The Ocean Race Atlantic New York-Lorient

In two months, The Ocean Race makes its return to Lorient. For the arrival of the very first edition of The Ocean Race Atlantic, the city will come alive for five days in celebration of offshore racing and the ocean.

The IMOCA boats are expected to arrive at Lorient La Base around 9th September (this is the average ETA), the capital of offshore racing, after crossing the Atlantic from New York.

To celebrate the arrival, The Ocean Live Park will open its doors free of charge until September 13th, with a rich program of activities, immersive experiences, concerts, meet-and-greets with sailors, and sporting activities for all audiences.

This is the fourth time The Ocean Race has stopped in Lorient* where offshore racing is much more than a sport: it is a pillar of the local economy and maritime identity, with more than 900 specialized jobs and over €44 million in economic impact each year.

The fleet's arrival will be an opportunity to celebrate this remarkable maritime culture while highlighting the values that define The Ocean Race's identity: sporting excellence, innovation, commitment to ocean health, and engagement with the public.

 

A World First

A groundbreaking new take on the famous round-the-world race with stopovers, The Ocean Race Atlantic will set off on September 1st from the iconic city of New York for a transatlantic sprint to Europe, along the legendary transatlantic route where ocean distance records are often set.

This new event is already making history as it is the first IMOCA race held with perfectly mixed crews. The rules require two women and two men on board, accompanied by an On Board Reporter, who is tasked with bringing the race to life for the public.

International by nature, the event also requires a minimum of two nationalities per crew. Six teams have already entered, bringing together thirty sailors and reporters representing more than ten nationalities.

At the start in New York, the public will see German sailor Boris Herrmann (Team Malizia), joined among others by Swiss sailor Justine Mettraux and American ocean race Cole Brauer; Japanese sailor Kojiro Shiraishi (DMG MORI) with Samantha Davies and Nicolas Lunven; Swiss sailor Oliver Heer paired with Brest native Marie Riou; Italian-American Francesca Clapcich (Team Francesca Clapcich powered by 11th Hour Racing), whose team has just relocated to Lorient; as well as New Zealander Conrad Colman (MSIG Europe) and French sailor Paul Meilhat, both adopted sons of Lorient.

 

The Ocean Live Park: Five Days to Experience the Race in a New Way

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

Designed with support from Impact Partner 11th Hour Racing and Lorient Agglomération, the arrival partner, the free to enter Ocean Live Park race village will offer programming combining sport, discovery, innovation, environmental awareness, and festive moments.

In the days following the finish, the crews will head back out to sea for two spectacular days of speed runs in the Courreaux de Groix, on September 11th and 12th. Each team's performance on the transatlantic crossing will be honored at the official prize-giving ceremony, held on Friday, September 11th, on the main stage, in front of the public.

Throughout the week, schoolchildren and youth groups from Lorient Agglomération will take part in an educational program designed by The Ocean Race and the Cité de la Voile Éric Tabarly, focused on offshore racing, marine science, and ocean conservation.

Families will also be able to follow Wisdom, The Ocean Race's albatross mascot, through numerous activities: the Race Cockpit Experience (a full-scale replica of an IMOCA cockpit), meetings with the teams, workshops, and first-time dinghy sailing sessions departing from the Cité de la Voile.

Event partners will also offer a range of experiences, including the Volvo Studio, with vehicle test drives available throughout the event, as well as the Helly Hansen Fan Shop featuring its official limited-edition collection.

 

Three Nights of Free Concerts to Extend the Summer

Each evening, the main stage at Lorient La Base will take on a festival atmosphere thanks to a lineup curated by Sellor and Hydrophone — entirely free of charge.

• Thursday, September 10: Bound for New York with TVOD, a rock band from Brooklyn, whose post-punk energy promises an explosive opening.
• Friday, September 11: The Kenata collective takes the stage — well known to Breton audiences — reviving classic rock and pop hits in a thoroughly festive atmosphere.
• Saturday, September 12: A hip-hop night with Adès The Planet, a self-taught rapper from Abidjan, followed by NeS, a rising figure in the new wave of French rap.

 

Each concert will continue with a DJ set into the evening.

 

Sunday, September 13: Mixed Sport Takes Center Stage at Fan Day

To close out this week of celebration, the crews will invite local sports clubs to take part in a Fan Day centered on gender mixing, inclusion, and teamwork.

Introductory sessions, demonstrations, challenges, and meetings between elite athletes and the public: this day will bring together sailors, athletes, and local associations around a shared goal — showing that athletic performance is built above all on team spirit and diversity.

A big popular sports celebration open to everyone!

 

IMOCA Teams Starting The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026

• DMG Mori Sailing Team – Kojiro Shiraishi (JPN)
• 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)

 

Save the Dates

New York
August 26: Village opening and IMOCA boats at Brooklyn Bridge Marina
August 27–28: Speed Runs in Manhattan
September 1: Parade past the Statue of Liberty and offshore start of The Ocean Race Atlantic

Lorient
September 8–10: IMOCA boats arrive in Lorient La Base
September 9, 12:00 PM: Official opening of The Ocean Live Park
September 9–11: Welcoming youth groups and school groups
September 10, 7:00 PM: TVOD concert + DJ set
September 11–12: Speed runs in the Courreaux de Groix
September 11, 6:30 PM: Official prize-giving ceremony on the main stage
September 11, 8:00 PM: Kenata concert + DJ set
September 12, 7:00 PM: Adès The Planet, NeS + DJ set
September 13, 10:00 AM–4:00 PM: Fan Day – Mixed Sports Day

*Lorient hosted The Ocean Race in 2012 and 2015, and was also the starting city for the first edition of The Ocean Race Europe in 2021.