Atlantic Cup (sailing)


The Atlantic Cup is the first and only dedicated Class40 professional sailing race in the United States. It consists of both offshore and inshore legs and was created by Manuka Sports Event Management, which is headquartered in Newport, Rhode Island.
Hugh Piggin, a New Zealand native and sailor who lives in Newport, was intent on changing the face of sailing in the United States. After joining forces with Julianna Barbieri, a sports broadcasting professional, the two created a business plan that would eventually form the Atlantic Cup.
The first edition of the race was in 2011. Entrants started in New York City and finished in Newport, with an additional inshore series that was also held in Newport. The race expanded in 2012 to start from Charleston, South Carolina.
The Atlantic Cup competition has three stages: two offshore legs and an inshore series. From 2011-2014, the first stage was a 648 nautical mile double-handed leg from Charleston to New York City. The second stage was a 231 nautical mile leg from New York City to Newport. The third and final stage was sailed with a maximum crew of six for a weekend-long inshore series. Beginning in 2016, the Atlantic Cup extended the Leg 2 course to 360 nautical miles with a finish in Portland, Maine. Points are awarded for each race, and the team with the fewest overall combined points from both the offshore and inshore series is crowned Atlantic Cup Champion.
The 2012 race was the first carbon neutral sailing race in the United States. To achieve carbon neutrality, race organizers adopted a 3-part approach: on-land, on-water, and education. On land, single-use plastic water bottles are prohibited. Only glassware or biodegradable cups are used, and recycle stations and water filtration systems for both crew members and guests alike are set up in all three race locations. Event management uses only "100% post-consumer recycled paper" that is used for the printing of collateral material such as event packets, tickets, and handouts. In 2016, the Atlantic Cup was the first sporting event in the United States to be ISO 20121 compliant.
2016 Race Results
2014 Race Results
2013 Race Results
Inshore Racing & Overall Point Standings---------
LegLegInshore #1Inshore #2Inshore #3Inshore #4Inshore #5Inshore PointsTotal Points
Team1212345
#118 Bodciaous Dream1414527562351
#121 Lecoq Cuisine1212755432145
#116 Icarus86676772741
#106 Gryphon Solo 2610444651935
#90 40 Degrees104132341226
#54 Dragon48261111022
#39 Pleiad22313221014

2012 Race Results
Number, Name, Country of BoatCombined Final Point Standings After All Three Legs of CompetitionTotal Points
No. 115 Mare - GER 2, 1, 1, 111
No. 118 Bodacious Dream - USA 5, 5, 6, 327
No. 106 Gryphon Solo 2 - USA 4, 3, 2, 839
No. 101 Campagne De France - FRA 8, 9, 9, 339
No. 30 Initiatives - USA 1, 2, 4, 542
No. 54 Dragon - USA 7, 3, 2, 147
No. 105 Eole Generation- GDF SUEZ - FRA 6, 4, 5, 447
No. 109 Talan-Bureau Veritas - FRA 3, 6, 5, 652
#116 Icarus Racing - USA 10, 11, 7, 458
No. 73 Toothface - USA 9, 8, 7, 969
No. 113 Partouche - FRA 13, 7, 10, 1282
No. 17 Transport Cohérence - FRA 11, 13, 13, 1184
No. 20 Sevenstar Yacht Transport - FRA 14, 14, 14, 1488
No. 85 Groupe Picoty - FRA 12, 12, 12, 1389
No. 90 40 Degrees * - GBR DNF N/A
* Retired during Leg No. 1 due to a broken mast

2011 Race Results
Inshore No. 1Inshore No. 2Inshore No. 3Inshore No. 4Inshore No. 5Inshore No. 6Off-ShoreTotal points
Cutlass/ 11th Hour Racing111111410
Dragon232444221
Toothface344223624
Icarus423332825