After a delay of several days due to Storm Bruna, the ARC Plus fleet (Gran Canaria - Saô Vicente – Grenada) finally set sail last Thursday, November 12. The 78 vessels departed with moderate northerly winds of 11 knots, conditions considered ideal for sailing.
The departure, initially scheduled for Sunday, November 8, had to be postponed. The 355 sailors from 30 countries had been preparing for the ocean crossing in the city for weeks. The fleet was divided into two starts: the 25 multihulls set off at 12:45 PM, followed by the 53 cruising boats at 1:00 PM.
The first leg of the ARC Plus involves sailing 850 nautical miles south to Mindelo, on the island of Saô Vicente (Cape Verde). This leg is expected to last between 5 and 8 days. Subsequently, on November 22, the rally will continue towards the island of Grenada in the Caribbean, on a 2,150-mile crossing.
Meanwhile, ARC activities continue in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with the crews of the main regatta (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Santa Lucia), whose departure is scheduled for Sunday, November 22. This weekend, on Sunday the 15th, the traditional parade of flags from participating countries will take place at the sports marina starting at 12:00 PM, followed by the dinghy race, an event open to local spectators.
