Sail the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers: Lorient - Las Palmas

Every winter, our crewed Challenge 67 are entering the ARC – Atlantic Rally for Cruisers – an Atlantic crossing organised by the World Cruising Club, start in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria.

This Atlantic crossing welcomes 150 yachts sailing with amateur crews as well as professionnal crews, heading to Sainte-Lucia in the Caribbean Islands.

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!

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 (Captain and first mate) supervise up to 10 customers, all crew members.

You will be sharing on watch periods and shifts, about 10 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.

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.

From the start of the ARC, 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.

Plan

First leg starts in Lorient, in South Brittany.
There is a TGV railway station (3 hours from Paris), closest airport is Nantes.
We welcome you on the day of departure, by the end of the day.

8 to 10 days sailing takes you to Las Palmas.
Stop over in Las Palmas is 5 to 7 days for ARC events, boat control and skipper's briefing.
Crew members keep their bunk but food aboard is not included during the stop over, crew being busy with ARC and services.

15 to 20 days sailing to St Lucia, crosiing the Atlantic.
This offshore sailing course ends in St Lucia where you can catch fast boats to reach Martinique (20NM away).
As long as our boats then head to Pointe à Pitre in Guadeloupe, it's possible to deliver the boat with the crew.

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Other information

The skipper for this activity speaks english and french. To participate you must speak one of the languages spoken on board.

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Boat details

It is a large 21m monohull with professional crew. This Challenge 67 was designed and built for the BT Global Challenge, the crewed round the world race against the prevailing winds.
This one-design racing cruiser was built in 14 examples in the years 91/92. The majority of them are still sailing today all over the world.
The open sea is the DNA of this large monohull. Extremely seaworthy, this 67-foot monohull is designed for the open sea. Its large size is an asset for traveling, coastal sailing, training and anticipating all situations at sea. Skippered by two professional sailors, it accommodates 10 crew members/customers spread across four cabins (double and triple), with single bunk berths.
Behind the large saloon and the galley, two crew cabins complete the interior layout of the boat.
The Challenge 67 are rigged as a cutter. Their wardrobe is all the more interesting and varied! At the front, you will carry the canvas of the time: staysail, Yankee 1, Yankee 2 or Yankee 3. The largest headsails are the large genoa, the asymmetrical spinnaker and the symmetrical spinnaker. The mainsail is fully battened.

Specifications