Eleven days fourteen hours - fast but not a record
The first boat to cross the Atlantic in the 2011 ARC is Med Spirit, the 28.70m super‐maxi skippered by Vladimir Kulinichenko and crewed by a mix of Russian and French sailors.They made the ARC crossing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia in 11 days, 14 hours.
Alain Delhumeau’s 50′ Lerouge Pulsar trimaran, Rayon Vert (FRA) narrowly missed out on line honours, having lead the fleet since the start. Rayon Vert finished 1 hour 26 minutes behind Med Spirit after a light airs gybing
battle that saw both boats come within 5 miles of Barbados as they sought a favourable angle.
The smallest UK boat, a Sigma 33, Sibilation, reported via email an incredible 172 mile run in 24 hours. Yachting Monthly interviewed the crew and were shown over the boat and her preparations before she left Gran Canaria. Our ARC report will be in the February issue.
The bulk of the cruising fleet will arrive in the next 10 days.