Published 16 years ago, updated 5 years ago

Yacht rally specialists, World Cruising Club, have selected Nanny Cay Resort & Marina in Tortola, as the Caribbean host port for the start of ARC Europe 2009, the annual transatlantic cruising rally. This move brings the rally, which provides a fun and safe framework for transatlantic cruising, to the British Virgin Islands for the first time.

The ARC Europe rally is based on the format of the world famous ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) and is a perfect way for yachts to sail to Europe at the end of the Caribbean season. During the six-week event, yachts will gather at Nanny Cay Marina in early May 2009, before departing the British Virgin Islands and crossing the Atlantic in the company, calling at Bermuda and exploring the Azores Archipelago before reaching the European continent at the end of June.

Miles Sutherland-Pilch, general manager of Nanny Cay said: “We’re very pleased to be part of this well-established and popular event. The fact that we are attracting high-quality events such as this, shows that we are creating a world-class marina here in the British Virgin Islands. We’re extremely well-placed to ensure that ARC Europe participants are fully-prepared and rested before their Atlantic crossing back to Europe. We look forward to welcoming them here in May next year.”

Event organizers World Cruising Club have teamed up with Nanny Cay because its marina, boatyard and a broad range of facilities and services offer a perfect base for cruising yachts to prepare for a transocean passage and will be a popular choice with World Cruising Club participants.

World Cruising Club Director Andrew Bishop commented on the move to Nanny Cay Marina: “We are delighted that ARC Europe 2009 will start from Nanny Cay Marina. Many ARC Europe skippers will have spent the winter months cruising through the Caribbean, and we know they will welcome the opportunity to haul-out and thoroughly prepare their yachts using the excellent facilities available at Nanny Cay. Furthermore, Nanny Cay’s location in one of the region’s top cruising areas will be a great incentive for yachts to explore the northern Caribbean before crossing to Europe.”