Fourth edition of Atlantic Cup organized for 2014

(November 21, 2013) – The Atlantic Cup, the U.S.’ only dedicated Class 40 race, will kick off May 10, 2014 from Charleston, South Carolina. Held annually in May, the race is designed to grow the audience for short-handed, offshore racing with hard fought competition and exciting shore based events. The race travels the eastern seaboard from Charleston (SC), New York (NY), and Newport (RI).

Since its inception, 11th Hour Racing has been the Atlantic Cup’s presenting sponsor helping to grow it into the most sustainable sailing race in the United States. In addition, Manuka Sports is pleased to announce the creation of Water Week NYC and Bay Weekend Newport as land based supporting events for the race, its fans, and to draw further attention water resources and challenges the Atlantic Cup visits.

Since 2011, with 11th Hour Racing’s support and Manuka Sports’ commitment, the Atlantic Cup has led the way in running a sustainable event. The Atlantic Cup features boats eliminating the use of plastic water bottles on board, utilizing hydro-generators and bio-diesel for fuel. Additionally, all on-site hospitality draws attention the race’s sustainability commitment with unique kid based programs, shoreline cleanups and evening events.

Following the success of Living on the Edge, The Atlantic Cup’s gala event in 2013, E3Think and Manuka Sports co-created Water Week NYC. Water Week NYC is the global platform to share and co-create innovative water solutions. Stakeholders from the global water industry will gather at WWNYC for over 50 high-profile meetings and events to share business opportunities and showcase the latest water technologies on topics from marine plastics and sea level rise to supplying north China with water to urban water infrastructure challenges. Surrounded by a diverse group of business, government, arts and civil society players, Water Week NYC will culminate with the week’s marquee events: Living on the Edge 2.0 and the start of the second leg of The Atlantic Cup, from Battery Park City.

Celebrating Narragansett Bay with a focus on community outreach and awareness, The Atlantic Cup is introducing Bay Weekend Newport. Bay Weekend Newport is an opportunity for local businesses and nonprofits to gather and engage the community with emphasis on sustaining Narragansett Bay. Of the many organizations already committed to supporting Bay Weekend, Clean Ocean Access, a Newport area volunteer based organization, is spearheading an Atlantic Cup course wide cleanup from the Pell Bridge to Beavertail (in Jamestown) and to Castle Hill (in Newport).Seeking 500 volunteers to assist in cleaning up Narragansett Bay’s coastline, anyone interested in being involved can contact Clean Ocean Access by clicking HERE.

Manuka Sports Event Management Founder and Managing Partner, Hugh Piggin, stated,
“We are proud to have 11th Hour Racing as our presenting sponsor for a fourth year. With their help we have been able to build the Atlantic Cup into the premier U.S. offshore race with a powerful sustainability message. In addition to what promises to be a hard fought competition on the water, we are looking forward to our newly created land based events as there will be more ways than ever for our fans to engage with the race.”

About The 2014 Atlantic Cup
The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing is a dedicated professional Class 40 race held annually in the U.S. with a focus on running an environmentally responsible event. The 2014 edition of the Atlantic Cup starts Saturday, May 10th in Charleston, South Carolina and will showcase some of the top Class 40 sailors in the world as they race a 648 nautical mile off-shore leg double-handed from Charleston around the infamous, Cape Hatteras then north to New York City. Once in New York there will be a brief stopover before competitors start the coastal leg of the race. The coastal leg will take competitors along the same course as the past two years: 231 nautical miles, south out of New York to a turning mark off the New Jersey coast before heading north to Newport. Once in Newport, competitors will race a two-day, inshore series with a crew of six. The combined overall winner of both stages will be the Atlantic Cup Champion. The prize purse will be $15,000, making it again one of the largest purses for sailing in the United States. For more on the Atlantic Cup and its Green Initiatives, visit www.atlanticcup.org.