Sail Atlantic

Sail Atlantic
Name	Sail Atlantic
Caption	Racing in the Atlantic Ocean
Type	Ocean yacht race
Inaugurated	2015
Organiser	Ocean Racing Series
Frequency	Quadrennial
Start	Newport
Finish	Galway
Distance	~3,000 nmi

Sail Atlantic is an ocean yacht race held across the North Atlantic, connecting ports in North America and Europe. Conceived as a transatlantic competition, the event draws professional skippers, syndicates, national teams, regatta organizers, and offshore sailors from prominent clubs and federations. Participants include competitors from major sailing centers such as Newport, Halifax, Cork, and Galway, and the race interacts with institutions like World Sailing, the Royal Ocean Racing Club, and national federations.

History

The event was developed following meetings between organizers from the Royal Ocean Racing Club, Newport Yacht Club, Royal Cork Yacht Club, Sail Canada, and promoters linked to the Ocean Race and Vendée Globe circuits. Early planning involved partnerships with the International Sailing Federation, later known as World Sailing, and discussions with maritime authorities in United States Department of Homeland Security jurisdictions, Transport Canada, and Irish maritime agencies. Initial editions were influenced by transatlantic traditions established by the America's Cup, the Fastnet Race, and the Transat Jacques Vabre. The inaugural race integrated lessons from editions of the Route du Rhum, Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, and historical transatlantic crossings like the Clipper Route and the Blue Riband competitions. Financing and sponsorship discussions included companies associated with Rolex, IMOCA, Class40, and regional development agencies such as the European Regional Development Fund.

Route and Stages

Courses have alternated between west-to-east and east-to-west routings, typically beginning in ports like Newport, Rhode Island, Halifax, Nova Scotia, or Portsmouth, New Hampshire and finishing in ports such as Cork, Ireland, Galway, County Galway, or Brest, France. Waypoints have referenced maritime features including the Grand Banks of Newfoundland, the Azores High, and approaches to the English Channel. Stage stops have included St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Madeira, and La Rochelle. Coordination has involved port authorities like Galway Port Authority, Cork Harbour Commissioners, and event partners such as European Sailing Federation delegations and national tourism boards like Fáilte Ireland and Visit Portugal. Route planning has factored prevailing systems such as the North Atlantic Current, the Gulf Stream, and the Azores Current.

Fleet and Classes

The race accommodates multiple classes drawn from established offshore categories, including designs from IMOCA 60, Class40, and IRC-rated yachts that have competed in events like the Volvo Ocean Race and Transat Jacques Vabre. Entries have included one-designs from builders such as Wauquiez, Hylas Yachts, Beneteau, and custom projects influenced by naval architecture firms like VPLP, Ovington Boatworks, and Groupe Finot. Crew compositions reference professionals affiliated with teams formerly in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, sailors active in the America's Cup ecosystem, and alumni of the Royal Ocean Racing Club youth programs. Support craft logistics coordinate with agencies like MarineTraffic stakeholders and services from shipyards such as Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and marine insurers including Lloyd's of London syndicates.

Competition Format and Rules

Racing rules align with the Racing Rules of Sailing under the governance of World Sailing and incorporate offshore safety standards influenced by the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and recommendations from Royal National Lifeboat Institution operations. Handicapping uses IRC and ORC measurement systems previously employed in the Transpacific Yacht Race and Fastnet Race. Protest procedures reference protocols from the International Jury model used at the Olympic Games sailing regattas and the America's Cup Arbitration Panel precedents. Mandatory equipment lists reflect guidelines from Ocean Safety providers and training standards from institutions like the British Sailing School and U.S. Sailing. Anti-doping and conduct policies mirror frameworks from the World Anti-Doping Agency and International Olympic Committee precedents.

Notable Competitors and Teams

Competitors have included skippers and syndicates with pedigrees from the Vendée Globe, Volvo Ocean Race, and America's Cup such as sailors affiliated with Team Brunel, Team AkzoNobel, Groupama Team France, and national sailing programs like SailGP alumni. Famous offshore names who have appeared in related transatlantic events include personnel from Dongfeng Race Team, Dongfeng Race Team veterans, skippers with histories in Clairefontaine academies, and singlehanded specialists who have contested the Vendée Globe and Transat. Teams from ports such as Newport Yacht Club, Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, Royal Cork Yacht Club, and Galway Bay Sailing Club have fielded entries. Yacht owners and patrons linked to shipping magnates and philanthropists who support sailing projects have included figures with associations to Sir Ben Ainslie initiatives, entrepreneurs connected to Team Origin projects, and backers previously involved with the America's Cup.

Records and Results

Course records have been compared with historic benchmarks set in transatlantic competition such as the Blue Riband, the Transatlantic Sailing Record, and speed feats from Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup participants. Finish lists and overall winners have often mirrored results from similar classes in the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Transpac. Notable results have been archived by organizations like World Sailing and national federations including Sail Canada and Irish Sailing. Performance metrics track elapsed time, corrected time under IRC/ORC, and stage placings similar to scoring used in the Volvo Ocean Race and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Records for particular classes reference previous bests from IMOCA 60 solo transatlantic crossings and fastest Class40 passages.

Category:Ocean yacht races