The Atlantic Cup is Going to Portland, Maine!

For the 5th Anniversary of the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic, The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing is making a major course change. We're finishing the 2nd leg and holding the inshore series in Portland, Maine! 

The largest city in the state of Maine, Portland boasts a vibrant working waterfront, a historic downtown and a fantastic sailing location in Casco Bay. 

Starting exactly one year from today on May 28th and spanning 1,000 nautical miles, the 2016 Atlantic Cup will visit Charleston, New York City and Portland, Maine. 

Leg 1: May 28th Start - Charleston-New York - 648nm
Leg 2: June 4th Start - New York-Portland - 350nm
Leg 3: June 11-12 - Portland Inshore Series 

From June 7th-12th, we'll be in Portland and we're extremely excited to be partnering with the Old Port Festival, one of Portland's biggest annual music festivals! Racing will be up close and easily viewable from Fort Allen Park, plus there will be plenty of live music to take in throughout the weekend!

Five teams have already committed to racing, stay tuned in the coming months as we reveal who they are, plus we'll be sharing more details on our shoreside events, new partners and more! 

Portland City Mayor, Michael Brennan:  "The city is pleased to welcome the Atlantic Cup to Portland, Maine.  With our remarkable waterfront, maritime heritage, vibrant boating scene, and the expansive bay views from Eastern Promenade Park, Portland is the perfect venue for hosting and watching competitive sailing.  We look forward to fostering a long relationship with race organizers, crews, and fans of the sport."

Old Port Festival Executive Director, Steve Hewins: “We are so pleased to host the Atlantic Cup during the 43rd annual Old Port Festival Weekend, which draws over 40,000 visitors to Portland’s historic waterfront each year.  During the Festival, the streets of the Old Port are closed to vehicle traffic and replaced with 6 stages of live music and tents from hundreds of local artisans and craft vendors.  Combined with Portland’s nationally recognized dining scene, eclectic shops and independent retailers, spectators will experience a lively celebration of life on the coast of Maine!”

Manuka Sports Event Management Co-Founder and Atlantic Cup Race Director, Hugh Piggin: "We are extremely excited to announce Portland, Maine as a host city for the 2016 Atlantic Cup. Portland has rich maritime history and is still very much a vibrant working waterfront community. The second leg of the Atlantic Cup will be significantly longer than in previous editions and will add a unique navigational twist to the course. Perhaps most exciting though is our partnership with the Old Port Festival and the opportunity for festivalgoers to watch the Class 40s race in Casco Bay. Portland provides a natural amphitheater from which spectators will be able to watch the Inshore Series and also enjoy all that the city of Portland has to offer."