Stokey Woodall Atlantic Circuit-a rally to circumnavigate the Atlantic

by Stuart Gough/Sail-World on 22 Mar 2013 Crossing the Atlantic is getting crowded. Not only are there now two Transatlantic Rallies occurring at the end of this year, we are happy to announce that there is an even more comprehensive rally following the old trade routes of the sailing ships, making the full circumnavigation of the Atlantic Ocean. You have plenty of time to prepare - it's not until 2014.

Stokey Woodall Atlantic Circuit (SWAC) is a very special event, unlike all the other rallies in existence now, which provides a unique opportunity for similar sized cruising yachts from all over the world to take part in a single complete circuit of the North Atlantic.

Who is Peter (Stokey) Woodall?
There can be no-one better or more knowledgeable to lead such a rally. Peter, better known as 'Stokey', is a well-known ocean sailor who has in 33 years made some 30 Trans-Atlantic crossings and amassed more than a quarter of a million sea miles. He is a highly respected teacher in celestial navigation and has sailed to the Azores some 89 times teaching students completing their Ocean Yachtmaster certification.

The main emphasis of SWAC is to offer an affordable rally for amateur sailors to cross the Atlantic, cruise the Caribbean and return across the Atlantic, all within one season, or for American-based yachts to sail Atlantic the other way, then spend a cruising season in the Mediterranean before rejoining the rally to re-cross the Atlantic.

It also provides a unique and rare opportunity to visit destinations that are slightly off the beaten track and are largely ignored by the more conventional and bigger rallies.

The letters SWAC will be an annual sailing rally in two parts, taking place in October from Europe and May from the USA.

Yachts of varying sizes will take part in the rally across the Atlantic, leaving from Madeira on Leg 1 in October 2014, sailing to Cape Verde and then on to Barbados. They will return to either the UK or Portugal, by way of the Azores the following summer.

Charleston, SC is the departure port for Leg 2 of the rally, which will also include new yachts that are starting out on the SWAC 2015 from the USA. The combined fleet will sail to the Azores following which; homebound yachts will head to the UK or Portugal. The outgoing American boats will have the luxury of 3 months free cruising in Europe before rejoining the rally again in Madeira prior to the westbound Atlantic crossing in October.

There are four very important additional cruises that link the rally together; Portugal Experience, Caribbean Cruise, America Adventure including Cuba and the Azores Odyssey making it the most unique and fascinating event of its kind in the world.

SWAC has been custom built to meet all the aspirations of a select group of sailors under the guidance of one of the world’s most famous mariners Stokey Woodall.

With his 300,000 miles of sailing, including 30 Atlantic crossings and 90 passages to the Azores, there is no better man alive today you would want working with you and for you when you sail the oceans of the world.

SWAC guarantees that you will visit unusual places, meet new and interesting people, create friendships and most of all, take part in and enjoy every single aspect of such an epic event.

SWAC was created by the best and is ultimately for the Event website