ARC+ Rally Completes Atlantic Crossing

Passage logistics: Mindelo to Port Louis Marina in numbers

The ARC+ fleet of 86 yachts completed the 2,200‑mile leg from Mindelo, Cabo Verde, to Port Louis Marina in St George’s, Grenada, with the fastest passage recorded at just over 10 days. Weather on Leg 2 produced a split scenario: early starters enjoyed steady winds and largely calm seas, while later arrivals faced stronger winds and squalls with gusts exceeding 40 knots.

Fleet composition and human factors

The rally included a diverse mix of boats and crews: 28 catamarans, 56 monohulls and 2 trimarans, carrying approximately 1,200 sailors overall across ARC and ARC+ routes. Families were well represented on this crossing — 43 children sailed aboard the yachts — and three dogs rounded out the passenger manifest. This multi‑generational and mixed‑ability makeup shaped onboard routines, watch systems and provisioning strategies for the long ocean leg.

Notable arrivals and individual performances

The Outremer 55 Enjoy the Silence took line honours at Port Louis Marina after 10 days and four hours at sea. Skipper Jean Jullien described a mix of exhilaration and anticlimax common to competitive offshore arrivals: the intensity of the start and the sustained focus to push performance left crews emotionally spent on arrival despite the celebratory dockside welcome.

Two days later, the three‑generation Kanter 64 Dawnbreaker, skippered by Karl Nerman, arrived with family aboard: father Lars handing the vessel to son Karl, who sailed with wife Anna and their three children. Dawnbreaker exemplifies how long‑distance rallies double as family passages, requiring careful provisioning, child safety measures and modified watch schedules to accommodate younger crew members.

On the doublehanded front, Linn Eve and Anders Krogholm aboard the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50DS Eveline closed in after 13 days and 14 hours. Their experience highlights the tradeoffs of small‑crew ocean sailing: limited crew size increases navigation and sail‑handling workload, but also provides a compact decision loop and greater cohesion when conditions change rapidly, such as the squalls that intensified on their final nights.

Moments ashore and social dynamics

Event organizers including the World Cruising Club, the Grenada Tourism Authority and Port Louis Marina orchestrated a warm reception for arrivals. Beyond competitive finishes, the rally serves as a social catalyst: one striking example was the wedding held aboard the Windelo 50 catamaran Beyond I. Owner‑skipper Endre Eolyus officiated as friends, family and new acquaintances from various ARC+ crews gathered to celebrate at sunset — a reminder that long‑haul passages often become intimate community‑building events.

Operational lessons for long ocean passages

• Watch systems: Mixed family and cruising crews must plan watches that balance rest, safety and engagement for younger sailors.
• Weather routing: Variable systems across a long leg demand flexible routing and conservative sail plans to manage squalls and gusts.
• Provisioning and systems redundancy: Boilers, refrigeration and spare parts provisioning are critical when crews intend to celebrate or explore upon arrival.
• Marina coordination: Pre‑booked berthing and customs/immigration procedures smooth arrival processing for large rallies and reduce congestion at marinas like Port Louis.

How this crossing relates to charter and rental markets

Mass transoceanic rallies influence charter availability and seasonal demand in destination marinas. For rental markets and yacht charter operators, arrivals of 86 boats and 1,200 sailors create short‑term demand spikes for berthing, provisioning, shore activities and local hires such as captains or instructors. For GetBoat users looking to rent a vessel, understanding these event calendars helps avoid peak congestion or, conversely, align a charter with festival‑style shoreside events.

Practical advice for renters and private owners

Charter and private owners planning similar blue‑water passages should emphasize safety and comfort: robust storm sails, reliable autopilots, and a clear crew briefing on emergency procedures. Families renting a yacht should verify child safety equipment and ask about crew experience — a professional skipper can transform a challenging passage into a manageable adventure. For those seeking a tranquil coastal cruise, timing a charter after a major rally can offer quieter marinas and freshly celebrated local culture.

Event impact and outlook

The ARC+ arrivals in Grenada are locally significant for tourism and marina economics, but globally they represent a continued renaissance of traditional ocean rallies in the leisure yachting calendar. While not a geopolitical game‑changer, such rallies boost seasonal demand in Caribbean marinas and nearby services, influencing charter schedules, yacht sales enquiries and crew recruitment for the coming season.

GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, as we truly understand what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The service values freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course — placing no limits on a good life and helping clients find a vessel that suits their preferences, budget, and taste.

The key takeaways are the diversity of crews and craft, the operational demands of long ocean legs, and the social and economic aftershocks in host marinas. Experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process where one learns about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service; if you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com

Forecasting effects on global tourism: this rally is regionally impactful rather than globally transformative, but it still matters to charter clients and owners because it shapes seasonal availability and local activity calendars. To stay abreast of developments and plan your next seaside adventure with confidence, consider the convenience and reliability of GetBoat when booking your next boat or yacht rental.

In summary, the ARC+ crossing from Cabo Verde to Grenada demonstrated how coordinated rally logistics, diverse crews and variable weather combine to create both operational challenges and memorable moments ashore. From line honours by Enjoy the Silence to family passages like Dawnbreaker and intimate ceremonies aboard Beyond I, the event reinforced the enduring appeal of ocean rallies. For those planning charters, yacht purchases, or simply a day sail to a nearby beach or gulf, platforms such as GetBoat.com provide transparent listings, detailed make and model information, ratings and flexible options to suit any budget — helping turn a charter or yacht sale into an unforgettable yachting, boating or sailing experience on the sea, ocean, lake or marina.