11th Hour Racing Named Impact Partner of The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026

That truth sits at the heart of a newly announced partnership, with 11th Hour Racing confirmed as the official Impact Partner of The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026. It is a collaboration rooted not in slogans, but in more than a decade of measurable action — advancing ocean science, sustainability, literacy, and equity across one of sailing’s most influential platforms.

As The Ocean Race prepares to launch its new transatlantic Atlantic race in September 2026, this partnership signals a clear intention: to use elite offshore racing not just as a contest of performance, but as a catalyst for lasting change.

A partnership built on real impact

11th Hour Racing has been a founding partner of The Ocean Race’s award-winning “Racing for the Ocean” programme, working alongside the race for over ten years to push the boundaries of what sustainability in professional sport can look like.

That work has already delivered tangible outcomes: advances in onboard scientific instrumentation, expanded open-access ocean data, a global ocean literacy programme now available in 13 languages, and a sustainable event-operations blueprint designed to be replicated far beyond sailing.

The Ocean Race Atlantic provides a new, high-profile stage on which to build — and to go further.

“This partnership is about setting new benchmarks,” said Jeremy Pochman, Co-Founder and CEO of 11th Hour Racing. “As we join forces again for The Ocean Race Atlantic, we’re committed to equity, access and measurable progress — especially for women competing at the highest level of offshore racing.”

Gender-balanced crews: a first for The Ocean Race

Perhaps the most significant announcement tied to the Impact Partnership is a historic rule change.

For the first time in the 52-year history of The Ocean Race, teams competing in The Ocean Race Atlantic will be required to field gender-balanced crews — two women and two men on every boat.

Women have long been part of The Ocean Race story, from pioneering all-female crews to mixed teams competing across multiple editions. But this marks the first time parity is mandated, rather than encouraged.

The aim is simple, and overdue: equal opportunity at the highest level of offshore sailing.

“This is about moving beyond minimums and incentives,” said Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race. “This is the first time we will have gender-balanced race crews on every boat, and we believe that is a genuine step forward for equal opportunity in the sport.”

11th Hour Racing sees the initiative as a natural evolution of its broader mission.

“Our decade-long relationship with The Ocean Race has delivered real, measurable outcomes,” Pochman added. “We’ve shown what collaboration can achieve — in science, in education, in sustainability. Now we’re applying that same intent to gender equity.”

Racing for the Ocean — on and off the water

The Impact Partnership will also extend the two organisations’ joint work in ocean science and literacy, ensuring that the Atlantic race is not only a sporting contest but a platform for learning and engagement.

Teams will continue to carry scientific equipment onboard, contributing data to global research efforts, while host venues will showcase sustainable event practices designed to leave a positive local legacy.

From waste management and energy use to community engagement and education, the Atlantic race will reflect the same principles that have reshaped The Ocean Race’s global footprint over recent editions.

“Working with 11th Hour Racing allows us to continue pushing offshore racing toward a more equitable and sustainable future,” said Lucy Hunt, Ocean Impact Director of The Ocean Race. “Most importantly, it helps us connect communities to the blue heart of our planet — the ocean.”

A new Atlantic chapter

Set to start from New York City in September 2026, The Ocean Race Atlantic will see fully crewed, foiling IMOCA yachts take on a high-intensity transatlantic challenge — combining cutting-edge technology with the raw exposure that has always defined ocean racing.

Fast, loud and spectacular as the boats may be, the deeper legacy of the race will be quieter: data collected, barriers lowered, opportunities widened, and a sport gradually reshaped from within.

The ocean has never needed fewer words. It needs better actions.

With 11th Hour Racing stepping into the role of Impact Partner, The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 looks set to deliver both.