ATLANTIC ODYSSEY

ATLANTIC ODYSSEY COMPETITORS SET SAIL FOR CARIBBEAN

At 12:00 UTC on Sunday 16^th November, the ATLANTIC ODYSSEY set off from the recently-opened Marina Lanzarote in Arrecife. The fleet’s ultimate destination is Port du Marin on the Caribbean island of Martinique. A second departure date for the race has also been set for 8^th January, this time from the island of La Palma and also heading to Martinique.

The Atlantic Odyssey is sponsored by the Lanzarote Tourism Board and Calero Marinas, the concession-holder of this marina which only officially opened on 18th October but rapidly filled up with 35 boats about to sail across the Atlantic.

There’s no doubt whatsoever that this will be an interesting event. And it being run by ARC founder Jimmy Cornwell guarantees surefire success.

We also love events like this for the pre-race programmes, such as talks about life on board, safety demonstrations and environmental awareness campaigns. What’s more, the boats in this race are crewed by eleven separate families, with a total of twenty-two children sailing on board. A true life lesson for these little ones who are embarking upon a 2-3 week crossing with their parents.

Lanzarote is fast becoming a rival to Las Palmas as a home port for transatlantic races. Running since 1986, the ARC will set sail on 23^rd November for Rodney Bay Marina in Saint Lucia, followed shortly afterwards by the second edition of the Sailing Rallies, which will leave Marina Rubicón in Playa Blanca (Lanzarote) on course for Nelson’s Dockyard in Antigua.

You can track the Atlantic Odyssey fleet here