The Atlantic Cup 2018 Starts in Charleston, S.C. on May 26, 2018

MAY 16, 2018 – CHARLESTON, SC – 11 teams representing nine countries will start the 2018 Atlantic Cup at the Charleston Maritime Center, May 26. With over 1,000nm of ocean racing, the Atlantic Cup is the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic and is also the United States’ only short-handed offshore race dedicated to the Class40.  Since its inception, the Atlantic Cup has been the U.S.’ most environmentally responsible sailing race and is the first sports event in the U.S. to be ISO 20121 compliant. In addition, 1200+ school children are scheduled to visit the boats, meet the teams and learn about ocean health during the three stop-overs.

The 2018 Atlantic Cup will start in Charleston, S.C., May 26, stop in New York City (teams will be based at Liberty Landing Marina in New Jersey) May 29 -June 2 and culminate in Portland, Maine, June 4-10. The race is free and open to the public. For more information on the Atlantic Cup please visit http://www.atlanticcup.org/.

WHEN:            
Saturday, May 26, 2018

12:00 p.m.
 
WHERE:          
Charleston Maritime Center         

10 Wharfside Street
Charleston, S.C. 29401
 
WHO:               
11 teams representing nine countries,  including:

  • Fred Strammer, 2013 Miami World Cup Champion in 49er class, Collegiate All-American at Brown University 
  • Mike Hennessy and Rob Windsor, only two sailors to have competed in every edition of the Atlantic Cup 
  • Tristan Mouligne, Newport, RI resident, College of Charleston Alumni, competing in the Cup for the fourth time
  • Pietro Luciani, decorated Italian Class40 sailor, finishing sixth in the 2017  Transat Jacques Vabre
  • Jonathan Green, Boston based sailor who won the 2013 OSTAR
  • Jose Caldas, Angolan sailor who learned to sail after fleeing his country due to civil war for Brazil in 1986 
  • Paul Peggs, Current Round Britain and Ireland record holder, set in 2014

Manuka Sports Event Management Co-Founder and Atlantic Cup Race Director, Hugh Piggin, said, “We couldn’t be more excited to bring such a high quality fleet of shorthanded sailors to compete in what is America’s toughest ocean race! With seasoned European programs, veteran US entries and new teams coming up, it really does prove that shorthanded sailing in the United States is in one of it’s strongest positions to date. It’ll be fascinating to see how these teams deal with the weather and navigational challenges this unique race course throws at them.”

*ONSITE COVERAGE*:  
Media is invited to cover the Atlantic Cup. Interviews with sailors and race organizers, b-roll requests and onsite coverage can be arranged by contacting Colin Bradley at [email protected] (860) 490-2710. Live shot requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Media boat available for start of the race, requests must be made no later than May 24, limited space available. Boats will be docked at Charleston City Marina in advance of the race, if interested in pre-event coverage, please schedule.

 

ASSETS:         
The 2018 Atlantic Cup Press Kit is available HERE
For print quality images of the Atlantic Cup’s Sustainability Initatives click HERE
For video of the Atlantic Cup, please click HERE

About The Atlantic Cup
The Atlantic Cup is a 3-stage, double-handed offshore race that spans the eastern seaboard of the United States. At 1,008 nautical miles it is the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic. In addition, the Atlantic Cup is the only race to include rounding both Cape Hatteras and Cape Cod.

The Atlantic Cup was created and is owned by Manuka Sports Event Management. It started in 2011 as a concept event and grew to a multi-stage race. Since its inception, the Atlantic Cup has been the most environmentally responsible sailing race in the United States and it is the first sports event in the U.S. to be ISO 20121 compliant.

The race is sailed solely in Class40s, a monohull race boat designed for shorthanded racing. The Atlantic Cup ran annually in May from 2011 through 2014. After 2014, the race moved to a biennial event. As of 2016, the Atlantic Cup’s stop-overs include Charleston, S.C., New York City, N.Y. and Portland, Maine.
For more on the Atlantic Cup, visit AtlanticCup.org. For print quality images, please click HERE.

The list of boats competing in the 2018 Atlantic Cup is as follows:
 

Boat Name Country Skipper Co-Skipper
#54 Dragon Ocean Racing USA Mike Hennessy Merf Owen/ Ashley Perrin
#81 Esprit Scout France Marc Dubos Liz Shaw
#37 First Light USA Fred Strammer Sam Fitzgerald
#95 Talanta Sweden Mikael Ryking Karl Jungsted
#102 Privateer USA Jonathan Green Chris Pitts
#107 Mussulo40 Team Angola Cables Angola Leonardo Chicourel José Guilherme Caldas
#111 Power of One South Africa Donald Alexander Paul Peggs
#118 Oakcliff Racing USA Shaun O’Halloran/ Ethan Johnson Philippe Paturel/  
Sylvain Barrielle
#127 Amhas II USA Micah Davis Rob Windsor
#128 Toothface 2 USA Mike Dreese Tristan Mouligné
#145 Eärendil France Catherine Pourre Pietro Luciani

For more information on the teams, including hometowns, click here
For more on the Atlantic Cup, visit AtlanticCup.org