ARC 2016 – Meet the Crew – Skipper Ricky Chalmers

Challenger 3 Skipper Ricky Chalmers

South African Skipper Ready to Tackle Atlantic Race

The thrill of ocean racing has left this South African-born professional skipper eager to begin a high-profile transatlantic race that started last weekend (Nov 20th).

Ricky Chalmers, 55, forms part of an expert quartet that is overseeing a crew of 12 amateur sailors in the 2016 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC).

All 12 of the team, who are also guided by skipper’s mate Kirstie Rowe, 29, plus watch leaders Andrew Northall, 22, and Nic Allen, 53, have signed up for the ARC with Southampton-based sailing specialists First Class Sailing.

The 2,700-mile ARC attracts over 200 vessels and started in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on Sunday 20th Nov. It finishes on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia just over two weeks later.

After a week of racing, the 72-foot Challenger 3 used by First Class Sailing is almost equidistant between El Hierro, the most westerly of the Canary Islands and the rum scented finish line in the Caribbean. Sailing against two other Challengers the crew is bidding to secure as high a finish as possible.

The Love of Ocean Racing

They began their preparations at a training weekend held in the Solent and skipper Ricky is competing in his second successive ARC. He said: “The first few days of the ARC are full on and it acts as a great training base. Once the team’s experience builds up we can start to push it.”

Originally from Durban on South Africa’s east coast, Ricky, 55, has been a full-time skipper for six years and has a wealth of racing knowledge. He said: “I did the ARC in 2015, the Atlantic Challenge in 2014 and have completed the last four Fastnet Challenges, plus I participated in the 2007-8 Clipper Round the World race – I guess you could say I love my ocean racing!”

The Rolex Fastnet is a race from Cowes, on the Isle of Wight, to Plymouth via Ireland. First Class Sailing principal Charlie Tulloch is delighted to have the expert quartet on board.

He said: “Between Ricky, Kirstie, Andrew and Nic there is an extensive stock of sailing know-how and their combined experience in both ocean racing and sailing, in general, will be of great benefit to the 12 amateur sailors. They really are in good hands.”

First Class Training and Adventures All Year

In case you didn’t know First Class Sailing provides the full range of RYA sailing courses, plus a huge variety of yachting experiences – including sailing the ARC yacht to Las Palmas via the Bay of Biscay and back across the Atlantic to the UK from Antigua.

The company has been awarded a Trip Advisor certificate of excellence three years running.

Sailing holidays to various parts of the world are on offer, including Norwegian fjord cruises next year and participation in races such as the 2017 ARC Rally, The Rolex Fastnet – a race from Cowes to Ireland, finishing in Plymouth – and the Round the Island race circumnavigating the Isle of Wight.

Anyone wishing to book a place at the 2017 ARC with First Class Sailing should contact Charlie Tulloch on 0203 006 3717 or via email info@firstclasssailing.com

Posted by: First Class Sailing