The 2024 editions of the ARC and ARC Plus rallies are rapidly approaching with over 250 boats carrying 1500 aspiring ocean sailors ready to check off their transatlantic “bucket list” item. The dream of endless days, each becoming warmer and non-stop down-wind sailing has quite an appeal, so we are often asked how do you find a boat to sail on.
Despite such a large fleet, demand for crewing spaces is very high, so best to plan ahead if you want to “do the ARC”. Here are our top-tips for those with Atlantic ambitions.
Ask Your Friends
Most ARC boats are crewed by family and friends, so be alert for opportunities. Find out if any boats from your sailing club or marina are doing the ARC – see the ARC entry list at
worldcruising.com - and go and say hello. Once registered ARC boats receive a large annual ARC flag and are encouraged to fly them enroute to Las Palmas. So look out for the flags!
Look for opportunities online at oceancrewlink.com
We operate a popular Crew-Connect website,
oceancrewlink.com which puts prospective crew in contact with owners offering spots, not just for the ARC, but for other rallies and independent cruises as well. Monohulls and catamarans, short trips and long; whether it is a short “hop” to the Caribbean or a six month stint across the Pacific, the site has them all. On average there are over 50-70 opportunities for crew on the site each week with a weekly email update on the new additions. Your chances of finding a good match will be improved by adding a detailed crew profile and a photo. You will need to pay to get yourself to the boat, and then may also be asked for a contribution towards costs onboard.
Yachting World Editor, Helen Fretter, spoke to two of the ARC 2023 fleet about their experiences of finding crew through OceanCrewLink.com and ensuring crew harmony onboard. What are the best ways to keep a yacht’s crew happy?
Help Deliver a Boat
Remember that boats crossing with the ARC have to be sailed to the start in Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria. Owners can often need crew for the delivery, so offering to help sail south to the Canaries will put you into the group from day one. Even if your delivery boat can’t take you across, you will be in the right marinas and bars to connect with other ARC sailors enroute. Being aboard a boat already, and having a skipper on hand to vouch for your sailing abilities, will set you ahead of the many other prospects wandering the docks.
Book a space on a charter yacht
Each year amongst the ARC fleet there are a number of charter yacht which offer crew spaces on a pay-to-sail basis, which can be a good option. It means your space is fixed well in advance, allowing for time to book flights and hotels. Plus, with the right boat and skipper it can be a great way to learn about ocean sailing, as many of the skippers will also be Yachting Instructors. A quick google search for 'crew on ARC 2024' is a good starting point for looking for a berth, the World Cruising Club team have put a list of charter boats which are registered for the current ARC. It is important to check that your chosen boat is fully coded and insured for charter, ensure you check out reviews and recommendations. Expect to pay between £4,000 and £8,000 for the space. For many of the charter boats, the ARC rally is a regular feature in their calendar, and do it year after year! The charter fleet includes both multihulls and monohulls, from 40ft(12m) cruisers to 70ft(21m) plus ocean racing yachts and everything in between!
Ali Wood from Practical Boat Owner spoke to World Cruising Club Head of Communications, Rachel Hibberd in Las Palmas in 2023 about how to get a crew place sailing around the world - you can watch her interview here: How to get a crew place sailing around the world
Advice for Prospective Crews
Be honest about your sailing skills and don’t pretend you have more experience than you really do. Stretching the truth could put you in a difficult situation, and potentially put the lives of everyone on board at risk. Everyone prefers a willing learner than a false ‘expert’! Ocean sailing is about more than sailing skills; you’ll be living, eating and sleeping in a small space with relative strangers. Think about other transferable skills and attributes. Ask three or four people to be ready to provide references to prospective boat owners. Your referees could be other boat captains you’ve sailed with, or people who can vouch for your character. Prepare a Sailing CV to give to potential captains, and make sure they can reach you via a mobile number or an email address.
Joining the boat
Have your own modest sized soft kit bag with your gear for the trip. Don’t overload – less is more. Bring your own wet weather clothing and lifejacket unless the skipper has advised otherwise. If you're joining a boat that is sailing with a World Cruising Club rally like the ARC, all crew have access to the Rally Handbook online which is packed with information on personal preparations too. Make sure your passport is in date for at least six months beyond the period you expect to be sailing and get yourself suitable travel insurance that specifically covers ocean sailing, and the countries you will be visiting. And finally, make sure you have an emergency budget to pay for flights and a hotel room in case anything goes wrong. Click here for more advice on crewing on an offshore passage
Bon voyage!