Volvo 65 Nextgen by Jajo Claims ARC 2025 Line Honors

The first boat of the ARC 2025 fleet has arrived in Saint Lucia, with Nextgen by Jajo claiming line honors after a fast passage across the Atlantic from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.

The Volvo 65 completed the 2,700-nautical-mile crossing in 10 days, 48 minutes and 51 seconds, leading the fleet in the 40th edition of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. The crew was welcomed dockside at IGY Rodney Bay Marina by World Cruising Club officials along with representatives from the Saint Lucia Ministry of Tourism and the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority.

“Line honors is always a special thing and it’s never easy,” said owner and skipper Jelmer Van Beek. “We knew we had the fastest boat, but you still need to execute it, so I’m really proud of the team.”

Van Beek credited consistent conditions for the quick passage. “We had fast sailing day in, day out. There was so much downwind sailing and we’ve really enjoyed it,” he said, adding that the Saint Lucian welcome was well timed after more than 10 days at sea.

While the ARC is primarily a cruising rally focused on safe and sociable ocean passages, Nextgen by Jajo is purpose-built for speed. The fully carbon fiber Volvo 65 routinely sails at speeds exceeding 20 knots, demanding constant attention from the crew.

“A Volvo 65 is my favorite boat, and I have crossed the Atlantic eight times on this boat,” Van Beek said. “It’s fast and powerful, but you always have to be alert. There’s a lot of force in the boat and it’s never easy.”

Formerly known as Team Brunel, the yacht also set a benchmark in the ARC in 2015, when it claimed line honors and a rally record at the time.

With the Atlantic behind them, the team plans to continue sailing in warmer waters before turning north again. “We’re really happy to be back in the Caribbean,” Van Beek said. “As a sailor, you follow the sun.”

Nextgen by Jajo is expected to head on to Saint Maarten for the Caribbean 600 and the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta before returning to Europe. Meanwhile, more ARC boats are closing in on Saint Lucia, where the docks will soon fill with crews celebrating landfall and reconnecting after weeks at sea.

With more than 800 sailors taking part this year, the 40th ARC promises a lively finish as the fleet continues to arrive ahead of the final prizegiving later this month.

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