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21st November 2009
24TH ARC
ANTHONY DE BEAUVILLE

The 24th ARC 2009 officially commences tomorrow Sunday 22nd November 2009 as well over 225 boats representing 28 countries will sail from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to Island Global Yachting in Rodney Bay in St.Lucia a distance of 2700 nautical miles.
To mark the momentous occasion, the 4th ARC Flotilla 2009 will take place on the same day scheduled for a 10:00 am start from the Castries harbour to IGY Rodney Bay, and well over 40 boats will take part in this year’s event. The event this year is organised by the St.Lucia Yacht Club, The St.Lucia Tourist Board, Marine Industries of St.Lucia and Island Global Yachting.
Meanwhile, it was all good news for St.Lucia as Tourist arrivals have increased this season. The Minister for Tourism Allen Chastanet made the announcement at the offical launch of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) at the Landings Hotel on Wednesday evening. The Minister said, We saw a positive increase for the first time in about eight months, we had a .2 % increase in land based arrivals, 16 % increase in cruise arrivals for the month of October and for the year today we are down 8% of our land base arrivals and up 3 ½ % on our overall arrivals.
The Tourism minister further went on to say that he is looking ahead to increase the local market share,.He further said that the local Maritime office mentioned in the April of 2009 Budget of Prime Minister Stevenson King has recevied cabinet approval and will be open soon.

 
 

The proposal has also already recevied support from the former IGY General Manager Cuthbert Didier. At Wednesday’s official launch the Tourism Minister was asked who will head the new office, but he preferred to remain tight lipped for the moment until the appointment is official.
Also speaking at the official launch of the ARC Wednesday evening was newly appointed General Manager of Island Global Yachting in Rodney Bay Marina Adam Foster who said, “there is a great amount of energy and enthusiasm already generated for this year’s activity as this is one of the great ocean events on the yachting calendar. Foster went on to say that it is fantastic and that St. Lucians should get involved in it, as it’s for the local community, it’s about them as much as it is about a yachting event. He urged St. Lucians to come down and support the number of activities planned in the park.
Asked about the logistics and who is on board to ensure a smooth sailing at the IGY Foster said. he is satisfied with the level of experience, confidence and support he has received from the SLTB and World Cruising, he has been involved with other IGY events in different parts of the world and that the level of preparation thus far has been excellent. Customs and Excise and The St. Lucia Air and Sea Port Authority, have been preparing for the hundreds of arrivals at the IGY, and most importantly security for the visitors and locals alike are also in place.

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