The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) 2001 promises to be bigger and better than ever before as it moves into its 16th year. The event, which sees more than 200 yachts annually crossing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to St Lucia, has already received over 150 entrants with the maximum number of 225 expected to be reached in early July, more than four months before the rally starts on November 25.

The popularity of the ARC stems from its all round appeal. There is plenty of room for the serious racer, the gentle cruiser, the family and of course the sailing socialite with events out of the water as crucial as they are on it.

The ARC fleet typically attracts participation from over twenty different countries. In addition to the large contingents from Britain, Germany, Scandinavia and the USA, ARC2001 has entries from Estonia and Slovakia this year.

There is no exception to the usual list of interesting entrants who bring something a little out of the ordinary to the event. Owners of Beowulf, a 78ft fast cruising yacht, are no exception. Despite her size Beowolf will be sailed by just one couple, Americans Linda & Steve Dashew. The yacht was designed by Steve Dashew, renowned for his Deerfoot and Sundeer yachts. Launched in 1995, then fitted out in New Zealand, Beowulf is a high performance cruising yacht designed for fast passage making under sail as well as good motoring performance. Another interpretation of ideas for a fast cruising yacht is the Nissen 72, Heaven Can Wait. Previous ARC participant Thormod Ohm chose German designer Georg Nissen, well known for penning fast and reliable cruising yachts, to fulfill his design specification for a performance yacht along the lines of the famous J-Class Endeavour.

World Cruising Club, organizer of the ARC, is also delighted to be welcoming back participants from previous years. This year World Cruising Club welcomes back British yachts Blue Sprit (Neil Bingham), Le Lievre des Marais (Paul-Henry van Hasbroeck) and Brigand (Peter Newlands a former UK Olympic sailor). Innovision 8, skippered by Hans Eekhof from the Netherlands, and from Germany, Rita, (Ackim Turklitz) and Carpe Diem (Harry Glab) are also on-board for ARC 2001.

ARC 2001 is sponsored by the Tourist Board of Gran Canaria, the Port Authority of Las Palmas, the St Lucia Tourist Board, and in association with Yachting World. This year's race starts from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands on Sunday November 25 and finishes at Rodney Bay Marina, St.Lucia. The 2700 mile passage will take most of the yachts between 17 and 21 days.

Contacts: Full details about the ARC, including the 2000 results, can be found on the World Cruising Club website at: www.worldcruising.com/arc or
contact Jeremy Wyatt at World Cruising Club:
tel. +44 (0)1983 296060
fax +44 (0)1983 295959
e-mail: [email protected]