The AZAB has traditionally been open to single or two-handed crews.
The race departs from Falmouth Harbour, in the UK, to the town of Ponta Delgada on the island of São Miguel, part of the Azores Islands in the mid-Atlantic.
There will be four monohull classes, split on handicap and a single multihull class. Starts will be for Class M, Class 1, Class 2, Class 3 and Class 4. The regatta will be governed by the rules as defined in The Racing Rules of Sailing, and boats will be rated using the IRC handicap or MOCRA handicap for Multihulls. The latest Edition of World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations will apply.
The regatta is open to boats that:
a) are seaworthy Monohull or Multihull boats with hull length between 8.23m and 18.5m inclusive
b) are sailed either single-handed or two-handed
c) have a current IRC rating or MOCRA Certificate
d) comply with OSR Category 1 requirements and all other requirements laid out in the Notice of Race and Amendments
Boats must carry a satellite telephone communication system which allows two-way voice communication with the organising committee throughout the race.
All competitors must complete a non-stop qualifying passage, under sail alone, of not less than 300nm (or as specified in any amendment to the NoR) in the boat in which they will complete the race. The passage must be done alone if single-handed, or with your crew if double-handed. The skipper and crew must each be a minimum age of 18 years on the day the race starts from Falmouth.
If it is intended that the boat be sailed single-handed in one leg and two-handed/crewed in the other leg then two separate qualifying passages are required, one single handed and one two-handed with the actual people who will compete.
The race will start from Falmouth at 1200 BST on Saturday on 5th June 2027. (Notice of Race and The Sailing Instructions will provide all final details)