ARC Information
- Andrew M
- Sep 2, 2024
- 2 min read
We are crossing the Atlantic with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) in November 2024.
What is the ARC?
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) is more than just an event; it's an experience that brings together sailors from around the world to embark on a thrilling transatlantic journey. Founded in 1986, the ARC has grown into one of the most popular and well-organized sailing rallies, guiding hundreds of yachts safely across the Atlantic each year. But what makes the ARC so special? It’s the sense of community, the shared adventure, and the opportunity to experience the vastness of the ocean with the support of an experienced team.
Why We Chose the ARC for Our Atlantic Crossing
We are Cheryl and Andrew, currently on an sailing adventure aboard our Nautitech 44 Open, MackenSea. After spending a season exploring the beauty of the Mediterranean, the next logical step in our journey was the Atlantic crossing. The ARC stood out to us because of its impeccable organization, safety protocols, and the wealth of information provided to participants. With the ARC, we knew we wouldn't be alone on this journey—we’d be part of a fleet, sharing the experience with other like-minded sailors.
There are two East to West Atlantic Rallies:
ARC+
Departs 10th November
Grand Canary > 7 Day stopover in Cape Verde > Grenada.
Finish Typically 4th - 9th December
ARC
Departs 24th November
Grand Canary > St Lucia Departs
Finish Typically 11th - 16th December
Useful Links/PDF Files
ARC Requirements
The only thing that the ARC requires is to ensure your boat is propery equipped for the crossing. This comes in two parts:
A list of equipment that you must have on board. ARC Safety Equipment
ARC staff will conduct an inspection of your boat before you depart.
On our boat we only needed to get a few extras:
Back-up Navigation Lights - Replace masthead anchor light with a Masthead tricolour (Lunacy make one that only requires a single pair of wires)
A high capacity bilge pump
A large radar reflector
ARC Cost
The approximate costs for ARC 2024 were:
2000 UK Pounds to enter the boat
165 UK Pounds for each crew member
My Notes
The first thing I will say is that you should sign up early as the event will sell out. We signed up before we had a boat!
ARC recommend that you arrive in the Canaries by Mid-October. Boats that entered have been known to miss the start as the weather did not allow them to get to the Canaries in November.
The ARC will register your boat with the Marina in Las Palmas. You can make your reservation directly with the Marina in August. The rates are very reasonable. Note if you are doing the ARC, you will not be able to get into the Marina until the ARC+ leaves.
Other Links
Nautitech 44 Open 2023 Crossing - Second place finish in their class. Article
Videos
Arc Start Las Palmas
Comments