233 yachts left Las Palmas de Gran Canaria yesterday, as the 25th ARC set sail for St Lucia.

The fleet comprised 26 nations with the UK best represented by 91 yachts.

The boats enjoyed a downwind start in 8-10 knots of breeze and a light swell and are expecting light north-easterly winds for the first few days as they head south towards the Cape Verde Islands and the trade winds.

Galop I, a French Outremer 45 catamaran, was the first of the cruising fleet to cross the line.

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