The Ocean Race Atlantic begins transatlantic sprint from New York

The inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 has commenced, featuring six IMOCA teams competing in a transatlantic sprint from New York to Lorient, France. The race covers approximately 3,000 nautical miles and is expected to conclude around September 8 or 9.

A notable feature of this edition is the mandatory 50:50 gender rule, requiring each four-person crew to consist of two men and two women. The event also includes onboard reporters to provide live updates from the fleet.

To protect marine mammals and megafauna in coastal waters, organizers have implemented a two-stage start. While a public parade takes place in New York Harbor, the official competitive start is located 145 miles offshore. The race is expected to face variable weather conditions, with forecasts suggesting light winds initially followed by northeasterly winds of 12 to 15 knots.

Participating teams include Team Malizia, 11th Hour Racing, United by the Ocean, DMG MORI Sailing Team, Embrace The Challenge, and MSIG Europe. Several teams are debuting new high-performance vessels, such as the Malizia 4 and the DMG MORI Global One.