Dates: 9 November 2025 - 8 December 2025
Price: 11000€
Racing on the ARC 2025. Embark on a race across the Atlantic on the Atlantic Rally For Cruisers as a crew member aboard a crewed Volvo 60. Departing from Lorient in Southern Brittany, this first offshore leg will take you to the island of Gran Canaria in the Canaries. From Las Palmas, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers will set sail for St Lucia in the West Indies!
You’ll be embarking as a crew member racing on the ARC aboard Libertalia, a monohull built for the Volvo Ocean Race, the crewed round-the-world race with stopovers. Supervised by a professional crew with Merchant Navy and Youth & Sport qualifications, they are responsible for the organisation, supervision, training and safety on board.
The Volvo 60, a crewed round-the-world racing yacht
This racing yacht is an extreme boat, a Formula 1 of the seas with very spartan comfort. Libertalia is a demanding and powerful boat, lined up for ocean racing starts, and rated in IRC0. Rigged as a sloop with a carbon mast, the Volvo 60 has a large and varied wardrobe! Up front, you’re spoilt for choice: J1, J2, J3, J4, asymmetric spinnaker, code zero… The mainsail is full batten.
You’ll be racing the ARC 2025 as part of an amateur crew, covering a theoretical 2800 nautical miles. Supervised by five professional sailors (captain, first mate, navigator, watch leader), crew members are strongly advised to attend to the World Sailing course, a 3-day training course covering fire, medical and survival at sea. For the crew of Libertalia, it’s all about sailing well and experiencing this grandiose transatlantic race from the inside! “Finishers first”, as the English say.
Racing the ARC, crew member of Atlantic Rally For Cruisers
Boarding takes place in Lorient in Southern Brittany. The first leg of this transatlantic race involves 1300 nautical miles on a direct course. First, Bay of Biscay in winter, then the descent along Portugal to reach the Canary archipelago. A real training exercise before the start of the ARC, we set aside 9 days for this navigation. It may be faster, or slower, depending on the weather conditions and the quality of the crew.
We’re talking about a committed voyage where everyone plays an active part in the smooth running of the boat: 100% participative! Libertalia is a racing boat, with no autopilot or furlers on the headsails. Throughout the crossing, life on board is organised into three watches, also known as “shift”. These sailing watches change every 3 or 4 hours, for the smooth running of the ship as well as for stewardship and rest.
Over and above the sailing, crossing the Atlantic demands self-sacrifice and resilience. It’s an opportunity to “let go” of the pace of life on land, to “reconnect” with yourself and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. A competitive spirit is essential for such an event.
You may have to put up with bad weather, cold at first, then heat. So you need to be psychologically and physically ready to take part in a transatlantic race.
An oceanic transatlantic race, on the trade wind route
Approximately one week before the start of the ARC, the yacht and her crew must be present in the port of Las Palmas for the festivities, the safety check and the briefings before the big jump! Every year, more than 1,000 crew members of 20 different nationalities embark on the Atlantic Rallye for Cruisers… People like you: some have just taken a sabbatical year, their retirement or a month’s holiday to try their hand at the adventure!
All of them are heading for Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. Libertalia is entered in the ARC in the Racing division. We’re allowing around 15 days for this Atlantic crossing, but it could be quicker depending on the weather conditions and the quality of the crew. The trade winds aren’t always established at the start of the Canaries and sometimes require us to dive southwards towards Cape Verde. In these cases, the distances to be covered are greater.
Crossing the Atlantic Ocean remains an adventure. Democratised over the last few years, a transatlantic race remains the feat of a lifetime that we’re keen to share with you.
Leg 1 : South Brittany / Canary Islands
Boarding: Lorient on the 8th of November 2025 (arrival the day before, in the afternoon)
Start: 9th of November 2025
Duration: 9 days**
Yacth: Libertalia – Volvo 60
Sailing: offshore
Stopover: Las Palmas in Gran Canaria – ETA* 17th of November 2025
Price: 2650 euros / Crew member, full board included (food, drings, petrol, déjeuner, dîner, consumables)
Price for leg 1 only: 3450 euros / Crew member, full board included
License : FFVoile and medical certificat required
Leg 2 : Race Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, from Las Palmas to St Lucia in the Carribean
Start of the ARC: on the 23rd of November 2025
Port of arrival: Rodney Bay Marina in St Lucia – ETA* 8th of December 2025
Duration: 15 jours**
Yacht: Libertalia – Volvo 60
Price: 8350 euros / Crew member, full board included (food, drings, petrol, déjeuner, dîner, consumables)
Price for leg 2 only: 9850 euros / Crew member, full board included
License : FFVoile and medical certificat required
ARC fees: Yacht fees for Libertalia is included
Each crew member must pay a team registration fee to the organisers (approximately €200 depending on the exchange rate between pounds and euros).
* ETA : Estimated Time of Arrival
** Sailing durations and arrival dates are given for information only.
For this reason, we strongly advise you to book a changeable ticket for your return and not a “dry” ticket.
License FFVoile
If you wish, we can issue your FFVoile license.
A yachting booklet can be issued to validate your skills.
To find out more, visit the Challenge Ocean Club…
Training course World Sailing (ex ISAF)
On-board communication
Onboard communications are dedicated to onboard safety and weather routing. No news, good news! Before you leave, tell your friends and family that you won’t be contactable until the end of your crossing. We do, however, post news from on board via our social networks: Facebook – Instagram
Follow ARC 2025
The boat is equipped with a Yellow Brick during the ARC.
To follow the Atlantic crossing, download the free YB Races application on your smartphone or visit the ARC website.
For further information or to make a reservation, please send us a message:
