Each boat chooses the route it will follow when entering the channel between Flores and Corvo islands.

Once the route (A, B or C) is chosen the boat must follow the path indicated until it leaves the Azores behind. It is not a race won by speed alone but also by the route chosen. The boats will need to avoid each other since these routes take them in opositing directions.

Option for Route A

Option for Route B

Option for Route C

The 1st Prize is claimed by the first boat to have a crew member touch the Tower of Belém in Lisbon Harbor. 
In the true spirit of the "old days" this crew member can swim to the tower, take a small 1-man rowboat up to it, or the boat can anchor further away and send a crew member ashore to run up to the tower. The rest of the boats in this category are  then excluded from 3rd and 4th prize. If the winner of the 1st prize is the same boat that won 2nd Prize in Santa Maria then 2nd prize is forfeited to the 2nd boat to cirlce Santa Maria.

The 2nd Prize is claimed by the first boat to complete 360º around Santa Maria or by the 2nd boat in case the first boat also wins the 1st Prize in Lisbon. The rest of the boats in this category are then excluded from 3rd and 4th prize.
To complete the circle each boat must drop a buoy at the start of the cirlce and pick it up at the finish. 
Once the buoy is recovered the boat can sail on to Lisbon following the route indicated A, B or C.

3rd prize will go the first boat to reach the Tower of Belém in any other category that did not win 1st or 2nd prize.

4th prizes will go to the first reach the Tower of Belém in any other category that did not win 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize.

The rules are a basic guideline since all of the details are still in the planning stage.