ARC Europe comes to a close in Lagos

ARC Europe 2026 concluded with a prizegiving ceremony in Lagos, Portugal. 

Held on 21 June at Instinto hotel-restaurant, the event was a fantastic evening of celebration, recognising the fleet’s achievements following their completion of the ARC Europe 2026 Rally. 

ARC Europe is a three-leg, transatlantic cruising Rally which covers over 4,400NM of sailing during a six-week period.

Leg one of the Rally began on 4 May in lively Sint Maarten, where the 36-boat fleet set sail northbound to Bermuda. After a memorable stay in Bermuda, the fleet departed on the 21 May to continue their Atlantic Crossing towards the beautiful Azores islands. The Azores are a much-loved stop for Atlantic sailors, and crews enjoyed time exploring these iconic islands and all they have to offer. The final leg then began on 13 June, as the fleet departed São Miguel in the Azores, bound for the finish on the Portuguese mainland in Lagos.  

After each competitive leg of the Rally, a prizegiving was held, with the focus in Lagos placed primarily on the final leg from São Miguel. However, as the final event of the Rally, the prizegiving also served to celebrate the fleet’s overall achievements. This year’s participants faced challenging weather conditions throughout the passage, making the successful completion of the Rally cause for tremendous celebration.

For the final leg to Lagos, the prize winners were: 

Cruising division

1st Les Papillons (GBR)

2nd Aglaia (SWE)

3rd Queen Bee II (GBR)

Multihull Division 

1st Copernicus Star (USA)

2nd Cepa (DEU)

3rd Tramontane (FRA)

In addition to the prizes awarded for performance in the Rally, Kara Ozgur and Yuksel Kara from SV Kara D (AUS) received a special award as the only double-handed crew in the entire event. Completing such a long offshore rally with just two crew is an exceptional achievement, accomplished by very few sailors. 

After the prizegiving, participants gathered for a final three-course meal, sharing stories and celebrating the friendships formed through the course of the Rally. World Cruising Club rallies are renowned for their sociable atmosphere, and the shoreside programme over the past six weeks has helped build a strong sense of camaraderie across the fleet. In total, 172 sailors from 17 countries took part in the Rally, bringing together a diverse community united by a shared goal and the spirit of adventure. 

Be sure to follow the highly anticipated ARC and ARC+ departing in November. Between the two events, roughly 1200 sailors are expected to cross the Atlantic, adding further chapters to the amazing legacy of these iconic rallies.

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