The World ARC 2026-27 fleet has departed Darwin, Australia, beginning the second half of its 15-month circumnavigation with a passage across the Timor Sea to Lombok, Indonesia.
Organised by World Cruising Club, the annual rally covers some 26,000 nautical miles over 15 months, with crews able to complete the full Caribbean-to-Caribbean circumnavigation or join for either half of the route.
The fleet left Darwin on 8 September in light winds for the 920-nautical-mile passage to Lombok, following a period of free cruising along Australia’s east coast, the Great Barrier Reef and through the Torres Strait.
Ocean Miles: World ARC yachts under sail during their global voyage, which has now entered its second half following the fleet’s departure from Darwin for the 920-nautical-mile passage to Lombok. Photo: Paul Wyeth
Indian Ocean Route
From Lombok, the fleet will continue to Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands before crossing the Indian Ocean for Mauritius and Réunion. The route then takes crews to South Africa in time for Christmas before turning north for Namibia, St Helena and Recife in Brazil during the carnival season.
The final stages will bring the yachts back into the Caribbean, with landfall in Grenada followed by the finish in Saint Lucia in April 2027.
World ARC Event Manager Paul Bishop said completing a circumnavigation was something relatively few sailors achieved.
“Completing a circumnavigation of the globe is something that few sailors will ever achieve, so supporting the World ARC fleet in achieving these dreams is a hugely satisfying experience,” he said. “Looking ahead to the second half of the Rally, there are many more special moments for the fleet to look forward to. When participants finish the Rally next April, they will have completed the adventure of a lifetime.”
Remote Destinations
The rally is designed around a series of destinations that can be difficult to reach by conventional travel.
During the first half of the circumnavigation, crews visited the Galapagos Islands, French Polynesia and Vanuatu, where participants attended traditional Yakel tribal dances.
Vanuatu Welcome: World ARC crews meet members of the Yakel community in Vanuatu during the first half of their 15-month circumnavigation, one of the cultural encounters along the rally route. Photo: World Cruising Club
Christmas Island Tourism Marketing Manager Kelsie Johnston said the island’s marine environment, birdlife and multicultural community were among its attractions for visiting crews.
“There is something really special about watching the World ARC fleet arrive at Christmas Island,” she said. “After travelling such incredible distances, seeing the yachts come into Flying Fish Cove is a wonderful reminder of the island’s role as a gateway for adventurous travellers exploring the Indian Ocean.”
Saint Lucia Finish
After crossing the South Atlantic and returning to the Caribbean, the fleet will finish in Saint Lucia in April 2027.
The rally concludes with a 10-nautical-mile Parade of Sail from Marigot Bay to Rodney Bay.
For crews completing the entire route, the finish will mark the end of a 15-month voyage combining ocean passages with extended stops across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.
