Ready for a family adventure aboard their Lagoon 42 Stella Maris (AUS) © Paul Wyeth/WCC
For the 17 families and 40 children under 16 years taking part in the ARC+, the Atlantic crossing is about much more than sailing from one side of the ocean to the other. It is a chance to step away from everyday routines, spend precious time together and give their children an adventure and an education beyond the classroom.
From toddlers taking their first steps at sea to young sailors already confident on deck, children are very much part of the ARC+ fleet. Aboard boats including Zina, Triple X, Nalu and Cesi, families from across Europe are setting out with different plans and sailing backgrounds, but many share the same motivation: to make the most of time together and create memories that will last a lifetime.
The time is right
For several families, the idea of a long sailing adventure had been taking shape for years. Work, homes and the practicalities of family life had once put those ambitions on hold, but a change in perspective - often prompted by family experiences or the loss of loved ones - made them determined not to keep waiting.
“We both had some losses in our families and some illness, and that also made us realise that if we want to do something like this, we shouldn't wait. If we can do it, we want to do it now,” explain Jurriaan and Pauline, who are crossing aboard their X-Yachts X-482, Triple X, with Feline (6), Jorn (4) and two-year-old Floris, the youngest crew member in this year's ARC+.
The Kemp family on their Farr 56 Zina (GBR) © Paul Wyeth/WCC
For James and Amy Kemp, sailing on Zina, the ambition to sail around the world with children began even before they had a family. But it was the experience of Amy’s father, who had dreamed of doing the same himself, that brought home the importance of not putting those ambitions off. He spent years preparing for his retirement sailing adventure but sadly became ill and never had the chance to fulfil it.
Amy explains: “My Dad had always dreamed of sailing his boat around the world and spent a long time getting it ready and planning his retirement, but then he got cancer, and sadly never got to do all the things he dreamed of. So, that was a good lesson in realising that life is short. So, we then sold our business, and we went on one ‘once if a lifetime’ adventure last year to Scandinavia for five months.”
That five-month trip with their children proved a turning point. Rather than returning to their previous routine, the family found they wanted to keep exploring, eventually moving up to their Farr 56, Zina, to make life aboard more comfortable for a family of five.
The decision to go was also a leap into a new way of life for Julia and Marco Silex. With their eight-year-old daughter Lia, they have sold their house in Germany and left their old life behind to explore the world aboard their new Fountaine Pajot FP44, Nalu. “It was just a question of how we would do it,” says Marco. “There was a little bit of thinking about what we would do with our house and all that, but now we've sold everything and left completely.”
For Danish couple Inna and Stig, the idea began taking shape during the Covid pandemic. After starting out in a smaller boat and exploring the waters around Denmark and Sweden, they bought their Excess 23 catamaran Cesi and began preparing for their first Atlantic crossing with six-year-old Christian and eight-year-old Emma.
Yacht Cesi won Best Crew at the ARC+ Costume Party © Jesus de Leon
A different kind of classroom
For parents, one of the biggest attractions of life afloat is the opportunity for children to learn through direct experience. Schoolwork remains part of the daily routine, but geography, languages, different cultures and practical skills are all around them.
Inna and Stig on Cesi have established a home-schooling routine of around two and a half hours a day but believe some of the most valuable lessons happen naturally. “They are learning so much, not just at school, but everywhere you go,” says Inna. “They are becoming amazing at speaking English. They are very confident and sociable, and they are learning geography and about so many different countries.”
Life on board also gives children the chance to get involved in the practical side of sailing. “They do so many practical things. They can drive the dinghy and help fix things on the boat. You can't teach all of that in a classroom. It's so much more than just two and a half hours of school.”
For Lia on Nalu, the social side of the rally has already become part of the learning experience. Meeting children from other boats has given her the chance to practise her English through everyday friendships and conversations. “I think that's the best school she could ever have,” says Julia, with Marco, adding that Lia's English is already becoming better than his.
The ARC+ Kids Club and the family pontoon also help bring young sailors together. From beach trips and swimming to organised activities and simply making friends from different countries, the children have their own community alongside the adults' preparations for the crossing.
The Kids Club activities are always popular with the ARC+ children © WCC
Growing up afloat
Some of the children are already very much at home on the water. On Zina, the Kemp boys, James and Blaise, are accomplished Optimist sailors and have transferred their dinghy skills to the much larger family yacht. “The boys are amazing on the boat and absolutely love it. They are so helpful as they are both really competent Oppy (Optimist) sailors and they see Zina as just a giant Oppy. They do watches and say things like, “I think we need a bit more kicker,” laughs Mum Amy. “They all want to go as fast as they can all the time.”
Three-year-old Tiggy is equally at home aboard Zina. Asked what she likes best about life on the boat, her answer is simple: “It's my floating house.” For the family, the appeal is in the freedom of life at sea - from snorkelling in clear water to meeting other children and exploring new places together.
The children aboard Triple X have also grown up around boats, spending plenty of time sailing on the inland lakes of the Netherlands. Their parents made swimming a priority before setting off, and the family sailed part of the way to the Canaries with friends. For Jurriaan and Pauline, choosing a sturdy, well-built yacht with enough space for several years of cruising was an important part of making the adventure work with three young children.
For the Silex family, the transition to full-time life aboard Nalu has brought a new home and a world of possibilities for Lia. Meanwhile, aboard Cesi, Christian and Emma are learning to take on practical jobs and become more confident and sociable as they meet people and explore new places.
Opening ceremony fun with Triple X © Jesús_de León
Making time for each other
Although each family has its own reasons for setting off, the chance to spend more time together is a common thread. Like many working parents, Jurriaan and Pauline found that the demands of everyday life could leave little time together around school and work commitments. “That's also one of the reasons we're doing it, to be a bit closer and spend more time with the family,” they say.
Amy on Zina has seen a similar change in her children since their extended time aboard. What began as a five-month trip to Scandinavia was intended to be a one-off, but the family found they missed life afloat when they returned home. “We were really amazed by how much the children loved it,” she says. “Their relationship with one another was amazing. I feel like their relationship with us has changed for the better, forever.”
For Inna on Cesi, recording the family's travels is one way of holding on to those moments. She shares photographs and videos with friends and family, but also wants the children to have a record of the places they have visited and the experiences they have shared. Looking back in years to come, she hopes they will be able to revisit those memories for themselves.
Lagoon 42 2B3 - Enjoying meeting lots of other young sailors © WCC
No rush, just the adventure
The families have different ideas about what comes after the Atlantic crossing, but none is in a hurry to follow a rigid timetable. The Caribbean, with its islands, beaches and anchorages, is high on the wish list, while some are considering heading further north to the United States and others are keeping their options open.
Inna sums up the family's approach simply: “We have a goal, but it is about quality, not quantity. We don't think we have to reach 100 countries or tick boxes. We will see where we want to go and how long we want to stay in each place.” Marco Silex shares that relaxed outlook: “We are quite open,” he says. “We have time and we will see what comes.”
For families in ARC+, the Atlantic crossing is just one part of a much bigger adventure. There will be new places to discover, challenges to overcome and friendships to make along the way. But perhaps the greatest reward will be the time spent together – and the memories their children will carry with them long after the sails have been furled.
