Teams are gearing up for the May 11 afternoon start of the Atlantic Cup in Charleston.
Leg 1 of the Class 40 race, the 648-mile double-handed run from Charleston to New York, kicks off at the Charleston Maritime Center. The official start party cruise, presented by 11th Hour Racing, will provide the best view of the start line and a chance to send off the fleet for those interested in getting a taste of the action. Sponsors Pabst Blue Ribbon and Double Cross Vodka will be providing their services throughout Leg 1’s events.
Once the teams arrive in New York City at the end of Leg 1, they’re off again on May 18 for the 231-mile double-handed race to Newport. On May 16 before Leg 2’s start, “Living on the Edge” will celebrate the Atlantic Cup as the U.S.’s first carbon neutral sailing race with a speaker and a panel discussion about climate change.
A screening of the documentary The Last Ocean on May 23 in Newport will be another environmentally-themed event during the Cup.
Teams will compete in Leg 3, the two-day-long in-shore series with starts and finishes just off Fort Adams in Newport May 25-26. At this point, the crew sizes will increase from two to up to six. The in-shore races are designed to push the Class 40s and their teams to their limits.
Most Atlantic Cup events require tickets. For more information about the race and events, visit atlanticcup.org.
Photo by Billy Black
