Third and Final Leg of 2016 Atlantic Cup pres by 11th Hour Racing Starts Today

5 Race Inshore Series To Determine Atlantic Cup Champion

The third and final leg, the inshore Series in the The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing, gets underway today in Portland, Maine. Teams will add four additional crew to compete in a total of five races over the two-day inshore series with each race worth 9 points. Currently Spanish Team Tales II sits on top of the leaderboard four points ahead of second place French team, Eärendil. Six points separate third through sixth place.

(Photo Credit: Billy Black/Atlantic Cup)

The Atlantic Cup was designed to challenge a team in multiple ways - a long offshore leg, a short distance sprint and an inshore series which will require the teams to race with additional crew, which is not something the Class40 competes in frequently. The teams commented on the challenges they will face racing on Casco Bay for the first time in race history.

First place, Tales II skipper Gonzalo Botín, said, - "Inshore, I would say you have to be more aggressive in the start. Because inshore there is no tacking...if you're going in straight line it's very difficult to pass another boat because their speeds are very similar. So the start is very critical."

After a tough defeat in Leg 2, local team, Amhas is looking to move up the leaderboard. Co-skipper, Rob Windsor said, - "The inshore series is in my opinion is the hardest part of the Atlantic Cup. The offshore stuff is easy compared to the inshore stuff which is super hard. There is so much tide here and the wind is different on one side of the race course than the other and there are lifts and little tricks...we've all grown up racing in Newport not so much in Portland, so I think having a guy from Portland is going to be a big plus for us. Racing against other boats that are fast and tight is exciting and fun, hopefully we can score some points in this inshore series and climb back up the leaderboard and get on the podium."

Pleiad Racing was forced to withdraw from the Atlantic Cup, following Leg 1. Upon their withdrawal, Skipper Ed Cesare said, - "Pleiad Racing is very disappointed not to be racing in Portland this weekend. We were a DNS for Leg 2 due to a family emergency and then suffered a hole in the transom from another boat while at mooring in New York during Sunday’s stormy frontal passage. We really had to get that repaired before heading offshore in the Bermuda Race next week. We want to thank Manuka and 11th Hour Racing for another great edition of the Atlantic Cup. This is an important event for Class40, for double-handed racing in the States and most importantly for ocean and planetary wellness. It aligns perfectly with the mission of Pleiad Racing and we will be on the line for the next edition. Best of luck to the rest of the fleet this weekend!"

Some Additional 2016 Atlantic Cup highlights include:

Viewing Opportunities in Portland: The Atlantic Cup will have opportunities for spectators to watch the two day inshore racing final leg in Portland (Friday/Saturday, June 10/11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) from the Race Village at Fort Allen Park.

About The Atlantic Cup
The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing is, at 1,048 nautical miles, the longest offshore in the Western Atlantic. The Atlantic Cup was created and is owned by Manuka Sports Event Management. It started in 2011 as a concept event and grew to a multi-stage race. Since its inception, the Atlantic Cup has aimed to be the most environmentally responsible sailing race in the United States. The race is sailed solely in Class40s, a monohull race boat designed for shorthanded racing.

The Atlantic Cup ran annually in May from 2011 through 2014. After 2014, the race moved to a biennial event. The course in 2011 was a sprint from New York to Newport with an inshore series in Newport. From 2012-2014, the race was a three-stage event that started in Charleston, South Carolina included a stop-over in New York City and finished in Newport, Rhode Island. In 2016, the Atlantic Cup will continue to comprise of three legs, with stop-overs in Charleston, S.C., Brooklyn, N.Y., and for the first time, Portland, Maine.

For more on the Atlantic Cup, visit AtlanticCup.org

About 11th Hour Racing
11th Hour Racing, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation, establishes strategic partnerships with the sailing community to promote collaborative systemic change for the health of the marine environment. 11th Hour Racing believes that fostering environmentally sustainable practices on and off the water is critical to the preservation of the oceans and its vital resources. 11th Hour Racing works to advance solutions and sustainable practices, while integrating ocean stewardship into the values of every sailing team, class, and series, and beyond. For more information, please visit www.11thhourracing.org

CONTACT:

For more information please on The Atlantic Cup please visit the Website at http://atlanticcup.org

Video Recaps HERE

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Atlantic Cup Event Schedule

For more information, please visit the Atlantic Cup Events page at http://www.atlanticcup.org/in-race-events

>> PORTLAND <<

June 6 - 11
Teams Docked at Maine Wharf

June 10 & 11
Race Village - Live Music, Commentary Kids Zone, Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer Garden
Open 10:30a-5:00p
Inshore Racing 12p-4p
*Media Space is available, please email Tamarah Strauss at tamarahs@bzapr.com if interested

June 11 - 5:30pm
Awards Presentation
Maine Wharf

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