THE EVENT AFFORDS THE ISLAND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY ITS CULTURE AND BENEFIT FROM THE INCREASED COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY.

Sponsors of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), presented generous contributions to ARC event organizer, the Events Company of St. Lucia Inc. (ECSL), during a handing-over ceremony on Wednesday.

Present were key stakeholders including the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA), IGY Rodney Bay Marina, the Ministry of Tourism, the Saint Lucia Yacht Club, the Marine Industries Association of Saint Lucia, the ARC Planning Committee, and the World Cruising Club.

On arrival in Saint Lucia, the ARC participants, some of who are returning participants, immerse themselves in all things Saint Lucian—from island tours, shopping expeditions to signature Saint Lucia events like the Anse La Raye and Gros Islet street parties, ARC participants are fully engaged, affording the island and its people the opportunity to display its exciting culture while benefitting from the increased commercial activity during that period.

Event Manager for World Cruising Club, Peta Cozier, described Saint Lucia as the perfect destination for the ARC.

An exciting feature of the ARC is the historic ARC Flotilla staged locally to coincide, in real time, with the “sail off” of the ARC fleet from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria. The ARC Flotilla is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 25, and is set to sail at 10 a.m. from the IGY Rodney Bay Marina to the Castries Harbor, departing the Castries Harbor at noon, and returning to the IGY Marina, where a fun-packed schedule of activities and local entertainment is planned.

In 2017, the ARC Flotilla attracted over 40 vessels and hundreds of participants. Local boat owners and sailing enthusiasts are invited to register to participate in ARC Flotilla 2018.

For the main ARC event, it is expected that the first few boats will arrive in Saint Lucia within 10 days of their departure from Las Palmas, on Nov. 25. All participants are expected to arrive in Saint Lucia between Dec. 13 and 18, and stay into January 2019.

To date, the World Cruising Club recorded some 300 boats registered to participate in the 2018 ARC race across the Atlantic to Saint Lucia.