The Ocean Race Atlantic fleet will depart New York City on 1 September with the top offshore sailors in the world lining up for the new challenge.
The inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic will see six teams of two men and two women, plus an onboard reporter, racing from New York to Lorient, France.
The forecast is for a quick opening to the transatlantic passage and the 24-hour record (641 nautical miles) might be within reach during the first days of the race.
The 3000 nautical mile race to Lorient will start at 06:00 local time (10:00 UTC / 12:00 CEST) on Wednesday 2 September from a virtual start line 145 miles offshore, in order to reduce the risk of encounters with marine mammals and megafauna that frequent the coastal areas.
The forecast for the first hours of racing on Wednesday morning is encouraging, with 12-15 knot northeasterlies expected to fill in following lighter wind conditions on the route from New York Harbour to the offshore start area.