SLYOU Magazine issue 4 | Page 22

VOYAGE TO SAINT LUCIA By Stan Bishop - SLYOU Magazine For the past thirty years, thousands of yachties would have made landfall in Rodney Bay Marina, Saint Lucia, following weeks of sailing on the high seas from their starting point in Gran Canaria, Spain. This annual pilgrimage, called the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), is for many the best way to celebrate the end of an old year and the beginning of the new. And there’s no real value one can ever put on the memories that are created along the way. 20 SL-YOU | It’s All About Business Last year, though, was special because it marked a major milestone for the event which has arguably put Saint Lucia on the nautical map. In total, 188 yachts made landfall in Saint Lucia for last year’s ARC, after four had to abandon their quest for the finish line for various reasons. Hundreds of yachties, including forty- four children, the youngest being three years old, did make it to the finish line, a big deal if you consider how grueling an experience the ARC is. www.slyoumag.com | February - April 2020