November marks the start of ‘ARC Season’, as over 250 yachts gather in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to prepare for their transatlantic adventure to the Caribbean with the annual ARC rally.
The first wave of 96 yachts will depart on the ARC+ rally on 5 November bound for Grenada via Cape Verde, with a larger fleet of 159 ARC yachts departing on 19 November direct to Saint Lucia.
ARC rallies provide a supportive environment for cruisers, and it is exciting to see increasing numbers of families pursuing the blue water dream. A record number of 65 children will cross the Atlantic with the ARC rallies this year.
Catamarans are clearly a popular option for families, comprising almost two thirds of family boats. More families choose to sail on the ARC+ route, which divides the Atlantic into two legs with a four-to-six-day stopover in Mindelo, creating a more manageable voyage for small sailors. 45 children will sail in ARC+ 2023, aged from 8 months to 16 years, and a further 20 children in the direct ARC route to Saint Lucia.
ARC is the only World Cruising Club rally with a competitive racing division, and 14 monohulls Gran Canaria will race under IRC from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. Boats to watch include the sleek Vismara 62 Leaps & Bounds 2 (MLT) and the pair of CNB 76s SOL (MLT) and Playstation PS5 (MLT) will undoubtedly enjoy a tactical tussle
The 2023 ARC Season Begins – the Boats Gather in Gran Canaria added by Caribbean American Weekly on
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