Port Louis Marina on the spice island of Grenada will be the new Caribbean destination for the 9th annual ARC+ in 2021.
Since its launch in 2013 the annual transatlantic route sailing from Gran Canaria with a stopover at Mindelo Marina in Cape Verde en route, has proved popular with cruisers sailing under the ARC banner.
So much so that two Caribbean landfalls in Saint Lucia and St. Vincent have been necessary since 2017 to increase capacity to meet demand of the families, couples and cruising friends wishing to sail with the tradewinds via Cape Verde.
From December 2021, all boats on the ARC+ route will now finish, combining the fleet at the finish to add to the camaraderie after their Atlantic crossing.
ARC+ 2021 is already fully booked with 100 yachts and is set to take the start from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday 7th November following a pre-departure programme.
Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, Port Louis Marina overlooks the historic capital St Georges and designed to reflect the traditional Creole architecture. The marina offers 227 berths, including 30 superyacht berths for vessels from 25m to 90 mtres LOA, and up to 7 metres draught.
The traditional, direct ARC route, which departs Las Palmas de Gran Canaria two weeks after the ARC+ start, will sail to Rodney Bay Saint Lucia with the ARC+ destination change helping to ease pressure on facilities in Saint Lucia and spread boats within the southern Caribbean.
Switching the arrival destination to Grenada the spice island, also overcomes the need for ARC+ yachts to vacate berths immediately after the rally prizegiving pending arrival of the direct ARC fleet, making for a more enjoyable and less rushed stopover for all. Further, the change has allowed an extra day to be added to ARC+ itinerary in Mindelo, Cape Verde, in response to suggestions from previous participants.
The 2021 ARC+ is scheduled to set sail from Gran Canaria on 7th November, with the entire rally running for five weeks including two ocean passages and three ports. The route includes a 4 to 6 day stopover in Mindelo, Cape Verde, from where the fleet will restart bound for Grenada on 19th November. On the other side of the Atlantic, every boat will be met with a warm welcome and an ice-cold rum punch and the majority of the fleet will make their spice island landfall at Camper & Nicholson’s Port Louis Marina from the 1st-6th December. The rally will conclude with the prizegiving ceremony on 9th December 2021.