Sail the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, crossing the Ocean

Sail the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers as a crew member. Every winter, one of our crewed Challenge 67 is entering the ARC 2024 – Atlantic Rally for Cruisers – a transat organised by the World Cruising Club, start in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria. First leg starts in Lorient, in South Brittany.

As explained, “Our definition of a rally is safe and social cruising. We offer an element of fun competition, but it isn’t a race !”. This Atlantic crossing welcomes 150 yachts sailing with amateur crews as well as professionnal crews, heading to Sainte-Lucia in the Caribbean Islands.

Sail the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers as a crew member

Called Transatlantic or also Transat, sailing across the Atlantic still remains an adventure even though it has been democratized these late years. From Lorient in South Brittany to Saint Lucia in the West Indies, around 3 500 miles separate these two lands. It’s a real adventure, a life achievement that we would like to share with you.

Over and above sailing, crossing the Atlantic requires self-sacrifice. It’s a chance “to let go” of the pace of life on land, to reconnect with yourself and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. A real breath of fresh air!

In November 2024, embark as a crew member on board one of our Challenge 67, 21m crewed monohull built for the BT Global Challenge, round the world race against prevailing winds. Notice that it is a transat and not a cruising session.

For this Atlantic crossing, a professionnal crew made out of 2 sailors (skipper and first mate) supervise 10 customers, all crew members. You will be sharing on watch periods and shifts, about 8 hours per 24 hours, as well cooking, washing up and so on. Willingly, no pilot or furling are on board our sailing boats. It’s the best way to discover offshore sailing ! You will have eventually to support bad weather, cold at first and then heat… One needs to be psychologically ready to cross the Atlantic.

Two legs to cross the Atlantic : from Lorient to Las Palmas, then to Sainte Lucia

The first leg for this transtlantic starts in Lorient in South Brittany. About 1300 nautical miles allow training course before the start of the ARC. 10 days sailing for this first leg but it can be shorter, or longer, according to weather conditions.

Start of the race on the 19th of November in the Canary Islands

From the 17th of November, our yacht will have to be in the marina in Las Palmas. The ARC is for everyone : families with children, tough racers, cruising couples, big boats and modest boats. Crossing the Atlantic together, but having their own adventures. More than just a boat race, the ARC is about friendships made ashore in the two weeks of pre-departure activities.

We have provided 20 days offshore sailing to cross the Atlantic but there again it can be quicker according to weather conditions.

Leg 1 : South Britanny / Canary Islands

Port of shipment : Lorient on the 8th of November 2024
Stop Over : Las Palmas in Gran Canaria around the 17th of November 2024*
Period : 10 days*
Sailing boat : Albatros or Whirlwind – Challenge 67
Price : 2150 euros per crew member, full board included (breakfast, lunch, diner and beverage)

Leg 2 : Transat Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

Port of shipment : Las Palmas in Gran Canaria between the 12th and the 19th of November 2023
Start of the ARC : 24th of November 2024
Disembarkation : Rodney Bay Marina in Sainte Lucia on the 14th of December 2024*
Period : 20 days*
Sailing boat : Albatros or Whirlwind – Challenge 67
Price : 5050 euros per crew member, full board included (breakfast, lunch, diner and beverage)
Price leg 2 only : 5950 euros per crew member, full board included (breakfast, lunch, diner and beverage)
Fees: each crew member will have to pay for his ARC enter (we pay for the yacht)

* Period of sailing and dates of arrival are provided for information purposes only.
We recommend you to book open plane ticket so that you can change date departure according to arrival.

FFVoile sailing licence

For the ones who want to, we can deliver French Sailing Licence to validate your skills. To know more about the Club FFV Challenge Ocean…

Communication on board

Satellite phone (Iridium) and email available on board are for security and not for crew members communications. Before your start, indicate to your family and friends that you will not be able to communicate when crossing the Atlantic. Our shore team contacts families only because of problems on board. But if so, it doesn’t necessarily mean bad news… So no news usually means good news ! Meanwhile, they can follow your adventure on social networks : Facebook – Twitter – Instagram

ARC fleet viewer

Yellow Brick is aboard during ARC.
To follow crew on her Atlantic crossing, download application YB Races or fleet viewer on ARC website.

For any information request or to book, please send us a message: