Cruising doyen – and founding father of the unique ARC transatlantic rally, Jimmy Cornell is organising a brand new expedition route journey to each the north and south hemisphere excessive latitudes for knowledgeable sailors
Forty years since he based the unique ARC rally, Jimmy Cornell is launching a brand new cruise-in-company occasion for adventurous sailors, the Excessive Latitude Problem, which options the ‘bucket record’ expedition crusing locations of each Antarctica and the Northwest Passage.
“This isn’t deliberate as an organised rally, however as a rolling occasion with members becoming a member of wherever alongside the route, and ending wherever they like,” Cornell defined.
The clockwise route will begin from Cherbourg, France in September 2026. It should then head south, to Rio, Brazil, then from Ushuaia the intention is to cross to the Antarctic Peninsula.
There’s a 8,600-mile passage northbound within the Pacific, from Chile to Alaska through Easter Island and Honolulu. Then from Alaska there can be an try and transit the Northwest Passage and Labrador Sea to Newfoundland.
Antarctic summer season
The Problem has been timed to align seasonal climate situations – primarily based in no small half on Cornell’s personal expertise of crusing in these areas.
It’s timed to ship the fleet to Antarctica in summer season (January-February), and to be within the Arctic throughout the temporary window when the Northwest Passage could also be navigable (July-August), whereas additionally avoiding tropical storm seasons in all areas.
It’s anticipated that yachts might be part of at factors akin to Ushuaia, Argentina, or Dutch Harbor, Alaska. US-based yachts might depart from Newport on an eastbound transat to hitch in Cherbourg.
There can be logistical and repair assist at two key stopover factors, with good services: Mar del Plata in Argentina, and Honolulu in Hawaii.
Cornell provides: “There can be a assist workforce and Cornell Crusing presence in key locations: Cherbourg, Las Palmas, Mar del Plata, Ushuaia and later Hawaii and Dutch Harbor, and at last Nuuk [Greenland].”
Expertise required
To seek out out extra in regards to the occasion and learn how to take part electronic mail information@cornellsailing.com with ‘Problem’ as topic.
Cornell says: “Anybody can be despatched a questionnaire with particulars of their crusing expertise in miles and years, the form of boat they intend to make use of, and so on. Primarily based on these information I’ll advise them whether or not I imagine they need to be trying such a difficult voyage or not.”
Certified members could be requested to pay a price of £500, refundable from a sensible participation price relying on what number of signal as much as be a part of the occasion, Cornell added.
Cornell goes full circle
The Problem is one thing of a ‘full circle’ second for Cornell in additional respects than one, as he recollects the unique ARC rally took place by collaboration with Yachting World.
“I used to be contributing articles primarily based on our lately accomplished world voyage to Yachting World when [then editor] Dick Johnson requested me to fly to Las Palmas in Gran Canaria to interview some skippers on their expectations earlier than the Atlantic Crossing – after which fly to the Caribbean and attempt to discover among the identical skippers to interview them on completion of the Atlantic passage.
Cornell’s Aventura III in Antarctica
“Nonetheless, whereas I used to be in Las Palmas and seeing 5 – 6 boats leaving the marina each day, setting off on the lengthy voyage throughout the Atlantic, the waving and tears of pals… and the next day witnessing the identical scene once more, I made a decision that absolutely anyone ought to get all these separate individuals into one group motivated by a way of togetherness?
“I flew to the Caribbean, met a few of these I’d met in Las Palmas, and every agreed a rally concept was one thing they’d have gladly joined. Again in London, I spoke to Dick about it and he thought it was certainly an excellent concept.
“The ARC was launched at a celebration in St Katharine Docks. Quickly after Yachting World hit the stands, letters began arriving at my tackle – a whole lot of them. And in late November 1986 209 boats left for Barbados within the first ARC.”
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