Trans Atlantic Sailing
If you’ve ever dreamed of sailing off into the sunset, then perhaps this will just fit the bill for you?! Atlantic sailing on Ibis with the ARC in 2012 is sure to be an adventure, and there are places aboard for sailors with a little sea time already who’d like to be part of an experienced crew on a safe and seaworthy boat.
If you’re aspiring to take your own boat around the world one day, or brushing up on your skills for a sailing career, we’re offering 3 different Ocean passage legs as part of our May – June Transatlantic crossing from The British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean to Lisbon, Portugal.
Throw away the shackles of your office life and get ready to pitch yourself into an adventure filled trip of swashbuckling proportions! This is a lifetime dream for some and a life-changing challenge for all who undertake the trip.
ARC Europe 2012
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) is an organised rally by the World Cruising Club and is one of several rally’s they arrange worldwide each year for cruising boats. A group of between 30 to 40 boats joins the ARC Europe each spring and are treated to pre and post departure parties, Skipper’s briefings, weather reports and allocated dock space. The event provides a sense of camaraderie, competition and support between participating boats, and minimum safety requirements, individual satellite tracking and daily SSB radio transmissions, including weather updates, are an added security blanket for all involved.
Whilst participating boats may use their engines whenever they like, they are asked to keep detailed records and their time is adjusted accordingly with prizes at the end in Lisbon for the fastest crossings in each class. Ibis is entered in the Cruising Class, and has a brand new Genoa and Cruising Chute for the trip!
Ibis is offering 4 Legs based around participation in the ARC:
| Leg | From/To | Start Date | Duration | End Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1A | Nanny Cay, BVI to Bermuda | 3rd May 2012 | 9 Days | 11th May 2012 | GBP 800 |
| 2 | Bermuda to Horta, Azores | 13th May 2012 | 18 Days | 30th May 2012 | GBP 1,700 |
| Cruise | Azores Cruise | 2nd June 2012 | 5 Days | 6th June 2012 | GBP 600 |
| 3A | Azores to Lisbon, Portugal | 8th June 2012 | 11 Days | 18th June 2012 | GBP 1,100 |
RYA & CYA Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifying Passages
Each of the legs of the ARC (excluding the Azores Cruise) is a qualifying Ocean Passage towards a RYA or CYA Ocean Yachtmaster qualification. During the voyage you will be given the opportunity to use a sextant and practice sun sights…and star sights if you would like. You will also be encouraged to participate in the planning, provisioning and navigational preparation for such a voyage.
On arrival, we’ll make sure your log book is up to date and signed off!
The passage alone is not enough to give you your Ocean Yachtmaster qualification; you are required to take a theory test and meet certain prerequisites – for more information click here (RYA)
Trans Atlantic Sailing – What will it be like?
It’s going to be 2 to 4 weeks at sea in the middle of nowhere for most of the time, and making the best of the weather that we’re given. And a pretty rare experience to feel like a speck on the face of the earth. For your Skipper, there’s nothing quite like night sailing and she can’t wait to be out on the sea again with nothing but stars overhead….and she’s really hoping we can catch some fish too!!!
You can also expect to get involved in the following:
……and anything else the Skipper (or anyone else) can think of to pass the time!! You get the idea!
But a Word of Caution
Crossing the Atlantic in a sailing boat is not something to be taken on lightly, no matter how experienced a sailor you are. At the most remote point of the Atlantic sailing journey we will be nearly a thousand miles from the nearest landfall and if, God forbid, a problem were to arise for whatever reason then we (the crew) will need to deal with it in a safe and effective manner.
You will be expected to contribute as a fully functioning crew member on Ibis; that means getting involved in day to day sailing activities, cooking, cleaning and general yacht maintenance throughout the duration of the voyage.
A sample video…
NOTE: The following video is NOT Ibis, but a similar sized boat – I hope it gives a flavour of what you can expect…… and it’s a great video!
Safety
Ibis carries a full complement of safety equipment for offshore sailing and has already crossed the Atlantic before. Equipment includes:
Crew will have the opportunity gain valuable knowledge of all our on-board equipment whilst on passage.
Prevailing Winds & Currents
By making our voyage in May-June, we stand the best chance of settled winds and good weather. The trip from the BVI’s to Bermuda is likely to be a broad reach with a current pushing us toward the West for much of the way.
Leaving Bermuda, we need to make some North for about 60 miles before heading East in order to catch the favourable currents which will help push us in the right direction.
To Book
If you would like to join us for the ARC Europe 2012, then please Contact Us for more information.
