Class 40 teams compete for $15,000 Atlantic Cup purse

Five teams will compete in the fourth running of the Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing, the premier Class 40 sailing event in the USA.

The first two legs are doublehanded, starting in Charleston, SC on May 10 to depart on a 685-mile leg to New York City. Following a brief stop-over in New York City, doublehanded teams will race a 240-mile leg to Newport, RI, making The Atlantic Cup the longest offshore race on the east coast of the United States this year. The third and final leg will consist of two days (May 24 & 25) of inshore racing in Newport with a crew of six.

The team with the combined highest score from the three legs will be the Atlantic Cup Champion. The prize purse is $15,000, maintaining its status as one of the largest purses for sailing in the United States.

Teams confirmed to compete in the 2014 Atlantic Cup include:
#25 – Flatline-USA
Kyle Hubley (Nova Scotia, Canada) and Frederick De Mesel (Belgium)

#39 – Pleiad Racing-USA
Ed Cesare (Norwalk, CT) and Chad Corning (Larchmont, NY)

#54 – Dragon – USA &
Michael Hennessy (Mystic, CT) and Rob Windsor (Centerport, NY)

#106 – Gryphon Solo II – USA
Joe Harris (South Hamilton, MA) and Patrick O’Connor (Buffalo, NY)

#116 – jeffreymacfarlane.com-USA
Jeffrey MacFarlane (Franklin Lakes, NJ) and Jake Arcand (Scituate, MA)

The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing will aim to be the most environmentally sustainable sailing race in the United States. For the third year in a row, presenting sponsor 11th Hour Racing will help the Atlantic Cup maintain its status as the only carbon neutral event in the United States. Throughout the event, teams will use alternative fuel sources to power on-board electronics including using solar panels, and hydrogenerators. Biodiesel will also be provided for teams to use while getting to and from the docks. In addition, the Atlantic Cup will be a plastic water bottle free event with all teams required to use water tanks or refillable canteens for water. The Atlantic Cup will once again be aiming for Sailors for the Sea Platinum Level Certification.

Event website: http://www.atlanticcup.org

Some Additional 2014 Atlantic Cup highlights include:

Kids Day in each city:
The Atlantic Cup offers the chance for kids to get an up close look at the boats and meet the sailors in Charleston (May 9) New York (May 15) and Newport (May 22). More info on Atlantic Cup Kids: http://www.atlanticcup.org/kids

Viewing Opportunities in each city:
The Atlantic Cup will have opportunities for spectators to watch the beginning of each leg live on-shore in Charleston (Saturday, May 10, 12 p.m. ET) New York (Saturday, May 17, 12 p.m. ET), and the two day inshore racing final leg in Newport (Saturday/Sunday, May 24/25, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET).

Source: Event media