World ARC participant completes 50 year ambition and sails around the world

American sailor, Lane Jacobs, recently realised a 50-year-old dream as he successfully completed World ARC 2025-26. 

Jacobs came to sailing late and only discovered the sport after graduating university when on his uncle’s boat. He remised how in that moment he instantly said: “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen”, and from then on, he was hooked- the dream of sailing around the world had begun. 

For 20 years, Jacobs lived on a sailing boat, teaching himself the basics, but lacking in bluewater experience the concept of sailing around the world was still a ‘pipe dream’ rather than a reality. This changed when a close friend pointed him in the direction of the World Cruising Club and the concept trans-ocean rallies. 

Jacobs said: “After looking at the website and learning more I said to myself, wow this is amazing. I don’t have to do this by myself.”

ARC Europe and ARC+

Jocobs’ first step in his circumnavigation ambitions was to participate in ARC Europe 2018, where he gained bluewater sailing miles and fell in love with the camaraderie synonymous with World Cruising Club rallies. 

He said: “I met the most amazing people. Everyone had a different story, but everybody had the same kind of passion. To share that passion with different people from all over the world was fantastic.

“On top of that, everyone helps each other. The reality is every boat breaks down at some point, but it becomes a family and everybody helps everybody else.”

After two years of cruising around the Mediterranean Sea, Jacobs was ready to return to the United States and he took part in the ARC+ rally, visiting Cape Verde and then Grenada. By then, he had accumulated thousands of bluewater sailing miles and was ready to broaden his horizons even further. 

World ARC Preparations 

At age 69, he was aware that if he wanted to achieve his dreams it had to be done sooner rather than later. He said: “By the time I was ready to do World ARC it had been a 50-year ambition of mine. It was time to fulfill a lifelong dream.”

Jacobs bought a new boat, Corsair, a Bristol 57, which he chose as a sturdy ocean-going vessel and sailed it to Saint Lucia for the start of World ARC 2025-26. Reflecting on this time, he remembers the preparation needed to participate.

He said: “I never thought about half of the safety equipment checks that you guys made us go through in advance of the trip. I give you guys credit because some of those things do save your life.”

The World ARC Journey

The destinations along the World ARC route provide breathtaking experiences for participants year on year, as the fleet passes through 17 countries on the way around the world. The variety of cultures, climates and wildlife means that the participants create a lifetime of memories in one single trip. 

Among the amazing places he visited, Jacobs highlighted Fiji as particularly special. He said: “I’ll admit that in my ignorance, I thought Fiji was just one island. It’s over 330 islands! Every place we went to was more beautiful than the last and the people were so inviting. If I could go back to one place it would be Fiji.”

Jacobs also stressed how his time on World ARC was a great time for personal growth. 

He said: “On the trip there is so much time for contemplation. There’s an awful lot of time for downtime and reflection. World ARC was a very cathartic experience where you think about your past and the present. There’s a maturation during the trip and you grow in a lot of different ways.”

Finishing World ARC

Completing World ARC is an amazing achievement. To this day, more people have climbed Mount Everest than completed sailing circumnavigations. For participants of the Rally, crossing the final finish line in Saint Lucia can be an emotional experience as they reflect on just how far they have come. 

Jacobs said: “My overriding emotions when I crossed the finish line were about the love of the other participants. At the final dinner, we were crying together. I met a family on a boat named Wonder who I had transferred hydraulic fluid to on one of the legs. They became great friends and after I received my accolades at the final prizegiving, their four-year-old son ran out and gave me a hug. I tear up now thinking of that moment.

“You become a community. You become a family, and you all completed something you dreamt of.”

After the Rally, Lane has now published a book called, Shape of the Wake. It reflects on nearly a lifetime’s worth of trials and tribulations to achieve the goal of sailing around the world. The book is not designed to make him money, but rather all profits will be donated to Urban Renewal Corp. in New Jersey who provide help to around 500 homeless people a night. The book can be purchased on Amazon. 

Enter World ARC

The World ARC 2026-27 fleet are now enjoying a period of free cruising in Fiji before moving to Mackay in Australia, but preparations are now underway for World ARC 2027-28. 

If you would like to enter the Rally or read more about it, click here.