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A great experience
Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean as a participant of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) - that's the dream of many cruising sailors and an experience, we warmly recommend!
The first ARC was initiated in 1986 by cruising sailing legend Jimmy Cornell and has since taken place every year in November from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney Bay, St. Lucia. With today approxminately 250 participating yachts it is the largest transocean event in the world. The ARC is known for its special atmosphere and a diverse mix of participants: families with children, tough racers, cruising couples, big budgets and modest boats. Crossing the Atlantic together, but having their own adventures. Many socials events are happening before the start in Las Palmas and after the finish in Rodney Bay.
The Parasailor - the ideal downwind sail for crossing the Atlantic
Trade winds are expected for always the entire 2.700 nm distance between the start in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the finish at Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, so you will be sailing downwind most of the time. Therefore, every ARC participant should consider carefully which downwind sails are the best match for the boat and the rig, the ability and the safety needs of the crew, and the style and the ambitions of the skipper.
Pole out the genua? Go wing-on-wing? Asymmetric? Symmetric? Different crews rely on different selections of sails, however, during the past years no sail type has made a name for itself like the Parasailor. This is not so much due to its striking wing, but rather to its ease of use and great stability which brings the boat up to maximum speed in a totally relaxed manner.
A survey conducted amongst ARC 2010 participants by "Yachting World" magazine revealed that the Parasailor was the piece of equipment that most crews retrospectively wish they had bought for the crossing.
Cornell's Ocean Atlas tell you when you can expect what sort of wind conditions where.
The Parasailor:
- reduces roll to a minimum;
- can also be used without a spinnaker pole all the way to dead downwind thanks to the spreading moment of the wing;
- improves the hull's position in the water by reducing the load on the bow compared to a normal spinnaker;
- automatically compensates for the course variation of the self-steering device and is not inclined to roll;
- has a greater chance of withstanding a squall without damage thanks to the opening in the sail which acts like a safety vent.
Every year, 30-40 boats in the ARC are equipped with a Parasailor.
ISTEC Team present in Las Palmas and Rodney Bay
With so many customers within the ARC fleet, it goes without saying that we have a team in Las Palmas to offer our help before the passage. Is everthing ok with the halyard, sheets and guys? Are all crew members happy with hoisting, trimming and lowering the sail? Would you like us to go out on the water with you and practice once more? Whatever questions you may have, our Atlantic crossing expert Thomas Wibberenz and other Parasailor sales partners are keen to assist. Thanks to more than 100,000 nautical miles experience and several Atlantic crossings, Thomas is also very knowledgable about other bluewater sailing related questions.
Thomas is also going to be at the finish in St. Lucia. Where else could we get the feedback of a zillion miles of experience under Parasailor within a few days? Thanks in advance to all participants for their stories and photos.
About the World Cruising Club and the ARC
The World Cruising Club (WCC) organises a series of cruising rallies. Founded in 1986 by cruising sailing pioneer Jimmy Cornell, it started off with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) but soon extended its activities to the ARC Europe, the World ARC, the Rally Portugal and the Classic Malts. The WCC is run out of Cowes, UK, and has national representatives in many other countries.
Organised by the World Cruising Club, the ARC has not only become the most popular way to cross the Atlantic. It is also the largest transocean sailing event in the world. Starting each November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, every year the ARC brings together over 200 yachts from all over the world. The Caribbean destination is Rodney Bay in St. Lucia, one of the most beautiful islands in the Lesser Antilles. The 2,700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes on average between 14 and 21 days.
Conceived as a friendly race for cruising yachts to make the Atlantic crossing both safer and more enjoyable, participating yachts must carry a range of safety equipment including a liferaft, EPIRB and VHF radio. Daily radio nets contribute further to the safety of participants. The presence of experienced sailors is another incentive for those with little offshore experience.
The ARC has a special flavour, which successfully combines racers with cruisers, old with young, and provides entertainment for all. A wide ranging programme of entertainment takes place both before the start and after the finish.
For more information on the ARC, visit the official ARC Website.
"Never again without a Parasailor"
Never again will I go across the Atlantic without a Parasailor. Everbody else overtook us while we hung behind with the genua."
Matthias Maybach, Managing Director of DHH Elba, ARC 2007 participant
