ARC Season 2024 is officially underway, with the first boats preparing to depart soon. Some 1,300 people on 240 yachts are expected to sail in the ARC and ARC+ transatlantic rallies. They are gathering now in the Canary Islands, where they will prepare before sailing across the Atlantic to the Caribbean in November.
This will be the 39th edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to St. Lucia, and the 12th edition of the ARC+ rally, which sails from Las Palmas to Cape Verde and then to Grenada.
Both rallies attract sailors of all nationalities, ages and backgrounds, on a variety of yachts from custom builds to production family cruisers. Multihulls are increasingly popular, with a record 46 catamarans and two trimarans listed for the ARC, and 26 multihulls registered for ARC+.
Some 94 yachts are registered for ARC+ to Grenada, and 146 for ARC to St. Lucia, with 1,300 crew from 38 countries ages 9 months to 83 years.
In fact, 53 children younger than 16 are expected to cross the Atlantic this year with the ARC rallies. ARC+ via Cape Verde is the more popular route with families, as the stop in the islands provides opportunities for exploring new places. There are 19 family boats with 37 children scheduled to sail the ARC+ route, with 16 children on eight boats in the ARC.
The children hail from 10 nations and include three sets of twins. All children 6 to 16 years old can join the complementary ARC kids’ club in Las Palmas, giving parents time to make final preparations. Rally activities in Las Palmas begin two weeks ahead of each rally start.
The safety inspections, cruising seminars and activities such as a liferaft demonstration and sextant workshop all help to build bonds among the sailors.
More than 60 boat manufacturers and brands are represented across the ARC fleets, from Allures to X-Yachts, with Beneteau and Jeanneau leading at 18 and 16 entries, respectively.
The smallest yacht registered this year is Hallberg-Rassy 340 Aria Legra, and the largest is the Southern Wind 105 No Rush.
After departing Las Palmas on November 10, the ARC+ fleet will make landfall in Mindelo on São Vicente in the Cape Verde islands, 850 nautical miles and five to seven days’ sailing away. Then, on November 22, the fleet will head 2,150 nautical miles west to St George’s in Grenada, which should take around 12 to 16 days. The final prizegiving is December 12 on Grenada.
As for the ARC fleet, it will sail on November 24 from Las Palmas some 2,800 nautical miles direct to Rodney Bay in St. Lucia, a voyage of 18 to 21 days for most boats. The prizegiving takes place on December 21.
Which boats will finish first? Eleven yachts are racing under the IRC this year for racing purposes. The ARC record from Las Palmas to St. Lucia with no motoring was set in 2016 by George David’s Rambler 88 in eight days, six hours, 29 minutes and 12 seconds.
Potential first-finishers this year include the Volvo 70 Green Dragon, the Vismara 62 Leaps & Bounds 2 and the Swan 76 La Loévie, which is skippered by three-time ARC racing division winner Jean-Pierre Dick.
Where to learn more: visit worldcruising.com.
