Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) Finish 2025

The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) Finish 2025 turns Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia into the Caribbean’s most heartwarming homecoming for ocean sailors, with most of the 2,700–3,000‑mile transatlantic fleet making landfall between roughly 10–15 December and a big end‑of‑rally prize‑giving on 20 December. The World Cruising Club’s itinerary notes that the ARC fleet starts from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on 23 November 2025 for the classic direct route to IGY Rodney Bay Marina, and that arrivals are welcomed at any hour with rum punches, fresh fruit, and cheers from the Yellow Shirt team, families, and friends on the dock. Expect dockside celebrations, nightly sundowners, seminars, and island excursions in the ARC Village as Saint Lucia rolls out a warm, well‑practiced welcome for yachts from around the world.

Dates, route, and timing

• Start and finish: ARC 2025 departs Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday, 23 November, bound for Rodney Bay Marina in Saint Lucia, a passage of about 2,700–2,800 nautical miles depending on routing. The official timeline places the majority of finishes around 10–15 December.
• Prize‑giving: The Saint Lucia prize‑giving is scheduled for Saturday, 20 December 2025, capping a week of arrivals and shoreside festivities. In recent years the finish line has closed around 19 December, with the ceremony following the next day.
• Crossing time: A typical 40‑foot cruising yacht sails the route in 18–21 days, with faster performance boats and multihulls arriving earlier and family cruisers taking a few days more depending on trades.

What happens at the finish

• ARC Village and welcomes: IGY Rodney Bay Marina hosts the ARC Village with daily social events, technical support, and information desks. Every boat is greeted on arrival with rum punch, fruit, and cold beers, regardless of time of day, as part of the rally’s hallmark hospitality.
• First arrivals: Performance monohulls and larger multihulls typically reach Rodney Bay in the first week of December. In 2024, the 105‑foot Southern Wind No Rush was first to finish on 6 December, illustrating the early‑December pace for the leaders.
• Community energy: A “floating village” of crews, families, and shore teams gather nightly on the docks for stories, repairs, and recommendations, with Saint Lucian hosts adding music, food, and cultural flair.

Divisions and how boats compete

• Cruising at heart: ARC is primarily a cruising rally with fun competition using handicap ratings based on boat and sail dimensions; engine use is allowed in this division under rally rules.
• IRC Racing Division: ARC is the only World Cruising Club rally with an IRC racing division, sailed strictly under sail without engine propulsion; a smaller subset of yachts vie here for line honors and corrected‑time results.
• Records and milestones: The ARC course record of 8 days, 6 hours, 29 minutes, 15 seconds was set by Rambler 88 in 2016, a benchmark that underscores how conditions and boat type drive front‑of‑fleet arrival windows.

Why Saint Lucia is the perfect finish

• Marina and services: IGY Rodney Bay Marina provides deep‑water berths, fuel, haul‑out, chandlery, and rigging services, anchoring a comprehensive ARC support environment steps from restaurants and provisioning.
• Island welcome: The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority partners with the rally, and many crews stay through Christmas, savoring warm water, piton views, and island tours before fanning out across the Caribbean.

Spectating and soaking up the finish

• Where to watch: The Rodney Bay entrance channel, Pigeon Island headland, and the marina boardwalk provide great vantage points for finishing boats under spinnaker, day or night. The ARC Village inside the marina is the hub for dockside welcomes and evening socials.
• Key moments: Early‑December first finishes create media buzz; the busiest arrival window is around 10–15 December; the 20 December prize‑giving fills the events lawn with flags, trophies, and island music.

For sailors and shore crews

• What to expect on arrival: A finish‑line call from the rally team, berthing instructions, and a dockside welcome basket; then immigration formalities, technical checks, and plenty of help if repairs are needed.
• Aftercare and community: Seminars, safety debriefs, and sponsor booths populate the ARC Village; crews swap passage notes and plan their Christmas in Saint Lucia or onward hops to Martinique, Dominica, or Antigua.

ARC vs. ARC+

• Two routes, two finishes: ARC+ departs earlier via Cape Verde, so ARC+ boats typically arrive in Saint Lucia ahead of the main ARC fleet. By the time ARC leaders appear, many ARC+ yachts are already lounging at Rodney Bay, adding to the welcome party.
• Shared celebrations: Though fleets are managed separately, dockside energy blends as both groups gather in the ARC Village and at marina events.

Travel planning for visitors

• Best week to be there: To catch the busiest dockside scene, plan a stay spanning roughly 10–20 December, which covers the main arrival pulse and the prize‑giving ceremony.
• Where to stay: Base in Rodney Bay/Reduit Beach for walkable access to the marina, restaurants, and Pigeon Island viewpoints. Early‑December to pre‑Christmas fills fast—book rooms and car hires early.
• What to do between finishes: Sail‑watch by day, then slip to the beach, hike Pigeon Island, or day‑trip to Soufrière for the Pitons and hot springs; evenings bring sundowners on the boardwalk and live music.

Practical tips for marina days

• Be tide and wind aware: Finishing yachts may enter at any hour; keep clear of the channel when viewing; follow marina staff guidance on docks.
• Respect the crews: Allow time for check‑in and rest before requesting tours; many boats welcome visitors later for informal “open boat” moments.
• Join the prize‑giving: The ceremony is a festive, photogenic way to celebrate seamanship; check the ARC noticeboard for time, venue, and access notes.

Sample ARC Finish week itinerary

• Day 1–2: Morning coffee at the boardwalk; spot arrivals; hike Pigeon Island for panoramic views; sunset at the marina with the Yellow Shirt team greeting boats.
• Day 3–4: Beach day at Reduit; dinner at Rodney Bay; evening ARC Village socials; meet crews and hear crossing stories.
• Day 5–6: Soufrière day trip to the Pitons; return for night finishes; prepare for prize‑giving.
• Day 7: Prize‑giving on 20 December; photos with flags and trophies; toast with rum punch as the fleet settles in for a Saint Lucian Christmas.

Verified essentials at a glance

• Start: 23 November 2025, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
• Finish: IGY Rodney Bay Marina, Saint Lucia; majority arrivals 10–15 December; line typically closes 19 December.
• Prize‑giving: 20 December 2025 in Saint Lucia.
• Divisions: Cruising (fun competition with handicaps), IRC Racing (no engine propulsion).
• Welcome: Rum punch, fruit, and cheers for every boat at any hour; ARC Village with socials and support.

Pick dates that straddle mid‑December, claim a spot on the Rodney Bay boardwalk, and be part of sailing’s most joyful landfall. With spinnakers on the horizon, Yellow Shirts on the dock, and island hospitality in full flow, the ARC Finish 2025 is an unforgettable Saint Lucian celebration—plan the trip, raise a rum punch, and welcome the fleet home.