The inaugural The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 will bring six of the world’s leading IMOCA teams together for a high-speed, fully crewed transatlantic sprint, starting from New York City on 2 September 2026 and finishing in Lorient, France.
Six teams. One Atlantic. A completely new format.
The race marks the first point-to-point event in The Ocean Race’s history and is designed around the extraordinary speed of modern foiling IMOCA yachts.
The 2026 fleet includes Team Malizia, Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing, United by the Ocean, DMG MORI Sailing Team, Embrace the Challenge and MSIG Europe.
But this is more than a battle for line honours.
For the first time in The Ocean Race’s history, every team will race with a 50/50 gender-balanced crew, with two women and two men on each IMOCA, alongside an onboard reporter.
From New York to Lorient
The race begins offshore from New York City on 2 September, following a programme of speed runs and public events in the city. The fleet will then head east across the North Atlantic towards Lorient, one of the world’s great centres of offshore sailing and home to the majority of the IMOCA fleet.
Lorient is expected to welcome the boats from around 9 September, with the city’s Ocean Live Park running from 9–13 September and offering fans the opportunity to meet sailors, explore the technology behind IMOCA racing and learn more about ocean health.
Racing for the ocean
Ocean science is at the heart of the project. During the crossing, teams will collect valuable climate and ocean data, contributing to scientific research while demonstrating how elite sailing can become a platform for ocean protection.
The event also introduces the Racing for the Ocean Teams Challenge, measuring the six teams against 30 sustainability criteria covering areas including ocean science, education, sustainable boatbuilding, climate impact and environmental operations.
A new Atlantic challenge
With foiling IMOCA yachts capable of extraordinary speeds, fully crewed racing and a new generation of sailors sharing the cockpit, The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 promises to deliver a very different kind of transatlantic race.
From the skyline of New York to the offshore racing capital of Lorient, the Atlantic crossing will combine speed, strategy, technology and ocean science — setting the stage for what could become a major fixture in the international sailing calendar.
