Photo: Claire & Ralph Henley, Beneteau Oceanis 52, Slow Gin & visiting friends
For some, the dream of sailing away for an extended adventure is something that gets put on hold. Family commitments, careers, responsibilities and the practicalities of everyday life can all get in the way. But for four couples taking part in the ARC+ Rally, the decision has finally been made: the time is right, the opportunity is here, and there is no point waiting any longer.
Whether it is a long-postponed dream, a return to an adventure first experienced decades ago, or the beginning of an entirely new life afloat, Paul and Trudy aboard Tempe, Boudewijn and Francine aboard Take 5, Wendy and Marshall aboard Lady J of Cowes, and Ralph and Claire aboard Slow Gin have all reached the same conclusion. Life is too short not to give it a go.
Photo: Paul & Trudy Rutt, Amel 50, Tempe
For Paul and Trudy Rutt on their Amel 50 Tempe, the decision to join the ARC+ and then taking part in the World ARC, is about making up for lost time. Having spent much of their lives raising a family and running a business, they decided around two and a half years ago that the moment had come to put their own sailing ambitions first. With their children now at university, they downsized, closed their business and committed to a new life afloat.
"We didn't have a gap year. We'll have it now!" says Trudy. Their reasoning was refreshingly straightforward. "You only live once. How many good summers have we got left?"
It is a sentiment shared by Ralph and Claire aboard Slow Gin; sailing with their dog Teddy. Having decided to sell up and make their Beneteau Oceanis 52 their home for the foreseeable future, they are embarking on a sailing adventure that could last six or seven years, with plans to explore the Caribbean and beyond before hopefully completing a circumnavigation.
"Some things have happened over the past few years and we just thought, if we don't do it now, we'll never do it," they explain.
Photo: Claire & Ralph Henley, Beneteau Oceanis 52 Slow Gin
For both couples, the decision involved more than simply booking a place in a rally. It meant making significant changes to their lives and committing to a different future. But once the decision was made, there was no looking back.
For Dutch sailors Boudewijn and Francine on their Salona 40 Take 5, the ARC+ is a return to an adventure they first experienced 31 years ago. Having taken part in the ARC in 1995, the couple always knew they wanted to go cruising again. Now retired, with their three children grown up, they have finally made that ambition a reality aboard Take 5.
Their experience has given them a different perspective on what matters and when to take the opportunity. "You have to make your own decisions at a certain point. You have to say, this is what I want. This is it. This is important," they explain. Their advice to anyone contemplating a similar adventure is equally direct: don't wait too long. Life can change unexpectedly, and there is no guarantee that the perfect moment will always come along. "Do it," they say.
Photo: Francine & Boudewijn, Salona 40, Take 5 © Jesús_de León
For Wendy and Marshall Bailey aboard Lady J of Cowes, this adventure is also about making a dream happen together. The couple have owned their Oyster 53 since 2019, making this their first boat together, and are now embarking on a circumnavigation through the ARC+ and World ARC.
They have already shared some memorable sailing experiences, including taking part in the ARC on their honeymoon in 2018 aboard Challenger 4. This time, however, they are making the Atlantic crossing on their own boat, having spent several years preparing her for extended cruising.
Now retired, the couple have planned their adventure around their 60th birthdays, initially expecting to spend two to three years exploring the world. For them, being able to share the experience aboard their own boat makes it particularly special.
Their message to anyone still wondering whether to take the plunge is perhaps the simplest of all: “Just do it. There's always a reason not to do it, but just do it. It's a great experience.”
Of course, deciding to go is only the beginning. Turning the dream into reality takes preparation, commitment and sometimes a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. The couples have all taken different routes to get here, from returning to sailing after a break of many years to learning new skills and preparing boats for life offshore.
For Ralph and Claire on Slow Gin, for example, the journey has involved a particularly steep learning curve for Claire, who only completed her Competent Crew course around two and a half years ago. For Paul and Trudy, returning to sailing after around 20 years away from the water meant carefully choosing a robust blue-water yacht and building their experience before tackling the Atlantic
Photo: Mike, Marshall & Wendy, Oyster 53, Lady J of Cowes © Jesús_de León
Joining the ARC+ has also been an important part of their preparation. The safety checks, seminars, practical advice and support from the rally team have helped give crews confidence as they prepare for the crossing. But the experience is about more than getting safely from one side of the Atlantic to the other.
Meeting other sailors, sharing knowledge and forming friendships have already become important parts of the adventure. As Paul and Trudy put it: "Everybody we meet are like-minded people. We've got something in common; that's for sure."
For Boudewijn and Francine, who remember their first ARC so fondly, the people and camaraderie are among the biggest attractions of returning. Wendy and Marshall particularly value the organisation and support of the rally team, while Ralph and Claire have already experienced the generosity and friendship of fellow crews during their journey south.
Their plans beyond Grenada are varied, from exploring the Caribbean and spending time in the Grenadines to heading towards the Panama Canal, Galapagos and potentially joining World ARC. Some have a clear idea of where the next few years will take them; others are happy to see where the adventure leads.
But they all have one thing in common. They have stopped waiting for the perfect moment and decided to make the most of the opportunities in front of them.
For anyone sitting at home dreaming of an Atlantic crossing, a cruising sabbatical or perhaps a completely new chapter in life, their message is clear. There will always be reasons to wait, but sometimes the biggest step is simply deciding to go.
Different journeys, different reasons, but one shared decision: the time is now. The adventure is waiting.
