Photos and text by Gregor Tarjan

 
Tim Wright – Photoaction
GIROLATA, an Outremer 45, presses towards the finishing line in St.Lucia to win the Multihull Division.

 The ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) which started on Sunday 21 November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. The event takes the 200 plus entries on a 2,700 mile passage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, to Rodney Bay in St Lucia on the north-east trade wind route taking an average of between 12 and 24 days.

Organized by the World Cruising Club, the ARC is open to cruising monohulls from 27ft (8.23m) loa. and cruising catamarans from 25ft to 60ft (7.62 - 18.29m) loa, with a minimum crew of two. In this years edition of the ARC 192 boats participated among them many cruising multihulls, such as Fountaine Pajot’s, Lagoons, Privileges, Catanas and Outremer catamarans.  

Robin, Peter, Theresa, Stephane and Gregor celebrate their second place on elapsed time
aboard WILLOW, a new Outremer 55S.

ARC 2004 Summary

 Bright sunshine greeted the start of the 19th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with a light south-easterly breeze giving the fleet a slower then expected send off. One hundred and ninety yachts from 23 nations were in the start of this annual transatlantic voyage, a 2,700 nautical miles passage to Rodney Bay, St.Lucia. 

Since its inception in 1986 the ARC has featured a cruising multihull division, and this year was no exception with 13 cats participating; numbers down a little from last year’s peak of 18. The drop in numbers a symptom of fewer Americans buying yachts in Europe to sail home. Several of the multis were operating as charter, including two from Sunsail and regular ARC entrants Silvia & Conni Grim with their Jeanneau Lagoon 55 Alkedo. Family live-aboards were also represented with Robert & Marika Douglas sailing their Prout Escale 39 Cat Taloo along with 8 year-old daughter Charlotte; all of them crossing the Atlantic for the first time.  

After a very light start, winds filled in from the NE and brought a lively first night for many yachts. Not ideal conditions for the first night watch, with lumpy seas causing more than a few cases of “mal de mer” and even a couple of blown spinnakers.  However, the weather did settle down, although it was lighter than most yachts would have preferred.  

It was a slower crossing than average, with most yachts typically two days longer at sea than normal. A large trough lying from 7-35N affected the ITZ, causing the trades to lie much lower then normal. As a results those yachts which took the rhumb line sailed a much slower course than those following the traditional “south ‘till the butter melts” route. Exception to this was GIROLATA , which sailed a course of 2820 miles, very close to the rhumb line, vs. WILLOW, her Outremer sistership, which took a 350 miles longer course chasing winds she only sometimes found.  

This years ARC saw unusually many days of calm sailing. 

With trade winds only kicking in properly in the last few days of the crossing, the event has been remarkably incident-free this year. But, as ever, the continuous stresses of downwind sailing, especially on wildly rolling monos, eventually reveal any inherent weaknesses. One boat reported problems with her skeg; another had a leak from the keel fastenings; and there have been several injuries, including a badly broken finger and a crewmember with a broken elbow which even caused the Swan 65 King's Legend to divert to Barbados.  

The lighter airs had a disproportionate affect on the larger yachts, dashing the hopes of the VOR60’s and super yachts hoping for a new course record, but did give an advantage to those at the back, when the trades kicked in for the rearguard. The final week of the three week trip giving most yachts some of their best day’s sails.  

First man home as maxi Leopard of London, piping Farr 115 maxi ketch Sojana by a four hours, although the larger Sojana did take the credit as first yacht to sail the whole course. Turning a fantastic performance in the conditions was Outremer catamaran Girolata, the tenth yacht to arrive and finishing just ahead of her sistership rival Willow, an Outremer 55S.  

With yachts arriving daily until the final prize giving on 18^th December, Rodney Bay marina quickly began to fill, and the bars and restaurants took on a festive party atmosphere. There were beach fun and games, football competitions, and happy hours, as well as more formal welcomes and cocktails. Perhaps the highlight for many was the Pigeon Island Caribbean Party – a fun packed evening a Creole culture with steel pan, local dancing and wild music. 

Mid Atlantic rainbow

Finale:

Robert and Marika Douglas of Cat Taloo made the decision to move to sea with their eight-year-old daughter Charlotte when Robert was diagnosed with a brain tumor a few years ago.  Living aboard their Prout Escale 39 catamaran has given Robert the chance to be a full time dad while traveling with his wife and daughter.  The family still maintains a home in London, which they use a few months of the year for doctor visits and catching up with family and friends.   

The Catamaran’s wide-open living spaces have made it the favorite meeting place for the under twelve set.  ARC kids could be found gleefully clambering about the cat any time of day and jumping on the expansive trampline net.   

This was the first crossing for the entire family, Robert having previously made the long offshore passages with a more experienced crew. “We really wanted to do this,” says Marika. “It’s one of the major goals Robert has always wanted to achieve.  It is a big deal for us.”  

After avidly following the ARC online last year, the Douglas’ decided this year was the perfect time to spend several months on board and make their first Atlantic crossing as a family. 

“Life is short…buy a boat and enjoy yourself,” Marika advises. 

WILLOW is presently in St. Lucia and will be sailed to Aeroyacht’s, Long Island, NY location in Spring.

ARC 2004 Transatlantic Race, Multihulls Elapsed - Finish Times 

* Girolata also won the multihull division overall on corrected time