More than 50 people gathered at the RYA lounge to learn more about the new rally, which will be taking place in August 2016.

Run in association with RYA Active Marina and with the support of Hamble School of Yachting and Practical Boat Owner magazine, ARC Channel Islands offers a mix of preparation advice and support from a lead boat, combined with a cruise-in-company and social activities ashore.

Premier Marina in Gosport will host the start of ARC Channel Islands 2016 with a welcome supper, safety checks and Skippers Briefing organised before the fleet set sail for the first leg to Cherbourg on Saturday 20 August.

Following the full day sail, rally yachts arrive in the French port to celebrate a successful Channel crossing with a welcome reception to share their experiences, and crews will have the following day to explore the town and visit the local market. After the passage to Cherbourg, the distances between stopovers are between 30-50nm as the rally visits Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney; the days are planned to combine pleasant sailing with time to explore ashore and meet up with other crews over a rally meal or sundowner on arrival.

The overall route and daily schedule is adaptable for prevailing weather conditions and rally staff will be on hand throughout to deliver the shoreside programme, including an island tour of Guernsey and visit to the Second World War Military Hospital, as well as a ride on the Alderney railway. The fleet will return to Gosport following an overnight sail from Alderney, and conclude the rally with a farewell dinner on Saturday 27 August.

Crews joining ARC Channel Islands will receive the peace of mind of being part of an organised event; enjoying social and sightseeing activities with others in the fleet along with time to independently explore. The entry fee includes all berthing for the duration of the rally, GPS satellite tracking of each yacht, the support of a lead boat and World Cruising Club staff on hand throughout the rally.

Aside from the focus on safety and support, there is a comprehensive social programme encouraging the camaraderie between crews to quickly develop during the rally. RYA membership is included in the entry fee for those not already members and discounts are available for existing RYA members.

Guy Malpas, RYA yachting development manager, said: ‘The RYA Active Marina scheme aims to help boat owners gain more from their boats, and this rally is an excellent opportunity for both novice and experienced sailors to hone their skills on a challenging but enjoyable passage. We are pleased to be supporting this rally, and hope it is encourages more people to get afloat and use their boats.’

Entries are open

The first 10 boats to enter ARC Channel Islands will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a set of recommended charts and pilot books, courtesy of Imray. The set, worth £270, will equip any sailor with every publication they could need for a cross channel trip. In addition, all confirmed ARC Channel Island entries can save up to 30% on selected charts and pilot books through Imray once they have signed up to the rally.

Due to space restrictions, ARC Channel Islands is limited to 30 boats and places will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served basis’. We anticipate the rally to be popular and encourage those interested to enter early to secure their place.

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Entry fees

The entry fee is made up of a boat fee and a crew fee payable for each person onboard the boat. Boat Fee: based on LOA as follows:

8.23-12.00m £475 + VAT* = £570**

12.01-14.00m £525 + VAT* = £630**

14.01-18.29m £575 + VAT* = £690**

*VAT at the prevailing rate on date of entry ** with VAT at 20% as at date of publication

Catamarans: There is a berthing supplement for catamarans of £130 relative to LOA as shown above.

Crew Fees:

Whole Rally Crew Fee – non-RYA member £195

Whole Rally Crew Fee – RYA Member £145

Whole Rally Crew Fee – Child aged 6 – 18 on 31 July 2016 £75

Single Leg Crew Fee £75

What do the entry fees include?

Before the rally

• Comprehensive rally information accessed through the Member’s Area of  www.worldcruising.com providing advice about participation/equipment

• Pre-rally newsletters

• Full support of World Cruising Club staff prior to rally to aid preparations

• Attendance at a full day preparation seminar, held spring 2016 (two places per boat entry)

• One year’s RYA membership for each crew member aged 18 or over (non-RYA members only)

• Savings of up to 30% on selected charts and pilot books through Imray

During the rally

• All berthing fees on scheduled stopover dates in ports on the route of the rally (valued at between £220 and £300 depending on LOA)

• Skippers’ Briefing in Gosport

• Support of lead boat, skippered by a professional YMI

• World Cruising Club staff on hand throughout the event with comprehensive sailing experience and in depth local knowledge

• Tracking of yacht positions, including loan of satellite tracker

• Regular weather and passage briefings

• Welcome meal in Gosport

• Welcome drinks reception in Cherbourg

• Tour to local market in Cherbourg

• Coach tour and military hospital visit in Guernsey

• Railway trip in Alderney

• Farewell meal in Gosport

Full details including rally benefits and links to the conditions of entry and safety equipment requirements are available in the ARC Channel Islands Information Pack. To request a copy, please contact World Cruising Club on +44 (0) 1983 296060, or email mail@worldcruising.com

You can also visit the ARC Channel Islands website www.worldcruising.com/arcchannelislands