World ARC

Crews from some of the 40 yachts participating in World ARC, the global circumnavigation rally, were keen to lend a hand in a beach clean-up on Suwarrow, a remote coral atoll in the Cook Islands in the central Pacific. Suwarrow, one of the most isolated of the Cook Islands, is a national park and wildlife sanctuary, normally resident to just the warden, John Samuels, and his family. Special permission had been obtained for World ARC yachts to call at this unique location, and as a thank-you, the crews were keen to help clear up winter storm damage. The two-day clean-up campaign saw fallen branches, battered huts and piles of oceanic flotsam removed from beaches and the main campsite. Since leaving the Cook Islands, the World ARC yachts have continued their cruise through the south Pacific to Niue, the Tongan Archipelago and Fiji. The yachts will shortly be arriving at Tanna, Vanuatu. With the half-way point of the rally almost reached, it is change over time as several yachts are completing their voyage in Australia and others are joining. So it will be farewell to BlueFlyer, Candela, Nutella and Whitbread as they finish the rally, and a warm welcome to Baccalieu III, Pelikan and La Boheme as they join it.

World ARC

World ARC, the new circumnavigation rally organised and managed by the UK-based cruising rally experts at World Cruising Club (WCC), is setting off from Rodney Bay, St.Lucia today (Wednesday 23 January) with a group of enthusiastic sailors beginning a 15-month cruising adventure of a lifetime.

The route and timing have been carefully selected so as to benefit from seasonal weather conditions by planning to be "in the right place at the right time". Both the Pacific and the Indian Oceans will be crossed during the optimum period, at the height of the favourable trade wind season. Cruising 'guru' Jimmy Cornell has helped to plan the route, which calls at some of the most attractive sailing destinations in the world.