Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine January 2016

— Continued from previous page
“What an amazing experience to spend time with your kids outside the daily routine!”
Other families whose children did sail the ARC reported positive experiences…
mostly. “Sailing across an ocean with a two-year-old is harder than we thought it
Sailor power! After her first Atlantic crossing, long-time Swedish sailor
Marie Sundqvist says, ‘You feel so great when you conquer your fear!’
would be,” admits Johanna Gardner who sailed on Azimuth, an Amel Santorin, with
her husband, Patrick, her father Jens (a child psychologist), the boat’s former owner,
John, and River, the youngest child in ARC 2015. Johanna sailed with ARC 2014 as
crew on Southern Child and enjoyed repeating the experience en famille. Although
Patrick notes that the ARC kids’ activities are mostly geared to older children, “they
are amazing with support, activities and fun. It really is a family event.” Their advice
to other parents considering the ARC: “Do it. Don’t be afraid. And have large batteries
to power non-stop cartoon DVDs!”
After Jens and John depart for home, River’s 12- and 13-year-old siblings will
arrive in St. Lucia to cruise for a couple of weeks on school break, and then Patrick,
Johanna and River, like many ARC crews, will continue to cruise the Caribbean.
“The Caribbean itself is a big part of the lure of the ARC,” acknowledges Andrew
Bishop. “All cruising yachtsmen want to come sailing in the Caribbean at least once
in life. It’s a cruising Mecca. That’s why it’s such a popular destination for bareboats
as well. And of course there’s the European weather in December…”
Andrew notes, however, “A big change I see in the ARC in recent years is that the
number of people doing a non-stop year aboard to complete an Atlantic circuit has
declined. They are still an important part of the ARC, but there are an increasing number
now who do the Atlantic circuit in chunks between returning home to work.”
Obviously, this trend is a storage boon to Caribbean marinas and boatyards.
Andrew adds, “We bring boats across to the Caribbean, and now it’s up to the
Caribbean — the marine services, the tourism boards and the people themselves —
to make the most of them being here. The better time they have, the more likely they
are to come back and to tell their friends.”
Paul Ash, General Manager of Rodney Bay Marina, emphasized that his staff and
all the marina tenants worked hard to be ready for “the onslaught” and says, “We’re
delighted to see so many boats here. The value of the ARC should not be underestimated,
and it’s good to see the level of interest from our senior politicians. That is
an indication of the way St. Lucia recognizes the importance of the sailing sector.”
Skeptics have sometimes accused the ARC of “enabling” those otherwise incapable
of sailing transatlantic, but while enabling and empowering are both ways of helping,
enabling keeps the recipient dependent while empowering them gives them the skills,
knowledge and confidence to be responsible for their own accomplishments, and the
participants Compass spoke with this year were definitely feeling the power.
Andrew Bishop says, “It’s about sharing knowledge, encouraging people to achieve
their dream. ARC shares a wealth of experience, knowledge and partnerships. We
help people realize that they, too, can do it. But it’s not hand holding. We give a
lecture in Las Palmas about preparation, but the sailors have to equip and prepare
their boats, and — despite Yellowbrick tracking and radio contact — at the start line,
they’re on their own.”
Geri on Why Not summed it up: “I was impressed. There’s a lot to do to organize
this many boats; it’s a huge organization with a lot of people, and after 30 years there
are no more growing pains. It’s a good support system that empowers a lot of people
to do ‘bigger’ sailing.”
Visit www.worldcruising.com/arc for full results and more information.
Many thanks to World Cruising Club, the St. Lucia Tourist Board and Palm Haven
Hotel for making Compass’s first hand coverage possible.
JANUARY 2016 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 25