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A Gentle Start in Cape Verde
After a stopover of several days in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, the 20 sailboats participating in the Rallye des Îles du Soleil set sail again on Wednesday, November 11, at 11 a.m. local time.
This second leg is the main route of the 2026 race, covering 2,130 nautical miles?approximately 3,945 kilometers?to Marie-Galante.
The starting conditions were not particularly conducive to rapid progress. The fleet left Cape Verde in a northerly wind of only 6 to 7 knots, under the influence of a vast high-pressure system.
The first few hours could therefore be slow. According to forecasts released by the organization, the northeasterly trade winds are expected to gradually return starting Friday, November 13.
The trade winds expected for the downwind leg
Once the east-to-northeast wind pattern is established, the crews should be able to take a more direct route to the Caribbean.
Managing downwind sails will therefore play an important role in making headway. Depending on the equipment on board and the conditions encountered, symmetrical spinnakers, spinnaker poles, or Parasailors will allow you to find the best balance between speed, angle to the wind, and ease of maneuvering.
But a transatlantic pleasure cruise is about more than just speed. Crews will also need to organize watch schedules, maintain their equipment, and manage fatigue during the anticipated two- to three-week voyage.
A group cruise to Marie-Galante
Organized by Grand Pavois Organisation since 2017, the Rallye des Îles du Soleil features a two-stage Atlantic crossing open to monohulls and multihulls over 10 meters in length.
The participants left Fuerteventura, in the Canary Islands, on October 30 for their first leg of the voyage, covering approximately 900 miles to Mindelo.
The rally is supported by a support system that includes safety checks before departure, daily weather reports, and satellite tracking of the boats.
However, crews remain responsible for their navigation and for the decisions made on board.
Arrivals are expected in Guadeloupe in late November
Saint-Louis Bay, on Marie-Galante, has been the finish line for the rally since 2017.
For this edition, the organizers expect the first boats to arrive between November 23 and 27, depending on weather conditions encountered during the crossing.
After the light winds at the start, the main unknown remains how quickly the trade winds will set in. Much of the pace of this second leg toward the Caribbean will depend on their consistency.
