Atlantic finale

World premiere

An unprecedented variation of the famous round-the-world crewed race with stopovers, The Ocean Race Atlantic will set off on 1 September from the iconic city of New York for a transatlantic sprint towards Europe, on the mythical route of great ocean records.

This new event is already making history as it is the first IMOCA race contested with fully mixed crews. The regulations require two women and two men on board, accompanied by an Onboard Reporter tasked with bringing the race to the public’s attention.

International by nature, the competition also requires a minimum of two nationalities in each crew. Six teams have already registered, bringing together around thirty sailors and reporters representing more than 10 nationalities. A powerful symbol: many of these sailors from all over the world have chosen… Lorient as their home port!

Starting from New York, the public will notably see the German Boris Herrmann (Team Malizia), accompanied among others by the Swiss Justine Mettraux, the Japanese Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG MORI) with Samantha Davies and Nicolas Lunven, the Swiss Oliver Heer associated with the Brest native Marie Riou, the Italian-American Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing), whose team has just settled in Lorient, as well as the New Zealander Conrad Colman (MSIG Europe) and the Frenchman Paul Meilhat , two adopted Lorient residents.

The Ocean Live Park, for a different racing experience

On land, the excitement continues with The Ocean Live Park , a true race village open free to all.

Designed with the support of, among others, 11th Hour Racing , impact partner of The Ocean Race, and Lorient Agglomeration, partner of the finish, the village offers a program combining sport, discovery, innovation, environmental awareness and festive moments.

Upon arrival, the crews will set sail again for two spectacular days of speed runs in the Groix Channel, on 11 & 12 September. Each crew’s performance in the transatlantic race will be recognized at the official awards ceremony, held on Friday, September 11th, on the main stage, in front of an audience.

Throughout the week, schoolchildren and leisure centers in Lorient Agglomeration will participate in an educational program devised by The Ocean Race and the Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly focusing on offshore racing, marine science and ocean conservation.

Families will also be able to follow Wisdom , the albatross mascot of The Ocean Race, through numerous activities: discovery of the Race Cockpit Experience , a life-size reproduction of an IMOCA cockpit, meetings with the teams, workshops and games in a space dedicated to “kids” and first sailing trips in a dinghy departing from the Cité de la Voile.

The event’s partners will also offer numerous experiences, including the Volvo Studio , where vehicle tests will be offered throughout the event, as well as the Helly Hansen Fan Shop and its official limited edition collection.

Three evenings of free concerts to extend the summer

Every evening, the main stage at Lorient La Base takes on a festival atmosphere thanks to a program imagined by Sellor and Hydrophone , entirely free of charge.

Thursday 10 September : heading to New York with TVOD , a rock group from Brooklyn, whose post-punk energy promises an explosive opening.

Friday 11 September: the Kenata collective , well known to the Breton public, will revisit the great classics of rock and pop in a decidedly festive atmosphere.

Saturday 12  September: Hip-hop night with Adès The Planet , a self-taught rapper from Abidjan, followed by NeS , a rising star of the new wave of French rap.
Each concert will be followed by a DJ set into the evening.

Sunday 13 September: Mixed sports take centre stage with Fan Day

To conclude this week of celebration, the crews invite local sports clubs to participate in a Fan Day focused on diversity, inclusion and teamwork.

Initiations, demonstrations, challenges, meetings between top athletes and the general public: this day will bring together sailors, athletes and local associations around a common ambition, to show that sporting performance is built above all through team spirit and diversity.

IMOCA teams at the start of The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026

DMG Mori Sailing Team – Kojiro Shiraishi (JAP)

Embrace The Challenge – Oliver Heer (SUI)

MSIG Europe – Conrad Colman (NZL)

Paul Meilhat Sailing Team – Paul Meilhat (FRA)

Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing – Francesca Clapcich (ITA-USA)

Team Malizia – Boris Herrmann (GER)

New York

August 26 : Opening of the village and IMOCA at the Brooklyn Bridge Marina;
August 27-28 : Speed ​​runs in Manhattan;
September 1 : Parade in front of the Statue of Liberty and start of The Ocean Race Atlantic off the coast of New York

Lorient

September 8-10 : IMOCA arrivals at Lorient La Base;
September 9 – 12:00 PM : Official opening of The Ocean Live Park;
September 9-11 : Welcome for leisure centers and schools;
September 10 – 7:00 PM : TVOD concert + DJ set;
September 11-12 : Speed ​​runs in the Groix Channel;
September 11 – 6:30 PM : Official awards ceremony on the main stage;
September 11 – 8:00 PM : Kenata concert + DJ set;
September 12 – 7:00 PM : Concerts by Adès The Planet and NeS + DJ set;
September 13 – 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM : Fan Day – Mixed Sports Day in Lorient

Find the full program here.

 theoceanrace.com