Spirit of the ARC Shows in Prize Giving

by Des Ryan on 4 Jan 2008 The 2007 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers final prize giving this year showed just what the 'Spirit of the ARC' is all about. ARC participants celebrated with local rum punch before the 'formal' prize giving in a local Nightclub

Here are some of the prizes:

The Spirit of the ARC is awarded to crews who represent the character of the event and this year it went to the German honeymoon couple on board Hippopotamus, Soenke and Judith Roever who greeted many other participants on arrival in St Lucia and were always on hand with a welcome smile and helping hand.

A standing ovation was received for the yachts If Only and Talulah who assisted in the rescue of illegal immigrants and received the Eric Jean Trophy for services to the environment and humanity, presented by the Mother of the late Eric Jean, Georgina.

Special prizes were also given to the Radio Net Controllers on board 14 yachts in the fleet (Asolare, Island Kea II, Morgan of Marietta, Sea Topaz, Emerald, Kersti, One Too Many, Solferino, Gertha 4, Northern Child, Penolium, Helen Mary Gee, Northern Sky and Principessa)

The Kaprys Award for overcoming adversity was presented to Safari of Howth;

19-year-old Ben McGill was recognised as the youngest skipper in the fleet on yacht Cinderella III

First female skipper on corrected time was 22-year-old Georgina Eggleton on the Beneteau First 40.7 Combat.

The World Cruising Club Award for best double handed performance on corrected time and the smallest boat in the fleet went to 23-year-old Henry Adams and 22-year-old Tim Foshy who sailed across on the British 7.63m Nordic Folkboat Ariel.

The Cruising World Award for best couple on corrected time went to Soenke and Judith Roever on the German yacht Hippopotamus.


The last yacht to finish after overcoming several problems en route including losing their forestay during the crossing, was Nic Gray’s Colin Archer designed Christiania, with it’s multi-national crew who arrived after 24 days at sea.

Best-dressed crew was won by Bossanova

Sallyanne Turner’s Basil Challenge for the largest basil plant successfully carried across the Atlantic was hotly contested but this year won by Irene Hunt on Southern Princess.

At the end of the first half of the evening, a one-minute silence was held in honour of John Thompson of yacht Avocet, who sadly lost his life during the crossing. Generous donations were made by ARC participants towards a trust set up in his honour—The John Thompson’s Trust for Barbados Organ Centre.