The Atlantic Cup Presented by 11th Hour Racing, the First Carbon-Neutral Sailing Race in the United States, Readies for Start of
Three-City, 15-Boat International Competition (May 11 – 27)
Premier sailing event features largest Class 40 Field ever in the U.S., including top teams from USA, FRA, GER and GRB in Charleston, S.C. (May 11) to New York Harbor (May 14 – 19) to Newport, R.I. (May 25 – 27) Event
Pro-Am Event in New York Harbor on May 18 to include Former NFL MVP Boomer Esiason May 8, 2012 – Charleston, S.C.: The 2012 Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing, the first carbon-neutral sailing event in the United States, announced today its final plans and competition field for the second running of the premier U.S. Class 40 sailing event in the country. The event will feature 15 boats from around the globe, the most Class 40s to ever compete in the United States, including teams from the USA, France, Germany and Great Britain. Teams will set sail from Charleston, S.C. on Friday, May 11 at 6 p.m. EDT en route to New York Harbor for the second leg of the competition and a Pro-Am event (May 14 - 19) before departing on May 19 at 11 a.m. on the final leg of competition. The annual event culminates in Newport, R.I. with two days of Inshore racing (May 26 – 27). “We are proud to have a fleet of 15, with crews ranging from round the world veterans to the top up and coming young talent, racing on some extremely advanced race boats,” said Hugh Piggin, Manuka Sports Event Management founder and Atlantic Cup Race Director. “We are excited for what should be an exceptionally interesting and tough ocean race. Over the past week the skippers and boat captains have been grinding out the final maintenance and preparations as they look forward to getting out there to start racing!” Some additional highlights of the event include: Viewing Opportunities for fans to see LIVE Sailing Competition in Each City: With host cities chosen specifically to enhance the fans onsite viewing experience, the Atlantic Cup will offer opportunities for the general public to watch the race LIVE on-shore in Charleston (Friday, May 11, 6 pm), New York (Saturday, May 19 at 9:30a-12p) and the event’s inshore racing conclusion in Newport (Saturday/Sunday, May 26/27 at Noon – 4 pm). Partnership with 11th Hour Racing and Green Mountain Energy to achieve carbon neutrality: Thanks to the event’s title sponsor, 11th Hour Racing, and a new partnership with Green Mountain Energy, the 2012 Atlantic Cup is the first carbon-neutral sailing event in the United States. The carbon footprint will be calculated prior to the race start by Green Mountain. Based on these calculations and a post-race assessment, carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) will be retired in order to offset emissions associated with the event, such as staff air travel, ground and water transportation, staff hotel stays, and event electricity usage. For more on the Atlantic Cup’s Green Initiatives, visit http://atlanticcup.org/green-initiatives/. Partnerships with Oakcliff Sailing and Kwokman Productions to provide unrivaled video and social media event access: Sailing fans around the world will have more access than ever before as each entry will have at least one onboard camera to produce video and social media content as the race unfolds. Eight Oakcliff Sailing students will participate in the event; with four serving as media crew members during the first two offshore legs of the competition, and an additional four racing on board select boats for the fully-crewed final stage inshore series of the Atlantic Cup in Newport on May 26 and 27. The media crew members (ages 18 -30) will be under the tutelage of Kwokman Productions, now in its second year with the Atlantic Cup, and Manuka Sports Event Management, owners and operators of the event, to provide race highlights, recaps and interviews on the race’s official YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAtlanticCup. Fans can also visit the Atlantic Cup’s official website at www.atlanticcup.org or follow the event on twitter via @TheAtlanticCup. Pro-Am Event in New York Harbor Featuring Boomer Esiason on Friday, May 18: The best Class 40 yachtsman in the world add new crew members as former NFL MVP (1988) and New York Jets QB Boomer Esiason, among other sailing hopefuls, experience the rush of sailing firsthand as they compete against each other in New York Harbor on Friday, May 18. The Fleet will be at the Marina from 9 a.m.-noon, before departing for the Pro-Am race. The Boomer Esiason Foundation is the official charity of the Atlantic Cup, with a portion of the proceeds from the event going to help fight the battle against cystic fibrosis. “Short-handed Sailing in the USA” Seminar in Newport’s Jane Picken’s Theatre on Monday, May 21: The Atlantic Cup looks to spread the word on the exciting world of short-handed sailing by offering this seminar to people of all ages in Newport’s famed Jane Picken’s Theatre on Monday, May 21 at 6 p.m. Hosted by popular sailing journalist and Atlantic Cup competitor Chris Museler (DRAGON), this exciting evening will feature some of the top U.S. short-handed sailors and competitors in the world as they talk about their ocean racing adventures and what it’s like to race short-handed. Speakers include Atlantic Cup organizer Hugh Piggin and skippers Ben Poucher (ICARUS), Hannah Jenner (40 DEGREES), Halvard Mabire (CAMPAGNE DE FRANCE) and J.C. Caso (GROUPE PICOTY), along with special guest Brad Van Liew, the only American to complete three solo around the world races. Teams expected to compete in The Atlantic Cup include: #17 Transport Cohérence – FRA Benoît Jouandet and Jorge Madden #20 Sevenstar Yacht Transport - FRA Jean Edouard-Criquioche and Anna-Maria Renkin #30 Initiatives – USA Emma Creighton and Rob Windsor #54 Dragon – USA Michael Hennessy, Merf Owen (Leg 1) & Chris Museler (Leg 2) #73 Toothface – USA Mike Dreese and Ken Luczynski #85 Groupe Picoty – FRA Jacques Fournier and Jean Christophe “JC” Caso #90 40 Degrees – GBR Hannah Jenner and Peter Harding #101 Campagne De France – FRA Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron #105 Eole Generation – GDF Suez – FRA Sebastien Rogues and Jeffrey McFarlane #106 Gryphon Solo 2 – USA Joe Harris and Tristan Mougline #109 Talan-Bureau Veritas – FRA Stephane Le Diraison and Jesse Naimark-Rowse #113 Partouche – FRA Christophe Coatnoan and Ari Sebag #115 Mare – GER Jörg Riechers, Ryan Breymaier (Leg 1) & Charles Euverte (Leg 2) #116 Icarus Racing – USA Tim Fetsch and Ben Poucher #118 Bodacious Dream – USA Dave Rearick and Matt Scharl
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