ARC 2024

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The first thing we noticed on the marina pontoons was the growing number of multihulls: there were 33 in 2021, 37 in 2022, 44 last year and 45 this year, out of the 140 boats registered for the start. This brings the number of two and three-hulled yachts taking part to 32% - compared with 28% in 2023, when 156 yachts were entered. The most represented multihull brand this year is Fountaine Pajot with 8 examples, followed by Outremer and Lagoon - with 7 and 5 catamarans respectively.
More generally, these transatlantic rallies are always well attended, even if the edition we’re following this year shows a slight decline in favor of the ARC+. Launched in 2013, this rally leaves Las Palmas two weeks ahead of the ARC and includes a stopover in Cape Verde, which seems to be very popular before reaching Granada. The “traditional” ARC, meanwhile, is celebrating its 39th edition and has always set off from Las Palmas. The finish line is in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia. It’s interesting to note that the format proposed by the organizers, which incorporates safety checks, training modules and comprehensive checks, has become even safer with the advent of satellite internet – thanks to Starlink. Crews with little or no experience of ocean sailing, of which there are now quite a large number, can benefit from assistance that would have been unimaginable just a couple of years ago...

In port, the last three days were devoted to final preparations for the multihulls and, of course, victualing - fresh supplies are only taken on board the day before. This is also the day for cleaning fruit with water - it is then hung in well-ventilated nets.
Sunday November 24: only a few clouds on the sky and an absence of wind... a trickle of south-easterly air decided to settle over the start line. The whole multihull fleet was ready to set out across the Atlantic, with the exception of one of the Outremer 55s, which had a few technical issues - fortunately, it was able to be hauled out thanks to the brand-new 850-ton travelift, inaugurated just a week previously.
At the start, it was Mark and Penny Belcher’s Lagoon 400 Two Hoots (UK) that crossed the line first, followed by Kenneth Frantz’s Elba 45 My Cherie Amour (USA) and Francesco Rongoni’s Neel 47 trimaran Ferdinand (FR). Then, as if by magic, the wind shifted to the northeast and began to strengthen: the trade winds at last!
On the deck of the Spanish warship traditionally chartered as a committee boat for the start of the event, Paul Tetlow, the new director of the ARC, didn’t hide his relief as soon as the final start was made: just 5 days ago, the weather forecasts were predicting a strong southerly flow which would have compromised the start - to the point where a three-day delay was even being considered.

Weather and Route

The ARC’s weather guru, Chris Tibbs, explained that the southerly winds were in fact lighter than ...