A first sailing yacht arrived in St Lucia yesterday to finish the ARC 2010, 14 days after leaving Gran Canaria.

Berenice, an Italian Swan 80, arrived in Rodney Bay just before 1000 local time under full main and spinnaker.

But with light airs blighting the fleet, Marco Rodolfi’s yacht finished four days later than the rally’s only motorboat, Americans Steve and Linda Dashew’s 83ft Wind Horse, which set a new ARC powerboat record.

Mr Rodolfi said: ‘We had some tough conditions, with six hours of 35-40 knots early on in the trip, but the last three days have been fantastic downwind sailing.

‘We are all very pleased to be here in Saint Lucia.’

Unusual weather patterns have dominated this year’s crossing with the trade winds taking much longer to arrive.

The next yacht is expected to arrive tomorrow with further arrivals due across the week, before a constant stream starts over the weekend.

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