40 years of the ARC: The evolution of a transatlantic icon

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, and Yachting World has been there since the start

Back in 1985 Margaret Thatcher was in Downing Street, Mikhail Gorbachev in the Kremlin, and a world-famous pop star was airlifted off his capsized yacht when Drum – belonging to Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran fame – turned over during the Fastnet Race. It was, in every respect, a very different time.

That autumn sailor and author Jimmy Cornell arrived in the Canary...