ARC Final Report... Part 3 - News - Britannia Corporate Events

Mobile News Regatta 2008 (Telecoms Sector)
4-5 Jun

Lutine Lineslip Regatta (Insurance Sector)
11-12 Jun

The PPP:PFI Challenge (PPP/PFI Sector)
13-15 Jun

Banking and Finance Regatta (Banking and Financial Services Sector)
20-21 Sep

LATEST NEWS
NAUTICA WATCHES ANNOUNCED AS TIMEKEEPING SPONSOR FOR BRITANNIA

JACKO’S WEATHER

Solent weather with some tips from us!

NEWS: PRESS RELEASE

Sunset at the Pitons St Lucia!

FINAL ARC UPDATE AND WHAT NEXT?
6.01.06

Final Crew Report
Well, along time has passed since our final up date, lots and lots of beers, showering and cleaning, so what happened?!

On our last up date we had made the decision to drop the mainsail, based on the damage to our Vang. This gave us all very mixed emotions and it is fair to say we still pushed on as hard as we could. We experienced more squalls, lulls and great surfing conditions, it was such a pity we had to make the decision we did 3 days ago as I have to say this is some of the best sailing!

After our final night at sea we could sea Martinique on the horizon, very special I have to say. Those dreams of cold beers and fresh food are getting closer and everyone springs into action knowing we are nearly there.

We start making the boat ship shape and finding things we lost 3 weeks ago, we form a chain of the remaining water and start filling the water tanks for a shower, the 2nd one in 3 weeks.

We are all just starting to relax as we approach St Lucia, as we approached Jacko was at the wheel, Dave, Julian and Richard were in the cockpit, Me and Paul were at the chart table and Kate was packing in her cabin ready to run like crazy to the local hotel on arrival! At this moment a huge wave picked up Lancelot, turned us around a few times and threw us on our side in to the water, the sea poured in through the companion way , all of our clean up exercise was a waste of time, the satelite phone, which we had been guarding all trip just washed passed me and Paul, I looked on deck to see Jacko on the wheel and the shoulders were shrugged, to this day I don’t think we all know what actually happened, but I think it is fair to say at even 3 miles from land on the ARC who knows what will happen next! On this occasion we lost lap top, Satelite Phone, CD player, and various other electrical gadgets. I think we all paused and thought this is bad, but would have been a lot worse if it happened 2 weeks ago!

Needless to say we are minutes and not even hours at this stage from the finish, probably about 50 minutes. As we head round the northern tip of St Lucia, we start to see more and more civilization and more importantly Rodney Bay, the photography boats start appearing and you really do feel like you have achieved something. We all start smiling for the camera and looking for the finish line. Finally we spot the finish and head straight for it, at this stage we start seeing KFC and Fries flying over our heads, (a bit like the dreams we have had and the conversations on deck for weeks) Its our friends, family and shore team, I saw the boat previously in the distance and thought it was the Rum boat I had heard everyone telling me about, little did I know everyone was on board, normally I would of gone for just the Rum, but KFC, FRIES and RUM PUNCH is the best combination! What a moment, don’t think I will forget it and luckily the camera crew were there to get it as well, I am sure we must have been the only boat to be greeted in this way!

That was it, we smiled a few more times for the cameras, headed in to the marina, started more cleaning, threw everyone in the water, Paul went off to do customs, we drank more rum and then we motored Lancelot to her mooring on the Villa where 24 hours later we started give her some TLC which I think she un doubtlessly deserved for looking after us through one of the most amazing adventures.

Our full collection of pictures will be posted in the next few days, and yes I have entered her for 2006…….

At this stage on behalf of me and the crew I would like to thank all our well wishers, supporters and sponsors.

So what after St Lucia……………………………….

As the drunken nights of St Lucia slowly came to an end Lancelot was once again Ship Shape, myself and Paul had the job of waving everyone off to the airport and making the tough delivery of Lancelot to Antigua, which will be here home base for the next 6 months.

Lancelot Departing St Lucia!

Having not sailed in St Lucia before we took advantage of 3 days cruising around the western side of the island taking in the Piton’s and Mari got Bay, before returning to Rodney Bay for the Prize Giving, which was a great night and very well organized, unfortunately no prizes for Lancelot, but a price less experience and some of the memories of the race start coming back.

Antigua Yacht Club - Lancelots new home for the season!

We departed St Lucia on the morning of 18th December and arrived at Antigua Yacht Club Marina on the morning of the 20th after a few stop offs on route. It is here she will based now for the next 6 months available for all the Caribbean Races and Charter Holidays. We can also confirm the fleet in the Caribbean has expanded with the Addition of Batfink, TT to Lancelot.

The latest addition to the Britannia Fleet - Batfink!

For further information on the 2006 Arc and the 2006 charters available in the Caribbean please contact the Hamble office on +44 (0) 2380 458 900