Thirty-six boats slipped their lines in Sint Maarten on May 9, pointing north into 13 to 15 knots of west-southwesterly breeze for the first leg of ARC Europe 2026. By the time the fleet reaches Lagos, Portugal, in late June, those aboard will have covered 3,745 nautical miles across three legs and two oceans.
The fleet is a broad one: 29 monohulls and seven catamarans ranging from an Excess 11 at 11.42 meters to an Oyster 595 stretching 19.05 meters, with 172 sailors from 17 countries aboard. British crews make up the largest contingent with 51 sailors, followed by Americans at 20 and Dutch at 15. The oldest sailor aboard is 80; the youngest, 3.
The Sint Maarten-to-Bermuda leg covers 870 nautical miles and typically takes four to five days in settled conditions. From Bermuda, the fleet departs May 21 for Faial in the Azores, followed by a cruising interlude in the archipelago before the final leg from São Miguel to Lagos on June 13. Prizegiving in Lagos is scheduled for June 21.
For many aboard, the rally format is the point. World Cruising Club’s structured support, safety standards, and social program transform what might otherwise be an intimidating bluewater passage into something more approachable for crews making their first ocean crossing.
“We felt a little unsure about crossing an entire ocean by ourselves the first time,” said Mark Wojtania of the U.S.-flagged Copernicus Star. “ARC Europe just felt safer. I know that the safety standards are great and there’s a great community and family of sailors. We just thought, let’s do it.”
That sense of community appears to be working as intended. Simon Janison, skipper of the British yacht Surprise, completed the ARC last year before turning around for the return passage. “You’ve got to sail an ocean, don’t you?” he said ahead of the start. “The stops, which we didn’t have on the ARC, make things easier.”
World Cruising Club Managing Director Paul Tetlow noted the mix of returning participants and first-timers in this year’s fleet. “ARC Europe is a multi-stage rally, which means participants will experience a range of different cultures on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said. “Lifetime friendships are being formed among the community of sailors.”
ARC Europe 2026 is the 26th edition of the rally. Tracking and updates are available at worldcruising.com.
