spent the day
disconnecting the fore and backstays, a new part is being sent over from
Teneriffe tonight and stainless steel plates at the bow are being cut and
redrilled in the hope that all will be refitted tomorrow. Hallberg Rassey's team
have also swarmed all over the boat and done some very useful work. Our
provisioning is now nearly completed and stowed, apart from fresh food, and
meals for 12 days prepared and frozen. Tonight is the 'Tobago Carribbean
Carnival' fancy dress party and the Neroli team are definately 'in the pink'.
Tomorrow we will tell you about our crew and possibly send a photograph of our
carnival outfits if we have not been arrested and
incarcerated!
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