ARC Rally 2026
Price: £TBC
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Race from the Canaries to the Caribbean in the ARC Rally 2026. Sailing across the Atlantic is a pretty special experience, let alone racing across. Ocean racing is not for the faint hearted. It might be at times quite physically demanding, certainly exhilarating, and definitely fun.
- Sail across the Atlantic ocean
- A Challenger 72 - tried and tested ocean going yacht
- Experienced skipper and mate
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Fantastic crossing
I have just completed the ARC. We had a really fantastic crossing and I enjoyed it enormously. The crew were great, the watchleaders were great but in particular, the skipper and mate, Ricky and Kirstie, I cannot praise highly enough. We all felt in safe hands and were really encouraged to get involved. I learned masses and overcame the anxieties I had at the beginning of the voyage. Many thanks.
Clive Morgan
Verified Customer
The ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) was first conceived in 1986. It started out as a safe way to cross the Atlantic in the company of other yachts. Since then it has grown, turned into more of a race, become more and more competitive and attracted bigger and faster yachts. Now over 200 yachts take part in it each year.
First Class Sailing is entering a Challenger 72 into the ARC Rally 2026 and you can be part of it! There is the opportunity for 12 people to crew in this trans-ocean race - the largest of its kind.
This will be the 6th time we have entered a Challenger 72 into the ARC.
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RNLI crew member Rebecca Miller talks to Ceri about taking part on the 2019 ARC yacht race and how in the middle of a night watch she was visited by a butterfly, whilst whales played in the wake of their 72ft craft.
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More Info on the ARC Rally 2026
Iconic Challenger 72 Yacht: Challenger 72 yachts are tried and tested. They have raced around the world (into the wind) twice. We have entered one into XXX ARC's and last 10 Fastnet Races. They have sailed across the Atlantic many times.
ARC Safety Net: Sailing across an ocean is not without risk at the Atlantic is no exception. 2026 will mark the 40th year since the first ARC. Over the years thousands of yachts have been attracted to the ARC as a relatively safe way to cross the Atlantic. Over 200 yachts take part each year and whilst it is highly likely you may not see another yacht for days you can be confident that there will be other boats just over the horizon should any help be required. The ARC is also recognised as being a very social and friendly event.
Experienced Skipper and Mate: On board will be a professional and extremely experienced skipper and mate with many miles of ocean sailing under their belts.
They also know the Challenger 72 yacht very well. They will be assisted by two watch leaders.
Key ARC Details
Here’s a breakdown of the most important information about the ARC Rally 2026:
Required Experience
- You should have done at least Competent Crew and enough to know you like sailing
Duration
- The dates are 19 November to 13 December
- 25 days in total
Mileage
- Around 2700nm
Building Confidence
- Build miles
- Spinnaker work
- Ocean sailing
Book on to the ARC Rally 2026 In 3 Easy Steps
Booking on to the ARC is an easy and straight forward process
Pay a deposit
Once you’re sure you meet the requirements then you can book on. Either over the phone or online. You can either pay in full or with a deposit of £2000 followed by 2 payments later on. See the Price and Travel section below.
Fill out a booking form
After you have booked you will be sent a booking form that asks for your sailing experience to date and some medical information. Once we have received this it will be reviewed by a medical officer and once approved you will then be insured. It is worth filling out this form in a timely fashion so that in the event you might have to cancel, for an insured reason, you will be covered.
Sail across the Atlantic Ocean!
In due course we will confirm a training weekend for October/November 2026. This will start and finish in Portsmouth, UK and will be a great opportunity to see the boat and meet your fellow crew mates and skipper. Next thing after will be the deep blue Atlantic Ocean!
The ARC Rally 2026
You would need to aim to arrive in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria in the Canaries for 19th November for a couple of days of prep.
The race across the Atlantic to Rodney Bay in St Lucia will start on 22nd November. If the North East Trade Winds behave you can expect it to take around 14 days.
The amazing atmosphere in Las Palmas builds as start day approaches. Yachts flying flags from all over the world converge on Las Palmas marina in the days running up to the start. There are seminars, talks, safety kit demonstrations plus lots of parties all organised by the race organisers.
It will get hotter and hotter the closer you get to the Caribbean and you will arrive in St Lucia perfectly acclimatised to a warm tropical Caribbean welcome. And parties! Lots of parties Caribbean style.
You will see the big deep blue ocean close up, a 360 degree horizon for about two weeks!, dolphins, maybe a whale or two, sunrises, sunsets, the odd other boat. You will meet some kindred spirits and likely forge friendships that will last long past the voyage. You will log about 2700nm and get some great ocean sailing experience.
The Yacht
Tried and tested the Yacht has raced around the world a number of times. Built for Ocean Racing the hull is made of steel, is extremely strong and capable of withstanding ferocious conditions if needed.
72ft long and weighing 48 tonnes she is equipped to a standard beyond that required by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the race organisers. She provides an extremely safe platform within which to take part in an event such as the ARC.
The yacht is very hands on. Most things require at least 2 people so team work will be key.
Down below the yacht is comfortable and has a big airy saloon area, a well-equipped galley and two heads/showers. The sleeping area is made up of compartments with nice snug bunks.
