EG8ARC Special Call For ARC 2014 Atlantic Rallye For Cruiser

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The ARC is a 'must do' for many sailors, and attracts over 200 boats and 1200 people every year to sail 2700 Nautic Miles across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. EG8ARC will be on air from 17 to 23 November to celebrate this incredible adventure. We hope all the best to all participants in the Rally. Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has been the 'home port' of the ARC since the very first edition of the rally in 1986. It is a natural departure point for boats crossing the Atlantic from Europe to the Caribbean, and all summer and autumn boats will converge on the port of Las Palmas from northern Europe and the Mediterranean. Gran Canaria is located at the edge of the trade wind belt, so boats leaving the Canary Islands will sail south (until the butter melts, as the saying goes) until they pick up the north east tradewinds which then blow them west across the Atlantic. The ARC starts in late November when the trade winds become established, and the boats arrive at the end of the Caribbean hurricane season.