Official ARC+ welcome to St Lucia

2018 ARC - Welcome Party © World Cruising

The Harbor Club Hotel provided the perfect venue for the ARC+ Welcome party here in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. The recently opened hotel welcomed participants on the spectacular pool deck overlooking the fleet moored in the IGY Rodney Bay Marina.

With a beautiful sunset providing a typically Caribbean backdrop, participants were welcomed by staff from the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority to the poolside venue with two bars serving a selection of fruit and rum cocktails.

The MC, Ernie, ensured a lively atmosphere and introduced Denise Barnes from the Harbor Club, who officially welcomed everybody to Saint Lucia and the hotel. Having only been open for a year Denise highlighted the Harbor Club's many facilities to include five unique eateries from a quick, casual bite overlooking the marina to an elegant, gourmet dinner and offered special rates to all ARC participants.

In return, the General Manager of IGY Rodney Bay Marina, Sean Deveaux, provided an equally warm welcome to each and every one and thanks all of the ARC+ Partners; the Harbor Club, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Events Company of St. Lucia inc. and his team in the Marina for all their hard work and efforts to prepare for the rally. To a big round of applause, he also specially thanked the team of Yellow Shirts from the World Cruising Club for their organisation and huge efforts to ensure all the participants have a great experience.

On behalf of the World Cruising Club, Suzana Tetlow, congratulated all the participants for their fantastic achievement and thanked all the ARC+ Partners for their continued support and hard work in the background ensuring the programme of events are both enjoyable and memorable for all the participants.

Hon. Dominic Fedee, the Minister of Tourism, offered a warm welcome to the island which has recently won the leading honeymoon destination of the world, of which they are rightfully proud. He also said he had made a special call to the local breweries and distilleries to ensure there was enough rum and beers available on the island to quench the thirst of all the inbound sailors!

With the rum flowing and a steel band playing in the in the background, dancers entertained everyone and the night came to a close with a great atmosphere.

Having successfully completed ARC+ a total of 72 yachts are now moored up in the marina providing an exciting atmosphere along the pontoons. The next few days will see this number rise significantly as the ARC 2018 fleet crosses the finish line only adding to the excitement here in Rodney Bay!