Several ARC boats are using the Rally as an opportunity to raise money for various charity organisations. The Beneteau First 47.7 Freedom of Hamble has organised a ‘Sweepstakes’ event to guess when they will arrive in St Lucia. Entrants pay 10 Euros and the closest guess will win 200 Euros. The balance goes to the Naomi House children’s hospice. This sanctuary costs £1.5 million to run each year.

Owner Jesper Toft, who lives in Marbella, supports the charity through regular fundraising events. At last night’s Beneteau owner’s party 700 Euros was raised, with more expected from tonight’s big send off. Visit www. teamfreedomarc.com for further information on Naomi House and the team.

The British Heart Foundation (visit www. bhf.org.uk ) and Cancer Research UK (visit www. cancerresearchuk.org ) are two charities that Doug Cowpland is quite familiar with. His hotel, Powder Mills in Battel, holds frequent fund raising events for them. He hopes the ARC will be able to continue this good work and is gathering signatures to sponsor Taralita, his 1974 Bowman 46 Corsair, a few pennies for every mile she sails. They are hoping to complete the passage in 21 days. The Holman and Pye-designed ketch was boat of the show at the 1974 London Boat Show at Earl’s Court. He bought her not long ago in April, finding her in Andrax where she had been based for 30 years. The plan is to take her up to Florida after the ARC.