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Report about the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) from a member

Published 14:07 on 20 Jan 2025

I had the opportunity to crew aboard cutter-rigged Clipper 60 Hummingbird, operated by Rubicon 3, for the 2024 ARC.

After several days of training and briefings, we left Las Palmas on 24th November and arrived, exhausted and elated, at Rodney Bay, St Lucia on 12th December after 18 days at sea and 2953 nautical miles my first ocean crossing amongst a fleet of over 140 vessels.

Hummingbird is an old school sail training Clipper no auto pilot, no self furling headsails, no electric winches and a spinnaker requiring wooling after each deployment. In other words, a very physical yacht to sail. A typical gybe under poled-out yankee took around an hour with six crew on deck.

The passage was tough, with many days of rolling NW swells, sleep deprivation due to an onerous cycle of watches but no sea sickness, squalls including a broach under 40 knot gusts, and the tragic MOB from Volvo racer Ocean Breeze. I had not anticipated the sobering minute's silence on deck mid-Atlantic.

Running repairs were required to two of the three yankees and the spinnaker.

Hummingbird's EPIRB (emergency beacon) activated accidentally due to an electrical fault. Noone on board was aware until receipt of an urgent sat message seeking to clarify our distress status. We were having an early dinner in the cockpit.

The skipper, mate and experienced international crew of ten bonded quickly. Friendships blossomed - the spontaneous intimacy of passage making. We all acquired numerous seamanship skills and tips.

Helming at night under a bowl of stars, countless shooting stars, and navigation by Venus and Jupiter were magical moments, as were encounters with dolphins and minke whales.

At four days out from St Lucia time seemed to stand still as winds moderated and our ETA stuck stubbornly at four days for watch after watch.

I'm still on a cloud, digesting the emotions I struggle to put into words. An unforgettable experience.

Bon vent, Chris Burrell.

December 2024

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Last updated 14:07 on 20 January 2025

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