On Saturday, January 10, a fleet of 22 boats confidently departed from the IGY Rodney Bay Marina, setting sail into the vast oceanic waters of Saint Lucia for the adventurous World ARC 15-month journey across the globe.
World ARC 2025/2026 commenced its voyage from the coast of Saint Lucia, skillfully maneuvering past yellow floats designed to guide the sailors past the official starting point.
Organized by the World Cruising Club (WCC), the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) event promises to see additional boats join the fleet along the way. The yachts are undertaking an epic 26,000-nautical-mile journey around the world.
Participants will navigate from Saint Lucia to Santa Marta, Colombia, in the first leg of their adventure, shining a spotlight on Saint Lucia’s dynamic role in the global yachting community.
Reflecting on the previous season’s sailing extravaganza, the WCC emphasized that it was “another unforgettable year of adventure, ocean miles, and shared experiences across our ARC rallies.”
The year kicked off spectacularly with the start of World ARC 2025–26 on January 11. The fleet has since set off on its once-in-a-lifetime circumnavigation, currently making its way to South Africa and gearing up for the next exhilarating leg to Namibia, embarking on a journey that connects oceans, cultures, and continents.
Amid the excitement at sea last Saturday, cheers and greetings filled the air as the boats departed. WCC’s Operations Director Susanna Tetlow spoke to Voice Sports about the prestige and appeal of this global sailing event.
“The World ARC is an event hosted by the World Cruising Club… it has been running since 2008, every other year,” stated Tetlow.
Emphasizing the uniqueness of the event, she remarked that “Saint Lucia is the only country in the world that sees the fleet (World ARC) twice, once in January and then again the following year.”
The composition of sailors in the World ARC fleet is diverse, combining crew, family, and friends. Yachts sail to Australia, deemed the ‘halfway point,’ where they pause for a season.
This year in Saint Lucia, the fleet will conclude with more boats than it started with, confidently noting that at least 28 boats will complete the expedition.
Tetlow noted that the sailors will visit at least 19 countries during their journey, making stops in Panama, French Polynesia, Fiji, Australia, and Indonesia. In the second leg, they will traverse through Mauritius, South Africa, Namibia, Brazil, and Grenada, culminating their voyage in Saint Lucia. The first leg of the journey to Australia takes approximately seven and a half months.
Importantly, many vessels in the fleet have participated in previous ARC events. Tetlow made it clear: “It is more than a hobby; it is an adventure of a lifetime.”
Lorraine Sidonie, CEO of the Events Company of Saint Lucia (ECSL), highlighted the enhancements made for world sailors over 37 years of hosting ARC events, as the WCC celebrates the ARC’s 40th anniversary. She expressed pride in their role, stating, “What we witness here with the World ARC is yet another leg of the ARC family.”
The ECSL’s ARC Planning Committee, led by Anthony Bergasse, demonstrates strong collaboration with the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the Ministry of Tourism, and ECSL in successfully organizing the ARC and World ARC events.