The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) will bring together a diverse group of boats and crews to sail with the historic ocean rally celebrating its 34th edition in 2019. As the rally preparations commence, start dates for the two routes are scheduled for Sunday 10th November for ARC+ and Sunday 24th November for the ARC.

Published 5 years ago

For thousands of amateur sailors from across the world, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), has made the dream of sailing some 2,700 nautical miles across the Atlantic a reality. The event was conceived by yachting journalist Jimmy Cornell in 1986 as a way to provide mutual support and an element of fun, for boats sailing the Atlantic. Thirty‐four years on, the present‐day rally between Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, is still true to its roots.

The ARC offers a safety net of support to amateur sailors, together with the fun of friendly competition.

This year is the 34th edition of the ARC

The ARC continues to be the most popular way for sailors of all ages, nationalities and abilities to sail from Europe to the Caribbean. This November the rally celebrates its 34th edition starting from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with 1,500 participants from more than 30 countries setting sail from Gran Canaria on board almost 300 yachts of all different sizes. An incredible atmosphere surrounds the preparations in Las Palmas as the rally represents much more than a simple sailing experience; it unites participants with a passion for adventure, achieving something that is often life‐changing, as part of a collective group crossing an ocean together regardless of age, nationality and sailing experience.

A choice or routes

ARC sailors have a choice of routes for their Atlantic crossing allowing flexibility to suite their
schedule, sailing style, and personal preference to be part of an intimate adventure or iconic event.

Now in its’ seventh year the ARC+ route, sailing via Cape Verde to Saint Lucia, is well established, and popular as a smaller family‐feeling event with around 75 boats and 400 crew. Appealing to those looking to do something ‘a little different’ the additional ARC+ destination of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), pioneered in 2018, proved to be a great success and 25 boats will sail there in 2019. All ARC+ sailors will all depart together from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday 10th November, regroup for a bumper stopover in Mindelo, and then set sail for their respective Caribbean destinations.

Over 200 boats are expected to take part sailing the traditional ARC route directly from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. They will depart from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday 24th November. The eclectic fleet contains yachts from 34ft (10.2m) to 117ft (35.96m), elite ocean racers crewed by professionals, family cruising catamarans and those embarking on a long‐term live‐aboard lifestyle change. The ARC continues to prove the most popular way for cruising yachtsman to sail from Europe to the Caribbean and 2019 proved no exception with a full entry list and waitlist of boats hoping to join.

Pre-departure and arrival programmes

Sailors on all routes benefit from the pre‐departure programme, safety checks, weather forecasts at sea, satellite tracking of each boat during the crossing, intra‐yacht radio net and communication with ARC rally control for safety and fleet support messages. On arrival, a warm welcome, ice‐cold rum punch and a reunion with their fellow ralliers promises to mark the great achievement of sailing an ocean in a very special way.

Find out more:

• ARC Website
• Entry List – ARC+ 2019
• Entry List – ARC 2019