The Ocean Race Atlantic

New York–Barcelona: the transatlantic that reshapes the game

641.13 nautical miles in 24 hours. That's the distance record set by Team Malizia during the final transatlantic leg of The Ocean Race in 2023. In September 2026, the IMOCA 60s will head east again — west to east — but this time for a standalone race, linking New York to Barcelona. Unprecedented in over fifty years of race history.

A point-to-point race between two capitals

The concept is crystal clear: no stopovers, no round-the-world. Start from Brooklyn Bridge Marina, with the Manhattan skyline as backdrop. Finish at Port Vell in Barcelona, at the foot of the Columbus monument. In between, roughly two weeks across the North Atlantic, passage through the Strait of Gibraltar, then the Mediterranean.

This route is anything but trivial. The downwind conditions expected in September, combined with potentially favorable seas, hint at a race built for speed. Justine Mettraux, skipper of Teamwork Team SNEF, sums it up: "I expect to see a fast, strategic, and intense race."

The event fits into a calendar designed to maintain tension between two major editions: following The Ocean Race Europe starting from Kiel in August 2025, and ahead of the round-the-world race scheduled to depart Alicante in January 2027. A sequence that allows teams to validate their technical choices in real conditions.

Four onboard, gender parity mandatory

This is the rule that changes everything. Each IMOCA 60 will carry four sailors: two women and two men. Not a recommendation — a requirement. For the first time in this circuit, parity is strictly enforced.

The ambition is clear: accelerate the professionalization of female sailors on the IMOCA circuit and give the best among them a full-fledged place onboard. Not as support, not in rotation — at the heart of the operation.

Another innovation: an intermediate scoring system is under development. The ranking won't be decided solely at the finish, but also at strategic waypoints scattered along the course. A way to maintain intensity — and public attention — from one end of the Atlantic to the other.

A heavyweight fleet

The names already confirmed set the tone.

• Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) — "The Ocean Race Atlantic is the next chapter... it has everything we love."
• Boris Herrmann (Team Malizia) — will launch a brand-new IMOCA for the occasion. "It's the best race we can do... it's kind of like a family."
• Francesca Clapcich — dual Italian-American citizen, she'll skipper her own team on the former Malizia. A route that connects her two nations, with obvious personal resonance.
• Justine Mettraux (Teamwork Team SNEF) — one of the most consistent sailors on the circuit, on a proven IMOCA.

This blend of Vendée Globe veterans and rising stars guarantees maximum competitive level. Find the full list of entered boats on spencer.club.

Ocean Live Parks: the open-air stadium

The organization is banking on two race villages designed as living spaces, not just VIP pontoons.

In New York, Brooklyn Bridge Marina will host hospitality venues facing the skyline, along with Pro-Am sailing sessions. The agency underdog & company is running the operation.

In Barcelona, Port Vell will transform into a free, public Ocean Live Park — education, science, mass-market activations. Thousands of visitors are expected daily.

New York Mayor Eric Adams praised the environmental dimension of the project: "This event will serve to celebrate our waters and work toward a cleaner, healthier ocean."

Onboard science: data from the open ocean

The IMOCAs won't just be racing machines. Each boat will participate in a scientific program covering data collection on temperature, salinity, CO2, and microplastics — critical parameters for measuring climate change impact on the North Atlantic.

Ashore, educational programs will target schools and sailing academies to develop "ocean literacy." The Ocean Live Parks will also integrate activations tied to the blue economy.

For partners and sponsors, it's a concrete lever: the ability to back their sustainability commitments with measurable scientific results, collected at sea by top-level athletes.

Key takeaways

• Start: September 2, 2026, Brooklyn Bridge Marina, New York
• Finish: Port Vell, Barcelona (approximately two weeks later)
• Class: foiling IMOCA 60
• Crew: 4 sailors (2 women, 2 men — mandatory)
• Confirmed skippers: Paul Meilhat, Boris Herrmann, Francesca Clapcich, Justine Mettraux
• Scoring: intermediate points + finish ranking
• Scientific program: onboard ocean data collection

Between pure performance, committed parity, and environmental engagement, The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 doesn't resemble any existing transatlantic. It builds a bridge — sporting, cultural, scientific — between two continents. Follow race updates on spencer.club.