ARC 2017 commences in November
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
by Anicia Antoine, GIS
THE EVENT BEGINS IN LAS PALMAS ON NOV. 19, WITH THE FIRST FLEET EXPECTED IN SAINT LUCIA ON DEC. 10.

Participants of the 2017 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) are preparing to set sail on another exciting journey on Nov. 19.

The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), is the largest trans-ocean sailing event worldwide, attracting over 200 boats. The event is organized by the Events Company of Saint Lucia in collaboration with the IGY Rodney Bay Marina, the World Cruising Club, and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.

During the Nov. 7 ARC sponsorship cheque presentation at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort and Spa, Chair of the Arc Planning Committee, Sean Compton, commented that the ARC is not merely for sailors, but is an event with significant economic spinoffs.

“I can’t stress how important this event has been over the last 30 years to this island, especially with regard to foreign exchange. Tourists and yachters visit our restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and get their boats repaired, so I can’t stress how important this is to Saint Lucia. I want to thank all of you sponsors for helping us make this possible. I’d also like to thank the Arc Planning Committee who for the five or six years since I’ve been on board have really been pulling hard to keep this event in Saint Lucia.”

This is the first time that the ARC is being spearheaded by the Events Company of Saint Lucia. The company’s Marketing and Sponsorship Officer, Leila Williams, explained.

“Our events team is fully competent coming on board with a number of skills and it is for that reason that our primary objective is just execution. That then leaves the competencies of the other agencies, they could focus now on what their mandates are, for example, in the case of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, who in the past have been the ones to put on Saint Lucia Jazz, now they can really put their efforts into marketing Saint Lucia as a tourism destination and bringing on board economic benefits to be derived from that industry.”

Saint Lucia has been participating in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers for over three decades. The first fleet of vessels are expected to arrive on Dec. 10.