Race across the Atlantic from the canries to St Lucia in the ARC.
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) began as a safe way to cross the Atlantic in numbers. Today, it's become more of a race, with faster, bigger boats competing each year. Over 200 yachts take part in the largest trans-ocean race of it's kind. The start in Las Palmas in Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, has a festive atmosphere with plenty of Carribean style parties to celebrate the crossing on the other side. This is an almost exclusively downwind sail in the tradewinds and each day will get hotter as you approach the tropical climate of the Carribean.
The sailing in the ARC is often magical. If the trade winds play ball (and they usually do) you should have day after day of the wind on the quarter, a long Atlantic swell, a few cumulus clouds and a setting sun on the bow.
The ARC attracts a wide mix of nationalities, families, yacht owners and professionals. The atmosphere is of bon homie.
You will sail about 2700nm and forge friendships that will likely last forever.
Once in the Caribbean there is the option to stay on board and cruise up island to Antigua.
The Yacht
The boat we use is a tried and tested 72ft Challenger, built to race around the world, a feat it has accomplished twice. However, she is far from a stripped out racing yacht. Everyone gets their own comfy pipecot, there is a spacious saloon and galley area, two heads with showers, and a watermaker.
She is coded to MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) Category Zero which means she is fit to go anywhere in the world in trms of her structure, the safety equipment she carries and the qualifications of the skipper and mate.
Pre-Requisites
You don’t need to have racing experience to join the boat. You need to be healthy and reasonably fit. You need to have a willingness to get on with others and get stuck in.
You will be expected to get involved in all aspects of sailing the yacht. From helming and trimming sails to cooking and cleaning.
Dates
9/10 November - Training weekend - Start and Finish in Portsmouth
21st November - Arrive at yacht in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria Island in the Canaries
24th November - ARC 2019 to St Lucia starts
16th December - Depart yacht in St Lucia
16th - 20th December - Optional extra - help deliver/cruise yacht to Antigua.
Price
The price is £4295 and includes the training weekend, insurance, fuel/gas, all food on board, oilskins and mooring fees.
The island hop from St Lucia to Antigua is £350 and is only available to those that have just done the ARC on the boat.
How to Book
Staged payments can be made. For more details or to book online with our sister company First Class Sailing. You can read some blogs from past races including last years’s have a look here:
Arc Blog
