This November, more than 240 boats and 1,200 people, including 34 children aged under 16, will take part in the 29th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers.

Participants will set sail from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, heading 2700NM across the Atlantic to Saint Lucia.

ARC sailors have a choice of routes with the introduction of ARC+ Cape Verde, and two starts are planned: 52 boats sailing ARC+ will depart Las Palmas marina (Muelle Deportivo) on Sunday 9 November, followed by the larger ARC fleet (190 boats) on Sunday 23 November.

This year’s ARC fleet represents 36 sailing nations, including boats registered in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, UK, Germany, Japan, Iceland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden and the USA.

Key Dates

1 November: ARC Office open in Las Palmas Marina
 
9 November: ARC+ Start: Leg 1 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria – Sao Vincente, Cape Verde
 
14-16 November: ARC+ Arrive – Mindelo, Sao Vincente
 
16 November: 12:00 ARC Opening Ceremony
 
19 November: ARC+ Re-Start: Sao Vincent – Saint Lucia

23 November: Start of ARC 2014 from Las Palmas
12:30 ARC 2014 start1: Multihull and Open Divisions
12:45 ARC 2014 start2: Racing Division
13:00 ARC 2014 start3: All other Divisions

30 November-4 December: ARC+ boats finish (approx) – Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

10 December: ARC+ Prize Giving in Saint Lucia

10-16 December: ARC boats finish (approx) – Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

20 December: ARC prize giving ceremony in Saint Lucia

Images: Action from the 2011 and 2013 ARC rallies. Credited to: World Cruising Club / Clare Pengelly / James Mitchell

The ARC and ARC Plus Route Map