Favourable weather conditions were welcomed by the fleet, as strong southerly conditions had led to a delay from the original start date of 8 November. There was palpable excitement amongst the fleet in advance of the start.
Hassel Hassenbürger from Now or Never (DEU), commented: “It’s my first Atlantic crossing so I’m maybe not as experienced as others, but it’s an adventure! I feel good because I’ve been supported by the ARC+ team. We were very relaxed about the decision to delay the start because for us, safety is the most important thing.
“It’s an adventure for us because when you’re on a boat anything can happen at any time, but on top of that, the social aspect of the Rally is really important for me. Meeting crews from an international fleet has been great and I think it (the shoreside programme) has been really well organised.”
Fantastic Spectacle
As the fleet departed Las Palmas Marina in the Canary Islands, there was a fantastic atmosphere and they were waved off by a large crowd of Gran Canarian locals and travelling spectators. There was also a large group of ARC participants who enthusiastically cheered as the ARC+ fleet passed the marina breakwater. The ARC Rally starts on 22 November and it is clear that anticipation for that day is growing.
After departing the marina, the fleet gathered near the start line, which was in between the Committee Vessel, the Spanish Guardia Civil Maritime Service vessel, Rio Órbigo and a red buoy located further offshore.
The fleet set off in two separate starts. The multihull division, consisting of 25 boats, set off at 12:45 UTC and it was Blue Sky (FRA), an Outremer 52, who made the best start. The crew of Blue Sky favoured the pin end of the line, where winds were slightly stronger than the inshore end of the line closer to the committee vessel. After a well-timed start, they were able to find a clear lane of wind, helping them to break clear from the rest of the fleet.
In ARC+ 2025, an Outremer 55, Enjoy the Silence (FRA), achieved line honours on Leg 2 of the Rally, so it’s certainly possible that Blue Sky will continue this strong start throughout the course of Leg 1.
Soaking up the Atmosphere
At 12:00 UTC, the cruising division, consisting of 53 boats began. Being a larger fleet, the start line was busier. This made for a fantastic spectacle and the participants could really soak up the atmosphere of the start.
Like the multihull start, most boats favoured the pin end of the start line. There was a close start between Zina, a Farr 56 (GBR), Constance, a Swan 441 (GBR) and Take 5, a Salona 40 (NED). Most monohulls opted for a sail plan of a mainsail and a jib, but after a short period of sailing, many boats in the fleet launched asymmetric spinnakers with their sights set on the southern end of Gran Canaria.
The action of the start was brought to new audiences because for the first time ever, World Cruising Club broadcast a live stream of the ARC+ start on their YouTube and Facebook channels.
Bringing the start to an international audience is very important because ARC+ has always been a very diverse event. This year, 355 sailors are taking part, representing 30 nations. Amongst other things, the departure of the fleet represents a rich tapestry of cultures coming together under the common goal of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean.
After the start, Managing Director of World Cruising Club, Paul Tetlow, said: “It’s excellent to see the ARC+ fleet leave Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to begin their voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. Last week, we made the significant decision to delay the start from the original start day of 8 November. We feel this was definitely the right call, considering the safety of our participants above all else.
“It’s been a great team effort from everyone at World Cruising Club and local supporters and suppliers to adapt to the circumstances of a delayed start. Over the past few days, we’ve worked hard to add additional events to our shoreside programme, as well as keeping the fleet informed about the latest weather developments.
“The participants should feel very proud of themselves to even reach the start line. We appreciate that many people prepare for this moment for years, so it can feel like an incredible milestone.”
Now that the fleet have left Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, they will sail 850NM south to Mindelo, Cape Verde. After finishing this leg, which is expected to take 5-8 days, the fleet will spend a period of time exploring Cape Verde and catching up with the other participants before the Rally restarts slightly later than initially planned, on 22 November.
Leg 2 of the Rally finishes in Port Louis Marina, Grenada. This is a 2150NM voyage, meaning that by the end of the Rally boats will have sailed over 3000NM.
As a feat of sailing, this is a phenomenal achievement, but the ARC+ experience will be defined for participants by so much more than miles sailed. Year on year, those sailing on the Rally make friendships for life and the experience of sailing across the Atlantic Ocean can be truly life changing.
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Related News:
- Atlantic Crossing: ARC+ Rally Start Delayed Due to Adverse Weather
- Canary Islands: Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Comes Alive for ARC+ Opening Ceremony
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ARC+ 2026 Key Information
- 78 boats from 23 nations have entered the Rally. The most common countries are United Kingdom (18), Germany (10) and France (9)
- The most popular boat manufacturers are Fountaine Pajot (7), Hallberg-Rassy (6), Beneteau (5), Hanse (5) and Bavaria (5)
- The largest boat is Desire (SVN), Hanse 588, 17.2m
- The smallest boat is Cara of the South (IRL), Tradewind 35, 10.67m
- There are 352 participants from 28 countries in the fleet. The most common nationalities are British (73), German (33) and American (31)
- The youngest participant is 2 years old
- The oldest participant is 77 years old
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General Enquiries:
For information about participating in World Cruising Club rallies, please contact mail@worldcruising.com or call +44 (0)1983 296060
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About World Cruising Club
World Cruising Club was formed in 1987 by Jimmy Cornell after the success of the original 1986 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. After two changes of ownership, the company is now owned and run by Paul and Suzana Tetlow with a small dedicated team in Cowes (UK) supported on events by a wider network of the famous ‘yellow shirts’.
World Cruising Club Rallies
- ARC from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. First run in 1986, it is the world’s most established ocean going rally.
- ARC+ from Gran Canaria to Grenada via Cape Verde. First run in 2013, the fleet size is around 100 hulls.
- ARC Europe from Sint Maarten or the US east coast to Bermuda, then the Azores, finishing in Portugal. It first ran in 2000. The fleet is around 30 boats.
- World ARC 26,000NM circumnavigation starting and finishing in the Caribbean. The first World ARC took place in 2008 following the success of the Europa rallies and now runs annually.
- ARC Portugal first sailed in 1995, the Rally crosses the Bay of Biscay then day sails down the Portuguese coast to finish in Lagos.
- ARC Baltic offers 1000NM of stunning cruising through the Baltic Sea. The route starts in Germany and finishes in Bullandö, Sweden.
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Related Links
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