Having cruised 23,000NM since the start in January 2008, the final 10 nautical miles of the 17-strong World ARC fleet’s round-the-world voyage were covered in a spirit of festive fun with a Parade of Sail taking the yachts from the congregation point at Marigot Bay up to their final destination at Rodney Bay Marina, where the adventure began 14 months earlier.
 
The yachts were joined by local boats from the St.Lucia Yacht Club and each finisher was greeted by loud hoots and cheers from well wishers.
 
Since leaving St.Lucia at the start of the rally, the World ARC yachts have visited 16 countries and several off-lying dependencies, 33 official stop-over ports and many more islands and anchorages around the globe.

Crews have benefited from the safety net and camaraderie of the rally and a team from event organisers World Cruising Club have been with the rally in each stopover, providing help and assistance to the cruisers.
 
Mr Laurie Barnard, Chairman of St.Lucia Tourist Board, and Dr James Hepple, Consultant to the Tourist Board were amongst the official welcoming party at the Royal St Lucia Hotel.

Speaking of behalf of the participants, David Holliday, skipper of Kealoha 8, an Oyster 72, said: “World ARC has been a wonderful experience and I would not have done this voyage without being a part of the rally. I want to thank World Cruising Club for helping me achieve my dream.”

World ARC 2010
The next World ARC will set sail from St.Lucia in January 2010 and it already has 33 yachts from 12 nations entered.

World ARC 2010 will follow a similar route to 2008, circumnavigating via Panama, Australia, South Africa and Brazil, avoiding South East Asia and the dangerous Red Sea region.

Routing and weather advice is provided for yachts at sea and daily positions are tracked via the rally website. World ARC yachts are also eligible for free entry in World Cruising Club’s ARC and ARC Europe transatlantic rallies for those wishing to start and finish in Europe.

The World ARC yachts cross the line in Rodney Bay, St.Lucia to complete their circumnavigation