With 239 boats taking part and a record 52 children at the ARC+, the 40th edition of the ARC marks a special milestone in the history of this sailing event, which was once founded by Jimmy Cornell. Preparations for the ARC and ARC+ 2025 are in full swing, with boats and crews from all over the world arriving in Las Palmas these days.
More than 1,200 sailors will be preparing for their Atlantic crossing in the coming weeks. The yachts are provisioned and final repairs are carried out. Old acquaintances meet and new friendships are made on the jetties. During the day, the World Cruising Club offers numerous seminars and practical demonstrations on topics such as safety, navigation and weather routing. In short, the harbour of the Canary Islands' capital will be a hive of activity over the next few weeks.
This year even more than usual. This is because the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is taking place for the 40th time this year. Organised by the British company World Cruising Club, the rallies have developed into one of the most important events on the international long-distance sailing scene since 1986. With over 7,000 yachts taking part since its inception, the event emphasises its enduring popularity and relevance in the sailing world.
Two routes across the Atlantic
The ARC+ starts on 9 November from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It will initially take the participants 850 nautical miles south-west to Mindelo on the Cape Verde Islands. After a break for rest and supplies, the sailors will continue their journey from there on 21 November and set course for Grenada in the Caribbean - a distance of a further 2150 nautical miles.
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The classic ARC route, on the other hand, starts on 23 November and takes the crews on a direct route over 2700 nautical miles to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. Both routes offer sailors the opportunity to cross the Atlantic under professional organisation - an adventure that is on many people's personal bucket list.
Diverse fleet with an impressive range
The fleet of participants in the ARC and ARC+ 2025 is characterised by impressive diversity. A total of 89 boats are taking part in the ARC+, including 58 monohulls, 28 catamarans and three trimarans. The largest participating boat is the "Anastasia" (JEY), a Fountaine Pajot Alegria 67 with a length of 20.36 metres. The smallest boat in the fleet, the "Restless of Stornoway" (GBR), is a Rustler 36 with a length of 10.77 metres. Boats of the brands Fountaine Pajot (7), Lagoon (6) and Oyster (6) are particularly well represented.
The main ARC fleet comprises 150 boats, with monohulls dominating here too (117 boats), followed by 31 catamarans and two trimarans. The spectrum ranges from the "Heartbeat2" (DEU), a JPK 10.30 with a length of 10.34 metres, to the impressive "Vantanera" (MLT), a Wally yacht with a length of 30.6 metres. Oyster (13), Beneteau (11) and Swan (10) lead the statistics for the ARC boat types.
This diversity underlines the inclusive nature of the event, which brings together sailors with different boats and levels of experience, the organisers emphasise.
International participation and age diversity
A special feature of the ARC and ARC+ is the international composition of the participants. Over 400 sailors on boats from 27 different countries will take part in the ARC+. Most of the yachts come from the United Kingdom (21), followed by Germany (8) and the USA (7). The wide age range of the participants, from 1 to 71 years, is also remarkable. Particularly noteworthy is the record number of 52 children who will be taking part in the ARC+ - a significant increase on the 37 children who took part last year.
The main ARC fleet brings together over 750 sailors from 31 different countries. Here too, boats from the United Kingdom (51) dominate, followed by Germany (12) and France (10). The age range of the participants extends from 6 to 80 years, with 11 children taking part. This demographic diversity shows that the Atlantic crossing is an adventure that attracts and connects people of all ages and nationalities.
Anniversary edition with special highlights
The 40th edition of the ARC will be celebrated with an extended programme that includes several new elements. Gran Canaria residents are invited to take part in public events on land, including opening parades, and to watch the start of the ARC and ARC+ from the harbour wall. A particular highlight will be the return of the ARC Dinghy Race, which will take place after the opening ceremony on 16 November, providing a popular opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere.
This year's innovations also include the "ARC Radio" and "ARC Live" initiatives. ARC Radio will broadcast music, information about the ARC and interviews from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria around the clock from 10 November. ARC Live will start on 18 November with daily events lasting up to 90 minutes, including a live broadcast from the start.
In less than a month, all ARC and ARC+ participants will be at sea, heading for the Caribbean. For many sailors, this is the fulfilment of a lifelong dream that will undoubtedly create unforgettable memories. The combination of adventure, community and the challenge of crossing the Atlantic makes the ARC and ARC+ events far more than an ordinary sailing trip.
