Celebrations in Saint Lucia for World ARC 2025-26 finish

World ARC 2025-26 has reached its conclusion following several days of celebration in Saint Lucia.

World ARC is a 15 month global circumnavigation sailing voyage, which covers 26,000 miles and includes over 25 stopovers in 18 different countries. In total, 35 boats took part in World ARC 2025-26, with 20 boats sailing the full circumnavigation. The remainder took part in either half of the route, to extend their adventure over several years. For all crew, crossing the finish line in Saint Lucia was a huge achievement, but for those completing the full Rally, it marked a ‘full circle moment’.

After crossing the finish line, Alison Farmer, who sailed on board the smallest boat in the fleet, Walrus a Hallberg-Rassy 39, said: “When we crossed the finish line in Saint Lucia, we had mixed emotions. The primary emotion was a sense of pride in the team and the boat for getting through an incredible journey. It’s been 462 days and we’ve crossed 3 oceans.

“There was a myriad of special moments during the trip. Night watches over the Pacific when you’re looking up at the stars and you can see the bioluminescence in the water is just magic! All the different people we’ve met in all the various places and being part of this fleet creates a lifetime of memories in one 15 month experience.

“You cannot underestimate how doing this as part of a community helps you to complete something which is not easy.”

The finish of World ARC is a time for celebration, and participants enjoyed some famous Saint Lucian hospitality, as well as a final World Cruising Club social programme, designed to mark their achievements and create some final memories.

On Wednesday 15 April, boats came together at Marigot Bay in a rendezvous event. They gathered onshore for a rum punch hosted by Marigot Bay Yacht Haven, sharing stories of the last part of their trip, free cruising in the Caribbean. The following evening, the fleet enjoyed a sunset dinner cruise, with music and dancing, and someone else to look after the navigation!

Friendship is something which is a common factor with all World Cruising Club rallies, and this was something Jan Weustink, who skippered Mulan, was keen to express. “I didn’t expect to have this amount of camaraderie among the sailors. If you look at the fleet, we only have good people. They are the best people in the world!”

On Saturday 18 April, the fleet departed Marigot Bay on a ‘Parade of Sail’. This cruise in company covered a short 11NM stretch through Castries harbour to IGY Rodney Bay Marina, on the northern end of Saint Lucia. For the sailors, completing these final miles together is a further reminder of the great sense of togetherness which has been built over their journey.

Jan Weustink, from Mulan said: “The World Cruising Club has been a great support. It takes a lot of the pain away from the preparations and clearing in [to countries] which extends the time you have at all the stopovers.”

Following the Parade of Sail, the fleet gathered for the final prizegiving dinner where each boat was recognised for the unique contributions they have made to the fleet. These were things such as offering mechanical maintenance assistance to other sailors or consistently embracing social activities with huge enthusiasm. Individuals and their specific achievements were also recognised, like Simon Ridley from Gertha 5 who completed his 10th World Cruising Club Rally and Joe Reed on Altair, completing his second World ARC circumnavigation.

The children (participants under 16) who took part in World ARC 2025-26 were also recognised for their achievements as ‘Junior Explorers’. On this Rally, 8 children completed the full circumnavigation, and several more joined for shorter periods. These young sailors will have created lifelong memories during the trip, but participants consistently note the educational benefits that traveling around the world at such a young age can bring. The children of World ARC 2025-26 will have learnt about a plethora of global cultures, as well as geography, nature and languages around the world.

World Cruising Club Managing Director, Paul Tetlow, said: “The Prizegiving of World ARC 2025-2026 marks the end of an epic adventure around the world and a sailing achievement few people ever complete.

“For the participants, this voyage often takes years to prepare for, so completing this circumnavigation is a monumental milestone they should feel incredibly proud of.

“Aside from the miles sailed, the sailors will have created a lifetime’s worth of memories and made friendships which will last far beyond the finish line in Saint Lucia. World ARC leads sailors to parts of the world which are difficult to access by other means of travel, meaning participants can experience different cultures in an authentic and truly special way.

“For the team at World Cruising Club, the finish of each World ARC is always a special occasion. We understand the emotion of arriving back in the Caribbean and we are delighted to have supported these sailors on their incredible journey.”

Although the Rally has come to an end, the participants will undoubtedly look back on the experience with fond memories. With the fleet drawn from countries across the world, crews will now head off in different directions. Sailors relish World Cruising Club rendezvous events and often take the initiative to organise reunions long after the formal programme has finished. While the event itself may be over, the memories and the connections continue.

To learn more about upcoming World Cruising Club shoreside events and rallies, click here.