World ARC Heads for the South Atlantic

10:35 PM Sun 4 Jan 2009 GMT

'World ARC leaves Cape Town for St Helena in the Southern Atlantic' .

It was farewell to Cape Town for the World ARC fleet this week, including some Australian participants, eight weeks after arriving in South Africa at Richards Bay, Kwazulu-Natal. Ahead lies a voyage of 3,330nm across the South Atlantic Ocean, which will see the yachts call at the isolated mid-Atlantic island of St.Helena, before making landfall at Salvador de Bahia on the Brazilian coast.

For this long trans-ocean leg, the World ARC has joined together with the Heineken Cape to Bahia Race, run in conjunction with the Royal Cape Yacht Club, doubling the size of the cruising division of this historic race. Together with 16 other cruising division yachts, mostly from South Africa, the World ARC cruisers will cross the South Atlantic, calling at St.Helena for a 72 hour stopover, weather conditions permitting, en route to Brazil. The Heineken Cape to Bahia racing yachts, which leave on 10 January, will sail direct to Salvador.

World ARC - Cape of Good Hope, photo by crew of La Boheme - .. .

Since its inception in 1971, the race has become an offshore classic, and following the easing of political tensions in the 1990's when the race was restarted and then moved from Rio to Salvador, it has attracted some top-notch racing yachts with the dream of ocean records.

While they have been in South Africa, some of the crews, notably Sydney-siders Anna and Greg on La Boheme, have been making the most of their visit, touring and taking Safaris, climbing mountains and exploring South Africa's closer game reserves.

However, now that they're off, and even with their seven day head-start, the cruising division yachts won't even be trying to finish first, since for them, participation is all about taking part, sharing the buzz and enjoying the many benefits of sailing in company.

World ARC La Boheme - .. .

In the gently building 18 knot WNW breeze, with Table Mountain making a stunning backdrop, the 32 strong fleet were a fine sight closing the line. At precisely 1400 local time the South African navy ship Umkomaas, gave the starting signal, and the voyage commenced.

For the entertainment of spectators ashore, there was a turning mark laid off Mouille Point just over a mile from the start, then it was time to point their bows to the Northwest and bid farewell to Cape Town and to Africa.

World ARC 2008/09 started from Rodney Bay, St.Lucia in January 2008 and is due to finish back in St.Lucia in March 2009. The route circumnavigates via Panama, Australia and South Africa, calling at some of the best cruising regions of the world.

You can see more about the great round world rally by linking to their World Cruising Club Websiteand through the official Heineken Cape to Bahia Race website.

Here's the planned route, and you can find more pictures below