ARC Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
CREW a yacht across the Atlantic (about 2,700 nautical miles, around 18-21 days).
01 · How to take part
Your way in
Sail as crew with a skipper who has entered the rally; trained crew are expected: the organiser requires the skipper and at least one crew member to have done safety training.
Join a yacht as crew
Sail as crew with a skipper who has entered the rally. Trained crew are expected: the organiser requires the skipper and at least one crew member to have safety training, and every boat needs at least two adults.
- You build or use
- CREW a yacht across the Atlantic (about 2,700 nautical miles, around 18-21 days)
- Participation
- Crew (experienced)
- Entry and deadlines
- Every rally boat needs at least two adults; the skipper and at least one crew member must have safety training; you join through a skipper who has entered
- Where
- Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, Spain / Saint Lucia
02 · Dates
Dates and deadlines, Jan 2026 to Dec 2027
Usual timing: November-December. Dates are only shown where a source publishes them; everything else is marked TBC.
03 · Skills you'll need
Skills you'll need
What to learn and practise before you go. Each resource is marked Official or Community-accepted and names its publisher. Difficulty and prep time are our estimate.
Offshore watch-keeping and navigation
Also useful:
- Safety drills: liferaft, man overboard, damage control, first aid
- Weather and emergency communications
Difficulty and prep time are Curiosta editorial estimates for a first-timer, not organiser figures.
Refresher
- This is an experienced-crew route, not a beginner one: the organiser requires the skipper and at least one crew member to take training.
- Training covers liferafts, man overboard, damage control, first aid, weather and emergency communications.
- Every rally boat needs at least two adults aged 18+: single-handers are not allowed.
- Everyone aboard needs an inflatable lifejacket with harness, tether and a personal AIS beacon.
- The crossing is about 2,700 nautical miles and takes around 18-21 days for the average yacht; ARC 2026 starts 22 Nov 2026 and ARC 2027 starts 21 Nov 2027.
Practise before you go
- Build offshore miles on shorter passages with an experienced skipper.
- Take recognised safety training before you look for a berth.
- Read the safety-equipment page to see what the skipper must provide.
Safety notes
- Trained crew are expected: do not join as a first-time sailor.
- Check the skipper's safety equipment and experience before you commit.
- Offshore sailing carries real risk: follow the safety requirements.
Resources
ARC Atlantic Rally for Cruisers
Start dates for 2026 and 2027 and the route.
Publisher: World Cruising Club (organiser)
Crew and safety training
Minimum crew, age and training requirements.
Publisher: World Cruising Club (organiser)
04 · Check before you go
What we could and couldn't confirm
Before you book
- This is not a beginner route: you need offshore sailing experience or recognised safety training.
- The crossing is about 2,700 nautical miles and takes around 18-21 days.
- ARC 2026 starts 22 Nov 2026; ARC 2027 starts 21 Nov 2027.
- Costs are not listed on Nomad. Check them, and the latest dates, on the official site.
05 · Links
Official and source links
All links open in a new tab. Every fact on this page is logged in sources.md.
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