The inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 will feature two competitions: one is a transatlantic sailing race for elite offshore racing teams; the other sees those same sailors on a mission to protect our blue planet.
The Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge will reward competitors for their efforts to reduce their environmental footprint and create a lasting positive impact beyond the race.
Created in collaboration with IMOCA, and with the support of 11th Hour Racing, the Impact Partner of The Ocean Race Atlantic, the challenge will see the six teams measured against 30 sustainability criteria spanning operations, science, education, sustainable boat building, climate impact and advocacy, as they race from New York, United States to Lorient, France.
Efforts to drive diversity, equity and inclusion will also be scored, along with each team’s dedicated projects and initiatives to drive positive impact. By evaluating these key areas, the contest will recognise the team and individuals making the strongest overall contribution to ocean health, climate action, and equity within the sport.
Last year, The Ocean Race Europe 2025 saw the first-ever Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge, with team Holcim PRB taking the prize. For The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026, the competition is even more ambitious, with a number of new accolades up for grabs. Awards for the lowest carbon footprint, best effort for an individual team member, support for access and equity along with the most effective ocean science communications will be awarded alongside an overall winner.
Lucy Hunt, Ocean Impact Director at The Ocean Race, said: “Sailors in The Ocean Race spend more time at sea than almost anyone else, so they understand the growing pressures it faces first-hand. This gives them a unique platform to inspire others, speak authentically about why the ocean matters and explain why protecting it is so important.
“Many of the teams are already leading initiatives in ocean health and climate action, and the Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge is designed to recognise those efforts, encourage them to go even further, and motivate others to take action alongside them. By making this a competition, we’re showing that success in our sport isn’t just about crossing the finish line first, it’s also about the positive impact teams can have beyond the racecourse.”
The winners will be announced at The Ocean Race Atlantic Awards Night in Lorient in September. Along with a trophy, crafted from recycled ocean plastic, winners will receive €1,000 for their Impact Partner project to support positive environmental and social change.
The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 is the first point-to-point competition in The Ocean Race’s 50-year history. In collaboration with Impact Partner, 11th Hour Racing, the event is powered by a shared mission to drive meaningful impact for our blue planet by advancing ocean science and literacy, demonstrating sustainable event excellence, and championing equity and inclusion through the first-ever mandatory 50-50 gender-balanced crew.
