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New Atlantic crossing for cruisers

LONDON, England -- The World Cruising Club has launched a new transatlantic crossing, the ARC Antigua.

ARC Antigua will start from Marina de Rubicon, Lanzarote on November 23 and cross the Atlantic to Jolly Harbour, Antigua, with an award ceremony on December 20.

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The 2,800-mile passage on the north-east tradewind route will take on average between 18 and 24 days.

Daily radio chat shows between the crews contribute to the safety of the participants, whilst the presence of experienced sailors is another incentive for those with little offshore experience.

WCC devised the new concept of ARC Antigua to cater for the large number of disappointed cruisers unable to enter the annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers.

The new race is similar to the over-subscribed annual Atlantic Rally for Cruisers from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay in St Lucia.

"The ARC has been running now for 17 years, and every year we're reaching our limit on entries earlier and earlier. This year the ARC was full back in May -- the earliest on record," said Andrew Bishop, WCC general manager.

In the same way as the ARC was originally conceived, ARC Antigua will be a friendly rally for cruising yachts that wish to make the Atlantic crossing for the Caribbean winter season both safer and more enjoyable.

ARC Antigua cruisers will be among the first to use the new Marina Rubicon in Lanzarote, as the event will coincide with its opening.

ARC Antigua is open to cruising monohulls with a minimum length of 10.65m (35ft) and cruising catamarans from 10.65m-18.29m (35ft-60 ft) overall length. The minimum crew requirement is two.

Although there is no official closing date, entries made before 21 September 2002 receive a discount of 10 percent on the entry fee.

The original ARC race from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay starts on November 24.