With 730 crew members already listed from 32 countries, Saint Lucia is preparing to welcome an international fleet for the 2026 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), with sailors ranging from children to an 80-year-old participant.
At a launch bringing together media, sponsors and tourism stakeholders, organisers outlined preparations for the transatlantic rally and the busy arrival period awaiting Rodney Bay Marina.
World Cruising Club Managing Director Paul Tetlow said this year’s fleet includes 15 crew members under 16, alongside participants from established sailing markets and countries less frequently represented in the rally.
“Interestingly, this year we’ve got representation from countries that we don’t often see on the ARC, including from Thailand, Costa Rica and Peru,” he said.
Crews also represent the United Kingdom, United States, Germany and France. A flag ceremony in Las Palmas will celebrate the fleet’s international diversity before the crossing.
For Saint Lucia, welcoming the boats requires an intensive operation that can stretch around the clock.
General Manager of IGY Rodney Bay Marina, Sean Devaux, said previous arrival periods have seen as many as 90 boats reach the marina within three days.
“We could have as much as 90 boats arriving in three days and everybody’s up for 72 hours welcoming them,” he said.
Devaux explained that planning must remain flexible throughout the rally, with the pace of arrivals shaping the marina’s response until the final vessel reaches port.
World Cruising Club ARC Programme Manager Peta Cozier said Saint Lucia’s hospitality and culture would be central to the experience awaiting crews after their demanding voyage.
“My excitement starts because I know what they’re going to get when they come into Saint Lucia, and unless they’ve been here already, they have no idea what they’re going to get,” she said.
Corporate partners also outlined their contributions to the welcome. LifeCo founder Ersin Pamusksuzer said A’Ila and LifeCo would offer opportunities for rest and rejuvenation following the crossing, which can take more than 20 days.
The launch highlighted the coordination required among organisers, marina staff and tourism partners as Saint Lucia prepares to receive the crews and showcase its marine tourism offerings.
