The Volvo Open 65 Team Brunel has broken the ARC Course Record sailing from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay, in Saint Lucia with an elapse time of 8d 7h 39m 30s.
This is the third consecutive year that the Course Record has been beaten.
Team Brunel were welcomed to Saint Lucia by the Honourable Lorne Teophilus the Minister of Tourism and we were at the ceremony attended in the IGY Rodney Bay Marina. During his speech of welcome the Minister stressed how important the ARC was to the tourism industry here in St Lucia
Slower boats in the Cruising Division will have to enjoy life at sea for a while longer; over the coming days many will celebrate their own milestones reaching half-way and are enjoying calmer conditions after a breezy departure from Las Palmas just over a week ago.
However Team Brunel crew will no doubt be embraced by their fellow arrivals from the ARC+ fleet. Departing from their stopover in Mindelo, Cape Verdes five days earlier than the ARC fleet left Las Palmas, and with a shorter distance to sail to Rodney Bay, 19 of the 59 ARC+ boats have made land fall so far.