World ARC 2026-27 fleet set sail from Saint Lucia

World ARC 2026-27 start in Saint Lucia © World Cruising Club

World ARC 2026-27 is officially under way following the start in Saint Lucia on 10 January.

The fleet set off at midday local time, in good winds of around 15 knots from the north-east, which is ideal for the first leg of their journey to Panama. For many of the fleet, completing World ARC is a lifelong ambition and can take several years of planning. Crossing the start line is a major achievement in itself and there was palpable excitement amongst the fleet.

Ahead of the start Tommaso Amadori from Cashew said: "I'm so excited. I can't wait to start the trip across the Pacific and going through the Panama Canal is going to be a blast! It's just great. The group is amazing and the organisation is fantastic.

"You need to get the boat 'ship shape' for what's coming so we've spent our time in Saint Lucia doing lots of boat work. It's a big job mentally and physically, but the reward is amazing."

The start of the Rally is an important time as all crews come together and the spirit and camaraderie begins to develop. Many of the crews have already completed World Cruising Club events across the Atlantic, and some have even sailed with World ARC before. However, whatever the history, this is a new family of like-minded sailors coming together for a great adventure ahead. To help this happen, the crews have enjoyed a wonderful programme of socialising, seminars and safety focused events in Saint Lucia, supported by World Cruising Club, the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority and Events Saint Lucia and the fleet have been well accommodated at IGY Rodney Bay Marina. It has been the perfect start to their adventure.

Across the 15-month period when World ARC takes place, the fleet will make landfall in 19 different countries. Not only an epic sailing voyage, but it is also an amazing opportunity to experience different cultures around the world and visit places which would be difficult to access by tourists flying to a destination.

Several of the fleet will complete this journey over a longer period of time, having taken a 'gap year' or two around the halfway stage. They'll then rejoin the next edition of the Rally in the following years. World ARC is an annual event and so if a crew's plans change, to shorten or extend their intended participation, this can be accommodated.

There is a unique make-up to the fleet in 2026-27, with 8 family boats taking part, as well as 7 boats starting the journey double-handed. While these crews all have different backgrounds, it is an undeniably special part of the rally that they can come together under the common goal of completing World ARC.

Looking ahead, Will Lee from Sea Wisdom II said: "I'm very excited because this has been a dream for decades. I'm really looking forward to doing it with my wife Chloe as well as sharing this experience with everyone here (in the fleet)."

World ARC will transit the Panama Canal at the end of the month. Already that is a significant milestone in this adventure, marking the start of the 10,000 nautical mile journey across the Pacific Ocean. Every landfall will be a stepping stone into new landscapes to explore and new communities to meet, all adding to the rich experience which awaits the World ARC 2026-27 fleet.

Find out more at worldcruising.com