As The Ocean Race Europe came to a close in Montenegro, sailors and teams started to turn their attention to the next event in The Ocean Race calendar – The Ocean Race Atlantic: New York to Barcelona.
The new transatlantic race, connecting two iconic cities, is scheduled to start in New York on 2nd September 2026, and finish in Barcelona two weeks later.
In Boka Bay, IMOCA sailors and teams were given a sneak preview of the 2026 event, including details on the berthing and marina facilities, the Ocean Live Park activations, and the race conditions, which include a 50/50 crew rule that mandates two female and two male sailors on each boat.
“I already want to be on the water again and to do The Ocean Race Atlantic,” said Biotherm skipper Paul Meilhat, the winner of The Ocean Race Europe last week. “This is the next one on the calendar for me because it has all the things we love – a great race course and concept, great new cities in New York and Barcelona. And what I really enjoy about The Ocean Race is that you sail with many people, you learn, and you discover new things about yourself and about how to work in a team. The Ocean Race Atlantic is the next chapter.”
Rob Hagedorn and Mike Hopper, whose agency ‘underdog & company’ will lead the project in New York, shared that their team is working to build an event that allows teams, sailors and stakeholders to take advantage of the global platform offered by New York while creating a great experience for the local communities to engage with the Ocean Race.
“The teams will be based at The Brooklyn Bridge Marina in Brooklyn and we will have multiple hospitality experiences provided to guests in iconic locations overlooking the NY Harbor,” Hagedorn confirmed. “There will be pro-am and guest sailing opportunities and the race start itself will showcase the fleet against the iconic skyline of New York City.”
The 50-50 crew rule in The Ocean Race Atlantic will give equal opportunities to the best female and male offshore sailors in the world in a new point to point race format. Both are firsts for The Ocean Race.
“It’s going to be a great moment with a new team and The Ocean Race Atlantic is an opportunity to be the skipper of my own squad,” said Francesca Clapcich, who is taking over the Malizia boat and launching her own IMOCA project – Team Francesca Clapcich Powered by 11th Hour Racing.
“With The Ocean Race Europe and now The Ocean Race Atlantic we have these fantastic opportunities to race every season in a crewed configuration and The Ocean Race Atlantic is opening up the playing field with strict rules around gender equality and 50-50 crews. I think this is where the sport needs to go. For me it’s special as a dual citizen – Italian and American – being able to race from the USA to Europe it’s a very special race route.”
Team Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann was reminded his team set the race record for distance covered in 24 hours – 641.13 nautical miles – on a similar transatlantic leg of the around the world race in 2023. He noted the experience was special as the fully crewed format allowed him to share the moment and the competition pushed his team to new heights.
“It’s the best racing we can do, when we race with each other and against each other,” Herrmann said. “It’s fantastic to sail with a crew and in The Ocean Race events, it’s a bit like a family, you share intense moments, you get very close together and create very strong bonds that last until you see each other again.”
To that end, Team Malizia is looking at starting a new chapter in its story. The team will launch a brand-new IMOCA and return to the water to take on The Ocean Race Atlantic in a year’s time: “The Ocean Race Atlantic is the next one we want to do.”
With a focus on how sustainability and blue economy initiatives can contribute to ocean health, The Ocean Race Atlantic will have an impact beyond sport, with on board ocean science and on shore youth engagement.
In Barcelona, the event will be centred along the waterfront just past the foot of the famed La Rambla and the Columbus monument at Port Veil. The free to enter Ocean Live Park will welcome thousands of fans each day with engaging activities around the racing, the sailors and teams, ocean science and ocean health.
“Barcelona is a great place for the finish of The Ocean Race Atlantic,” said Carlos Manera, a sailor with Biotherm, who grew up sailing on the Mediterranean waters in the area. “I know what an impact an event like this can have on young people. I think my first time seeing an IMOCA in person was when I saw the Barcelona World Race here many years ago and I was in awe. It was a very inspiring moment that showed me what was possible in the sailing world.”
The Ocean Race Atlantic briefing closed with a video message from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, recorded when the event was announced last summer.
“New York City is where big things happen,” Mayor Adams said in the video. “I’m excited to confirm that in September 2026, New York City will host The Ocean Race Atlantic, from our shores to Barcelona… We look forward to hosting the sailing world and connecting New York, the most iconic city in America, with our European counterpart, Barcelona, and to continue building the sporting and cultural ties between our two cities and use this event to celebrate our waters and work towards a cleaner, healthier, ocean.”
The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 leads into the next edition of The Ocean Race around the world, which starts from Alicante, Spain in January 2027.