Key Dates & Training Weekend
You will be one of up to 12 crew led by a professional skipper, his/her mate. and two watch leaders.
There will be a training weekend in the UK in October/November 2026. This will start and finish in Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth. The weekend will be about learning the ropes and meeting the skipper, mate and your fellow crew mates and getting familiar with the yacht.
Key Dates
- Dates TBC - Training weekend
- 19 November - Arrive at yacht in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria Island in the Canaries
- 22 November - ARC 2026 to St Lucia starts
- 13 December - Depart yacht in St Lucia
- 16-22 December - Optional extra - cruise from St Lucia to Grenada
Previous racing experience is not essential. You will need to have done some sailing. You will need to be healthy and reasonably fit. You will need to be adaptable and amiable, dedicated and a committed team member. You will also need to be enthusiastic about sailing and racing a yacht.
You will be expected to get involved with all aspects of sailing the boat and help with all of the cooking and cleaning throughout the trip. You will also need to be prepared to spend at least 14 days at sea!
In return, you will come away from this challenge with hopefully a great result, a huge sense of achievement, some great ocean sailing experience and 2700 more miles in your log book, a tan and some really good friends.
Blogs from our previous ARC's can be found here ARC BLOGS and will give you a great idea of the voyage you can expect.
Island Hop from St Lucia to Grenada
After the ARC, if you wish to cruise and explore some of the Caribbean there will be 7 day cruise from St Lucia to Grenada via St Vincent and the Grenadines. This will be from 16-22 December.
For more details on this trip visit this page XXXXX
Price and Travel
The price of the ARC is £TBC and includes the training weekend, fuel/gas, oilskins, berthing fees and all food on board whilst racing. It also includes personal insurance.
Flights to Gran Canaria and back from St Lucia will need to be arranged separately and are not included in the price. We suggest you do not book a return flight until we have an idea of the ETA.
To pay a £2000 deposit and secure your place aboard use the following code when checking out: ARC2026
Flights - There are plenty of flights offered by a number of airlines to Las Palmas from the UK. Coming back you are limited to just BA and Virgin who fly from St Lucia direct to Heathrow. You could use Skyscanner to see what other options are available.
Also if you call Travel Leads on 0113 242 2202 and ask to speak to Eric you may be able to get a substantially reduced (and we mean substantially reduced!) flight out from London.
So what is sailing the ARC actually like? Read stories from our previous ARC Rallies here.
What Sailors Say About Us
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Sailing a Ch72 is an experience hard to find elsewhere
I spent a month on board [sailing in Norway...].
This trip was a perfect detox from routine life. Sailing on the Challenger yachts is an experience that is hard to find elsewhere, and the Skipper, Mate and Watch Leaders were immensely experienced - experienced and novice passengers were involved in all aspects of running of the boat - a fantastic learning environment.
I met so many lovely and fascinating people on this trip - on all 3 legs of the voyage - and the gentle pace of the trip allows you to get to know both your fellow passengers and the country to a much deeper level than a normal holiday.
The administrative aspects of the trip were all very professionally handled by First Class, with clear information prior to the trip with kit lists, details of space available, and a clear explanation of the expectations on board.
I enjoyed the trip so much that as soon as I returned I signed up for the Round the Island Race on another Challenger yacht with First Class and had an equally fun, although very different, trip.
Nick S
Verified Customer
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Over the past decade, I have attended several different sailing schools for various reasons. I was directed to First Class Sailing from Rubicon 3, a Sailing Adventure company. I sailed with First Class Sailing on a Yachtmaster Offshore prep and exam. It was tough, but also very rewarding, as it helped prepare me for the examination. The prep skipper (Jamie) at FCS was very strict but also patient, very skilled and knowledgeable. The Examiner was fair and knew his craft inside and out.
First Class Sailing was not my first sailing school, but it will always be my first choice when seeking my next training opportunity to become a safe and skilled sailor.
Marty S
Verified Customer
Awe Inspiring
The ARC was a wonderful experience. The crew were superb, a blend of strength, expertise, kindness and inspiration. I feel we were very lucky to have had four such competent people keeping us safe. I learnt a lot about sailing, but also the importance of team work in close quarters, the ability to push myself and to help others when needed. If you’re thinking about this type of trip then first class sailing can make it happen for you - a very professional but fun company who I will sail with again.
Rebecca
Verified Customer
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Ready for the ARC Rally 2026?
This is your chance to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean in the ARC.
- Tried and tested yacht
- Safety net of other yachts sailing across at the same time
- Experience Skipper and Mate
- Lasting memories
Ch72 yachts are extremely seaworthy
The course was very well paced and the balance between practical hands on practice and visual learning was very effective. All of this made even more enjoyable by our instructor who was extremely helpful (and patient) as we worked through the more complicated elements. I have sailed and trained with First Class Sailing many times from Day Skipper to Yacht Master and sailed safely through Hurricane Pablo on a Challenger 72! Even though I now live in Scotland I will be sticking with the First Class Team as I progress to Ocean Master and my goal to be an RYA Trainer.
ITs-PG
Verified Customer
Ready for the ARC Rally 2026?
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