Today marks a key day in our travels. We have now left the ARC family and have headed off on our own. It feels really odd to have now stepped away from this amazing event. We signed out of Rodney Bay today and are now moored up in the hurricane hole at Marrigot Bay on St Lucia enjoying a sundowner.

Last night we had the ARC prize giving which was just excellent - made even better when Barracuda got a prize. Yeah!

As we come to the end of the ARC I will devote some words here to the event and the organisation. On our way south from the UK we met various people along the way who asked why we were doing the ARC - some were quite vocal against the ARC. Those comments were always from people who had never done it but had formed views from the outside. Our experience is as follows:
- This must be one of the most professionally run events we have ever been part of.
- The codified knowledge they transfer to you to help with crossing an ocean is first class.
- The safety equipment requirements and inspections are totally appropriate and correct for what you are setting out to do.
- The information flow ahead of the event is excellent.
- The preparatory seminars in Las Palmas were top notch.
- They counted us out, tracked us and more importantly counted us in and anyone with any problems was given extra support as needed.
- The social side was fun and we have made loads of new friends - many we will see again our sailing adventures.
- We enjoyed some really excellent parties with our new friends.
- It was excellent value for money.
- And I could go on...
- It was a very special events to have been part of and we are all a bit sad it has come to an end.

But as it ends it has brought us to the Caribbean and now creates the possibility of sailing new areas in sun and trade winds. Watch out for future blogs.