The property crew sets sail

Six senior figures from the property and architecture industry, including BDP’s Chief Executive Peter Drummond, are taking part in this year’s ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) transatlantic ocean-sailing race.

The race set off on Sunday 21 November from Gran Canaria bound for St Lucia a distance of 2,700 miles and involving some 300 boats. The property crew have chartered a 60 foot yacht called Disco Inferno 3 and expect to take 14 to 21 days to complete the race.

The idea was started by an idle conversation between Peter Drummond and long-time friend Martyn Chase, DTZ and Stanhope director, soon after Peter’s participation in the 2006 Clipper Round the World Race.

As Martyn Chase said “We are the property crew. Others may be able to claim the same but we doubt they can offer almost 200 years of professional service in the industry between the six of us! We are four Chartered Surveyors and two Architects: Martyn Chase (55 years old with 34 years service with Donaldsons/DTZ), Peter Drummond (56; 34 years with BDP), Mark Struckett (52; 30 years with DTZ), Peter Macfarlane (58; 33 years with Weatherall Green & Smith/Atis Real), Andrew Ogg (56; 25 years with Leslie Jones) and Tony Baker 66; the only client among us and 40 years as a developer - currently Ashcroft Estates.”

Peter and the rest of the crew all agreed “that sailing is 80% awful, 10% is fine (if you ignore the physical and mental damage of racing) and 10% is the greatest fun you can have.” They hope the ARC will improve those stats for them” and are so far really enjoying it.

To follow the trip please go to the World Cruising Website http://www.worldcruising.com/arc. Their position is updated daily.