For sailing enthusiasts, crossing the Atlantic under sail is the ultimate challenge. Every year, hundreds of sailors set out from Europe to the Caribbean on yachts specially prepared to take on the ocean. In 2025, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers will once again bring them together – professionals and amateurs alike, aboard monohulls and multihulls of every size. ARC 2025… have you heard of this iconic event?
The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, better known as the ARC, was launched in 1986 by renowned sailor Jimmy Cornell. From the very beginning, his goal was to give cruising sailors the chance to cross the Atlantic safely, within a structured and supportive framework. Organized each year by the World Cruising Club – the global leader in sailing rallies – the ARC has become the international reference for transatlantic events.
Since 1986, the rally has been held every year without interruption. In 2025, the start of the ARC is scheduled from Las Palmas on November 23, marking the 40th anniversary of this legendary event.
Each year, participants follow the same route: from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands to Rodney Bay on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. The rally covers about 2,800 nautical miles.
For ARC 2025:
The official start for all boats will take place on November 23, 2025, in Las Palmas.
Skippers are free to choose their route depending on weather conditions and race strategy.
Most boats are expected to cross the finish line in Rodney Bay between December 10 and December 15, 2025.
On this route, boats usually benefit from the steady Atlantic trade winds blowing east to west. These favorable winds can make a real difference in performance and rankings. However, calm zones are not uncommon – whether at the start, mid-Atlantic, or near the Caribbean.
Every year, the ARC attracts an impressive and diverse fleet: small and large cruising monohulls, high-performance catamarans, and racing trimarans. All share the same goal: to cross the Atlantic safely, together, in a spirit of camaraderie, passion – and a touch of competition.
There is no need to be a professional sailor to participate. All sailing enthusiasts are welcome, whether experienced skippers or amateurs. Many couples and families with children also take part, often as part of a larger adventure such as an Atlantic circuit or even a round-the-world voyage.
Once the starting line is crossed, each crew is, of course, free to choose their own strategy and route all the way to the Caribbean finish.
For classification, the ARC organization defines several divisions each year:
Racing Division
Cruising Division
Multihull Division
In ARC 2025, boats will be ranked based on their transatlantic performance, while also taking into account their specific characteristics, using the fair rating systems ORC and MOCRA.
While the rally is not primarily focused on competition, performance enthusiasts closely follow the times achieved by different boats each year. The fastest monohulls and multihulls often aim for the podium in their division.
Crews wishing to take part in ARC 2025 may do so on either monohulls or multihulls – catamarans or trimarans. In terms of size, monohulls are accepted from 8.23 m (27 ft) up to 25.91 m (85 ft) overall length. Multihulls are accepted from 8.23 m (27 ft) up to 18.29 m (60 ft).
All boats must be crewed by at least two people. For safety reasons, solo participation in the ARC is not permitted.
As in previous years, boats entering ARC 2025 must strictly meet the admission standards set by the World Cruising Club. They must be deemed seaworthy and equipped for offshore sailing, with all required safety and communication equipment on board.
This includes a life raft, EPIRB distress beacon, AIS, flares, fire extinguishers, and long-range communication systems (SSB, Iridium). Before every start, each yacht’s safety gear and equipment are thoroughly inspected.
At the end of 2024, just a few months after her construction and launch, our catamaran took part in the event for the very first time. Joining the transatlantic rally was the perfect opportunity to put our performance cruising catamaran to the test in real conditions. It was also the boat’s very first Atlantic crossing!
For the 2024 edition of the ARC, conditions were far from ideal: during the entire first week, winds were very light. Despite that, our three professional crew members and three guests covered the 3,042 nautical miles from Las Palmas to Saint Lucia in just 14 days, 16 hours, and 26 minutes.
The top speed recorded on our ORC57 was 23.5 knots SOG, and the crew reached at least 20 knots every single day.
In 2024, our ORC57 crossed the finish line in 3rd place in the multihull division, in real time:
2 hours and 4 minutes behind Jack — an MC75 catamaran
1 hour and 34 minutes behind Addiction — an Outremer 5X, one of the finest high-performance cruising catamarans ever built
When Addiction crossed the line, Avel Vaez was only 15 nautical miles from the finish…
This year, our goal is to push beyond last year’s performance and climb back onto the podium!
→ To learn more about our performance in the last edition of the event, check out Avel Vaez’s logbook from ARC 2024.
For an ocean crossing, participating boats are free to choose their own strategy. Of course, sailing should always be prioritized!
When it comes to sails, each crew selects its inventory to strike the best balance between performance, versatility, and ease of handling.
On our ORC57 Avel Vaez, we will be carrying a full set of sails:
Hydranet mainsail (107 m²)
Hydranet J1 genoa (84 m²)
Hydranet J2 staysail (56 m²)
Hydranet J3 storm jib (29 m²)
Stormlite fractional gennaker (150 m²)
Stormlite masthead gennaker (200 m²)
Masthead spinnaker (300 m²)
On board, to make the most of the event and ensure strong performance, life at sea will be well organized: watches will rotate, with a system that allows every crew member to rest regularly and properly.
A transatlantic crossing is a long voyage… On board Avel Vaez, good spirits, teamwork, and cooperation will always come first!
For the 2025 edition of the ARC, Avel Vaez and her crew are ready. All cabins on board were quickly booked, and unfortunately there are no spots left for the ARC 2025 transatlantic passage.
However, you can still follow the adventure of ARC 2025 live online:
Boat tracking will be available in real time from the race organization via the YB Races app.
Updates on Avel Vaez will be shared on our Instagram and LinkedIn accounts, on ORC Catamarans’ pages, and in our dedicated ARC 2025 thread on the Sailing Anarchy forum.
Are you passionate about performance sailing and eager to experience a yacht race on an ORC57 yourself?
Each year, Avel Vaez takes part in major races and regattas across the Mediterranean, the Atlantic, and the Caribbean. On these occasions, we invite you to join our professional crew aboard our high-performance catamaran!
Two new sailing events will follow ARC 2025 in the coming months:
The RORC Caribbean 600, starting from Antigua in February 2026
The Aegean 600, in the Aegean Sea in July 2026
Places on board Avel Vaez are always limited: if you’d like to take part in a top-level sailing event on our ORC57, we recommend reserving your spot quickly by contacting us!
The ARC is a transatlantic rally organized every year by the World Cruising Club, between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean. Each year, more than 150 boats take part in this major sailing event.
The start of ARC 2025 will take place on November 23, 2025, from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. The finish is expected in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, between December 10 and 15, 2025.
Participants are sailing enthusiasts, both professional and amateur sailors. You can join ARC 2025 on your own boat or as a guest crew member – for example, aboard the catamaran Avel Vaez.
The race course runs each year from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay on the island of Saint Lucia. The crossing covers about 2,800 nautical miles.
Real-time tracking will be available through the YB Races app. Avel Vaez’s performance will also be shared on social media and in the Sailing Anarchy forum.
Avel Vaez regularly offers the chance to take part in major international races and regattas. Since places are limited, it is recommended to book early by contacting Avel Marine.