Crew member on the ARC 2026 transatlantic race: crossing the Atlantic

After breakfast on board, you'll explore the boat with the crew to familiarize yourself with the deck layout and onboard procedures. The captain will conduct a safety briefing, including the distribution and use of PFDs (personal flotation devices) equipped with AIS beacons. The general organization of the boat and the watch schedule will also be explained.

Once ready, you'll set sail for Las Palmas, located on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. Lorient is approximately 1200 nautical miles from Las Palmas, as the crow flies. This first leg is expected to last between 8 and 9 days, but this may vary depending on weather conditions.

Life on board is organized around three watches, also called shifts. These navigation watches rotate every 3 or 4 hours, totaling approximately 9 to 10 hours of watch per 24-hour period. The watches are organized for the smooth running of the ship as well as for logistics (cooking, washing up, maintenance, etc.). You may have to endure bad weather, cold at first, then heat later on.

The stopover in Las Palmas lasts from 5 to 7 days depending on the crossing time of the first leg.

On this occasion, festivities are offered by the ARC organization, but it is also an opportunity to carry out the safety check, the skipper briefing, etc.

During this stopover, you'll keep your bunk on board, but you'll be free to do as you please. Meals will be taken ashore, and you can plan your day as you wish. If you'd like to lend a hand to the sailors with things like refloating the boat, repairing any technical issues encountered during the first leg, etc., you're most welcome—that's the hallmark of a supportive crew!

Every year more than 1000 crew members from 20 different nationalities embark on the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers… People like you: some have just taken a sabbatical year, their retirement or a month of vacation to try the adventure!

They are all heading to Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. As the organization explains, "Our definition of a rally is safe and social cruising. We offer an element of fun competition, but it isn't a race!"

We've allocated 20 days for this Atlantic crossing, but it could be faster depending on the weather conditions and the crew's skill. The trade winds aren't always strong when leaving the Canary Islands and sometimes require heading south towards Cape Verde. This means the distances to be covered are greater.

Crossing the Atlantic Ocean remains an adventure. Transatlantic crossings have become more accessible in recent years, but it remains a once-in-a-lifetime achievement that we are eager to share with you.

Once the finish line is crossed in St. Lucia, the boat remains in Rodney Bay for approximately 24 hours.

Disembarkation is in St. Lucia. From there, you can reach Martinique, about 20 minutes away, by fast passenger ferries. If you wish, you can also remain on board for the boat's journey to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe (see options).