Setting sail from the continent to the Caribbean remains one of the great sailing adventures. The last three decades has seen the popularity of cruising in company soar, a concept that’s not new since Christopher Columbus traveled in a fleet of three vessels during his famous 1492 voyage. Cruising rallies are especially gaining interest from…
The southeast coast of the United States offers a wealth of idyllic cruising grounds. However, when the desire strikes to venture further offshore to ports south such as those in the Caribbean, one question may be what is the best way to accomplish this goal as safely as possible. Many southeast sailors choose to cruise…
During the third day of the 2013 Caribbean 1500, the wind reached its peak. Northerly gusts howled in excess of 35 knots. Sojourner, my dad’s 1986 Wauquiez Hood 38, was about to exit the Gulf Stream, sailing on a lumpy, uncomfortable sea. The crew of four was wet, tired and hungry. But my dad was…confident….
I’m going to kick this column off with a story I’ve been involved with over the past three weeks. My wife Mia and I have been running the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) Caribbean 1500 rally now for a few years, and it takes up most of our time in October and November. It’s something…
There are two great ways to sail to the Caribbean this fall courtesy of the World Cruising Club (WCC). The newly re-branded ARC Caribbean 1500 sets sail with some 40 boats from a new start point, the Ocean Marine Yacht Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, en route to Nanny Cay Marina in Tortola, BVI, on November…
The 23rd running of the Caribbean 1500 cruising rally began with a hurricane. “Storms can be so disrespectful!” joked the crew of T’ai Chi, one of the ARC Bahamas fleet yachts this year. “Hurricane Sandy is extremely inconvenient (not to mention dangerous). We were so happy to reach Hampton two days ahead of schedule, so we…
Steve Black, the Caribbean 1500’s founding father, confirmed after the start of the event that it was the first time in its 23-year history that it actually left the Chesapeake early. Fall on the US east coast is always a difficult time for weather forecasting, and this year was perhaps the best or worst (depending…
The combination of tried and true and something new has been the formula for success for the World Cruising Club’s (WCC) Caribbean 1500 Rally. This year, 40 to 50 yachts will depart November 4th from Hampton, Virginia, some headed for the customary destination of Nanny Cay Marina in the British Virgin Islands and others bound…
Largest and longest running sailboat cruising rally in North America heads to Caribbean at 12:00 noon on Sunday, November 4 On November 4, the largest and longest running sailboat cruising rally in North America, the Caribbean 1500, departs historic Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia at 12:00 noon (weather permitting) for the sunny shores of the British…
Changes in departure and arrival venues are just a few of the ‘What’s New’ as the World Cruising Club (WCC) runs its first Caribbean 1500 Cruising Rally this fall
Inspecting the boat before departure on a long journey is of the utmost importance.
The Cruising Rally Association (CRA) and World Cruising Club (WCC) are joining forces to become the largest global organisation dedicated to the sport of passage-making.
The eighteen sailboats in this year’s Atlantic Cup offshore sailing rally from Tortola to Bermuda departed in brisk northeast winds for the 850 mile passage.
Twenty-four sailors who have completed over 10,000 miles in Cruising Rally Association offshore rallies were recognized as “Ocean Masters” in a recent ceremony in Hampton VA. The most senior of the honored veterans was St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
You may have seen Steve Black around Nanny Cay on Tortola recently. He’s best recognized as the founder of the Cruising Rally Association and Caribbean 1500 Cruising Rally.
A week of strong northeast winds propelled 54 sailboats in the 20th Anniversary Caribbean 1500 fleet from Hampton VA to Tortola, BVI.
The inauguration Caribbean 1500 jaunt from the Chesapeake to the Bahamas, 1000 miles and sailed it in only five days.
It’s hard to believe that 15 years have passed since the 1st Caribbean 1500 in 1989. Having crewed in the 1993 event on Jessie, an Alden 54 that won 1st place, I know firsthand how truly exciting this rally is. Taking line honors this year was Bob and Mallika DeHaven’s Mistress Mallika from Alexandria, VA. The new…