Of Egrets and Iguanas

The Pontoppidan family — Niels, Marte, Tommy, Jakob and Vilda‚ aboard Karayato — are just one example of those whose plans were still evolving. After arriving in Grenada on December 4th, Marte said, “We plan to go to Barbados and spend Christmas there with my father. We have no plans past the holidays.” Niels is a drummer and the thought of visiting the home of steel pans intrigues him, so, “Maybe Trinidad…”

Longtime liveaboard ocean sailors Kim and Marie Graven on North Star were also keeping their options open. “Three months ago we would have said we were heading for the Pacific maybe, but we’ve been there.” (During the pandemic they got stuck in New Zealand aboard their previous boat.) “So now… we’ll sail up the islands, meet our daughter in St. Lucia, and from there, maybe the BVI. Then maybe Latin America… or maybe the Canadian Maritimes…”

Roz on Sweet Dreams was planning to sail to St. Lucia at the end of January to meet friends. And after that? “We’ll go back across the Atlantic in the spring, maybe with ARC Europe; not sure yet. We’re still making it up as we go along. Meanwhile, we’ll spend time enjoying sailing in sunshine!”

Thanks to WCC, the Grenada Tourism Authority, Blue Horizons Resort and Sheldon Noel of Royalty Taxi & Tours for making first-hand coverage of the ARC+2022 arrival in Grenada possible and enjoyable.

For more information on ARC+ and other WCC evens visit www.worldcruising.com

Ed the Iguana is an informal mascot of the ARC and ARC+ rallies. A stuffed toy, Ed has made more than 25 transatlantic crossings with these events, being passed on from one family boat to another year after year.

When, a couple of days out of Grenada, a cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) landed aboard Karayato, the Pontoppidan youngsters quickly dubbed it Ed, too. After resting on deck for a day and a night, Ed the Egret walked into Karayato’s cabin and appeared to study the chart on the chart table. Not long after, he flew off in the direction of Venezuela.

Compass’s bird specialist, Bela Brown, tells us, “The cattle egret is an African species that colonized the New World by flying across the Atlantic. They are known for exploring….”

No offense to Ed the Iguana, but we can’t think of any ARC+ mascot more apt.