Las Palmas de Gran Canaria has been the ‘home’ of the ARC since the very first edition of the rally in 1986.  It is a natural departure point for boats crossing the Atlantic from Europe to the Caribbean, and all summer and autumn boats will converge on the port of Las Palmas from northern Europe and the Mediterranean.

The Canary Islands are located at the edge of the tradewind belt, so boats leaving the islands will sail south (until the butter melts, as the saying goes) until they pick up the north east tradewinds which then blow them west across the Atlantic.  The ARC starts in late November when the tradewinds become established, and the boats arrive at the end of the Caribbean hurricane season.