Racing the ARC onboard a crewed Volvo 60: Canaries-Caribbean

Embark on a transatlantic race in the Atlantic Rally For Cruisers as a crew member aboard a Volvo 60. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers will depart from Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, heading for St. Lucia in the Caribbean!

You will join the ARC race as a crew member aboard a monohull built for the Volvo Ocean Race, the round-the-world crewed race with stopovers. Supervised by a professional crew of four sailors, all qualified in Merchant Marine and Youth & Sport, they will handle the organization, supervision, training, and safety on board.

Plan

This is truly a challenging voyage where everyone actively participates in the smooth running of the vessel: 100% participatory! It's a racing boat, without an autopilot or furling systems on the headsails. Throughout the crossing, life on board is organized around three watches, also called shifts. These watches rotate every 3 or 4 hours, both for the proper functioning of the vessel and for supplies and rest.

Beyond the sailing itself, crossing the Atlantic demands self-sacrifice and resilience. It's an opportunity to disconnect from the rhythm of life on land, to reconnect with oneself, and to enjoy simple pleasures. A competitive spirit is essential for undertaking such a challenge.

You may have to endure bad weather, cold, heat, rain… So you must be psychologically and physically ready to participate in a transatlantic race.

About a week before the ARC departure, the boat must be in the port of Las Palmas for the festivities, safety checks, and briefings before the big leap! Every year, more than 1,000 crew members from 20 different nationalities embark on the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers… People just like you: some have just taken a sabbatical, their retirement, or a month's vacation to try the adventure!

They are all heading for Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. The boat is registered for the ARC race in the "Racing" division. We're allocating about 15 days for this Atlantic crossing, but it could be faster depending on the weather conditions and the crew's skill. The trade winds aren't always strong when leaving the Canary Islands and sometimes require us to head south towards Cape Verde. The distances to cover are then greater.

Crossing the Atlantic Ocean remains an adventure. While becoming more accessible in recent years, a transatlantic race is still a once-in-a-lifetime achievement that we are eager to share with you.

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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.

Opportunity to embark on an offshore sailing course during the first leg, departing from Lorient in Southern Brittany. A 1300 nautical mile direct route to Las Palmas: first through the Bay of Biscay in winter, then down the coast of Portugal to reach the Canary Islands. A true training exercise before the start of the ARC, we allocate 9 days for this voyage. The actual time may be faster or slower, depending on the weather conditions and the crew's experience. Contact us for further details.

At least one-third of the crew must have completed the World Sailing (formerly ISAF) course, which is valid for five years. If you wish to take this three-day course (sea survival, firefighting, medical care, etc.), it can be completed at the CEPS in Lorient or in another city.

Next dates

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Boat details

This VOR60 was designed and built to race in the Volvo Ocean Race 2001-02, the crewed round-the-world race.

This racing sailboat is a high-performance, extreme boat, a Formula 1 of the seas with very spartan comfort. This demanding and powerful vessel is now lined up at the starting line of offshore races, rated in IRC 0 (Rolex Fastnet Race, Armen Race, Tour de Belle Ile, Rolex Middle Sea Race, Voiles de Saint-Tropez, Transat, etc.).
Extremely seaworthy and fast, this large 65-foot monohull is built for offshore racing. Skippered by four professional sailors, it carries 10 crew members/clients on offshore races. Sleeping and dining facilities are minimal: 14 bunks, a gas stove, and a toilet. The navigation station is located aft, below the cockpit. On deck, there are twin helm stations and twin winch pedestals for the grinders! Hydraulics and ballast tanks complete the onboard power.

Rigged as a sloop with a carbon mast, the Volvo 60 boasts a large and varied sail wardrobe! Up front, you'll be spoiled for choice: J1, J2, J3, J4, code zero, asymmetric spinnaker, symmetric spinnaker. The mainsail is fully battened.

Specifications