Atlantic Rally for Cruisers: Great pictures from the ARC start in the Caribbean

Around 800 sailors are facing 2,700 nautical miles on the Atlantic and for most of them around 18 to 20 days at sea. Among the crews from 35 nations are 21 German teams. The destination of the flotilla cruise, which is taking place for the 37th time, is the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia.

Strong gusty winds from the north-east caused more swell than many had hoped for at the start of their trip. However, the long-term forecast for the Atlantic aspirants looks far more promising than last year, when light winds were forecast for the start and until further notice. This time, we can hope for constant trade winds.

Two days earlier the smaller ARC Plus fleet from Mindelo for a trip across the pond. The ARC Plus yachts leave Gran Canaria two weeks earlier each year and make a stopover in Cape Verde. Meanwhile, the fastest participants in the French long-distance flotilla "Rallye des îles du soleil" have already reached their destination, the Caribbean island of Marie-Galante.

A total of 234 yachts are currently sailing as part of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, they can be tracked in the tracker. The destination of the ARC Plus is Grenada, where the boats are expected to arrive at the beginning of December. The crews of the ARC that has now started have a little more distance ahead of them. Most of them hope to see Saint Lucia appear on the horizon between 8 and 13 December.