The event takes over 200 yachts on a 2,700-mile passage across the Atlantic to the Caribbean, to Rodney Bay in St Lucia on the north-east tradewind route taking an average of between 14 and 21 days.

Organised by the World Cruising Club, the ARC now in its 23rd year, has attracted another large entry list that stands at 221 yachts representing over 20 nations. Many more nationalities are represented across the crews, making the ARC not only the world’s largest trans-ocean sailing event, but also the most diverse.