ARC crews are being asked to carry extra supplies on their Atlantic crossing to help people affected by Hurricane Tomas.

The hurricane hit St Lucia, the rally’s destination, earlier this week, causing considerable damage in the south of the island.

And although Rodney Bay Marina, where the fleet will moor, avoided the worst of the weather, the St Lucia Red Cross is asking for everyday items.

La Vaughn Francis of the St Lucia Tourist Board said: ‘Supplies would be most useful at this time and I have spoken to the Red Cross and NEMO (National Emergency Management Organisation) teams who have indicated that canned foods and dry goods are most needed.’

The Saint Lucian Red Cross is seeking canned food (especially evaporated milk), dry foodstuffs, water containers, batteries, flasks, small transistor radios, lanterns, flash lights or torches, cleaning supplies, sanitary wipes or hand sanitisers, blankets, bed sheets, sleeping bags, children’s disposable nappies and wipes, infant food and formula, female sanitary products, adult disposable nappies and toiletries such as toothpaste, soap and toothbrushes.

Rodney Bay Marina general manager Adam Foster said: ‘The marina suffered no damage and the road bridges that washed away will be repaired before the ARC.

‘Power is back on, but water is not expected to be back until mid November.’

The extra supplies will be collected by the Red Cross on arrival and ARC-organiser, World Cruising Club, is organising a cash collection at the final prizegiving in St Lucia.

14 people died on the island, when the hurricane, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, caused landslides.

The ARC fleet will leave Las Palmas, Gran Canaria bound for St Lucia on November 21.

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Picure courtesy of the BBC/Cuthbert Nathoniel.