Crowds welcome T/S Tenacious
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Copyright © Tim Wright |
With a flurry of arrivals over Thursday,
Friday and Saturday there are now 175 yachts that have finished
their crossing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay,
St. Lucia. Some forty yachts are still at sea, and are expected
over the next week before the finish line closes on Friday
for the prize giving on Saturday.
As the last of the afternoon sun sank
towards the horizon yesterday (Saturday) an armada of dinghies
went out from the marina to meet T/S Tenacious. As she rounded
Pigeon Island with the setting sun reflecting off her set
lower square sails she made a magnificent sight, not only
for those on the water in a swarm of dinghies around her,
but also many spectators ashore, along Reduit Beach.
Having helped in a number of incidents
at sea during the ARC, including the manufacturing of a jury
rudder for F2, ARC participants were keen to greet the crew
in the true spirit of the ARC, especially as Tenacious is
too large to enter Rodney Bay Lagoon.
Tenacious will remain at anchor in Rodney
Bay today before continuing her busy schedule planned for
the Caribbean season.
Another notable arrival yesterday was
the “Girls for Sail” crew in their yacht Toana,
a Hallberg Rassy 42. Once over the line the girls changed
into their mermaid costumes, making a splendid sight as they
arrived in Rodney Bay Marina.
All the crews are enjoying a fun packed
programme in St.Lucia, with a day of activities by the beach
at the St.Lucia Yacht Club, and Spinnakers Bar today (Sunday).
Tomorrow will see a second arrivals cocktail party at the
Buzz Seafood Restaurant and Bar, whose proprietor Pat Bowden
is a long standing supporter of the ARC in St.Lucia.
Some yachts are taking the opportunity
to head down Island to explore the St.Lucian coast line, calling
into Marigot Bay and anchoring off the Pitons, before heading
back to Rodney Bay for the prize giving next Saturday.
