Circumnavigation planned: The three most important rallies presented

Sailing around the world remains a major undertaking, but organised rallies make it much easier to plan. For sailors who do not want to tackle this challenge alone or who appreciate the security of an experienced organisation, circumnavigation rallies offer the right framework: The responsibility for the ship remains with the skipper, but the network of the fleet provides additional security. Daily radio calls, satellite tracking and close dialogue with each other over thousands of nautical miles create a strong community in which technical problems or navigational issues can be solved together.

The classic route follows the change of seasons and utilises the trade wind belts to head mostly westwards via the Panama Canal, through the South Seas and around the Cape of Good Hope or alternatively back to Europe or America via the Red Sea. Such rallies are often scheduled to last 15 to 27 months and are planned in such a way that the cyclone seasons in the respective oceans are avoided. The concepts vary considerably: the spectrum ranges from firmly organised fleets with a schedule and full-service support in the stage destinations to loose associations in which the focus is on experiencing other cultures and remote atolls together.

World ARC

The World ARC (World Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) is the best-known international sailing rally for cruising sailors around the globe. The ARC concept was originally developed by Jimmy Cornell, a pioneer of blue water sailing, who organised the first Transatlantic Rally into being. The World ARC was first launched in 2008 as an extension for sailors who want to discover the world under sail. Today, the event is organised by the World Cruising Club (WCC).

The rally is designed as an ongoing adventure that lasts around 15 months and covers over 26,000 nautical miles. The number of participants is limited to 25 to 40 boats in order to ensure sufficient berths even in small harbours. Many places are often taken one to two years in advance. Early registration is recommended.

The route follows the classic trade wind route to the west. The annual rally traditionally starts in Saint Lucia in the Caribbean in January. From there, it goes through the Panama Canal into the Pacific, continuing via the Galapagos Islands, the Marquesas, Tahiti and Fiji to Australia. The route then runs along the east coast of Australia, from Mackay to Darwin. The second half of the route leads through the Indian Ocean via Lombok, Mauritius and Réunion to South Africa. From Cape Town, the fleet sails via St Helena and Brazil back to the Caribbean, where the circumnavigation ends in Saint Lucia in April of the following year.

ARC at a glance:

• Support: Participants benefit from the organised canal passage (Panama), support with customs and entry formalities as well as daily radio calls and weather updates. A thorough safety check of the boats is carried out before the start. There is a fixed supporting programme with dinner parties and excursions in the community at the stage destinations.
• For whom? The Rally is ideal for couples, families or friends on their own yachts who value safety and socialising. The World ARC is not a race against the clock, but combines organised sailing with individual freedom. Single-hull boats with a length of around 12 to 24 metres (40-80 feet) and multi-hull boats with a length of around 12 to 20 metres (40-65 feet) are permitted. Yachts outside these sizes will be considered for participation on a case-by-case basis.
• Costs: The participation fees consist of a Shipping fee, depending on the length and a Crew fee (approx. €3,360 per person). As a guide: participation for a 15-metre yacht will cost around €34,000 for the full distance in 2026.
• Contact: worldcruising.commail@worldcruising.com; Tel: +44 1983 296060

Grand Large Yachting World Odyssey

The Grand Large Yachting World Odyssey (GLYWO) was developed as a round-the-world cruise especially for owners of the brands of the French Grand Large Yachting Group. These include shipyards such as Garcia, Allures, Outremer, Gunboat and RM. The fleet is limited to around 25 boats. In its first edition, it was launched as the "World Odyssey 500" in 2021 to mark the 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the world by Magellan and his crew. The rally takes place every two years.

The next edition is planned for 2027 and the rally usually starts in November. The start of the circumnavigation often takes place in the Canary Islands. The journey is designed to take around three years and covers around 30,000 nautical miles. Participants can choose between two main routes: the tropical route through the Panama Canal and along the trade winds and the more challenging southern route, which runs through the Strait of Magellan at the southern tip of South America.

GLYWO at a glance

• Support: Throughout the voyage, a team of experts from the shipyard is on hand to provide technical support and maintain the yachts. They also provide weather briefings and fleet tracking. The organisation also takes care of the complex entry and exit formalities in the individual countries. The berths in the harbours are also organised in advance. This saves the participants time-consuming bureaucratic hurdles. Before the start, the crews are also prepared in seminars, webinars and training sessions. Joint events and a digital platform for dialogue strengthen the sense of community.
• For whom? The rally is designed for owners of Allures, Garcia, Outremer, Gunboat, RM and ORC yachts. Couples and families without decades of experience can also take part, provided they attend the shipyard's preparatory seminars.
• Costs: Depending on the size of the boat and the number of people, the participation fees range from around €35,000 to €50,000. Calculated over the three-year term, this equates to around €1,400 per month. There are also costs for catering, mooring fees outside the rally stops and maintenance.
• Contact: gly-world-odyssey.com; grandlargeservices.com

Oyster World Rally

The Oyster World Rally (OWR) is a circumnavigation for Oyster owners. It is one of the most exclusive events in the sailing world. The Oyster World Rally takes place every two to three years. In 2026-2027 a rally is underway. The edition for 2030-31 is currently in preparation.

The journey traditionally begins and ends in Antigua (Caribbean). The voyage usually starts in January and takes around 16 months to complete. It heads westwards via the Panama Canal, the Galapagos Islands and French Polynesia to Australia. From there it goes via Indonesia, Mauritius and La Réunion to South Africa (Cape Town). The last part of the journey will take the ship back to the Caribbean via the South Atlantic (St Helena) and Brazil. The ship will call at a total of around 27 destinations.

OWR at a glance:

• Support: A specialised team of Oyster technicians travels ahead of the fleet or accompanies it to the main ports. They provide support with repairs, maintenance and the procurement of spare parts. Seminars on topics such as meteorology, route planning, maintenance and safety begin as early as two years before the start. On site, the team takes care of customs formalities and berths. In addition, numerous events, parties and shore excursions strengthen the cohesion of the "Oyster family". The fleet is tracked around the clock by satellite and professional weather advice is available for the long passages.
• For whom? The rally is aimed exclusively at Owners of Oyster yachts (size range mostly between 50 and 90 feet). The participants are a mixture of experienced blue water sailors, families and adventurers who value safety and technical support. The fleet is strictly limited, usually to around 25 to 30 boats, to ensure personalised support and a family feel.
• Costs: The costs vary depending on the size of the boat and the package booked (e.g. Adventurer, Explorer or Voyager). The pure participation fee is currently between around €110,000 (for 50-60 foot boats) and over €147,000 for larger yachts. In addition, there are fees of around €1,800 to €2,000 per person on board. These costs only cover the organisational framework and support; maintenance, diesel, food and equipment for the yacht are extra.
• Contact: oysteryachts.com. As places are often fully booked years in advance, early registration for future rallies (such as 2030/31) is essential.

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