The Ocean Race 2023!

The first Ocean Race was held in 1973, making this their 50th year running. The Ocean Race originally started at The Whitbread Race. The first race consisted of 19 teams. This year there are only 11 teams that are split into two groups. The Ocean Race is the ultimate test of sailing, being the world’s longest and toughest professional sporting event. These sailors have dedicated years/decades to winning this race. There are no breaks for these sailors as they work 24/7 going against anything the ocean throws at them to make it to the next destination first. The 2023 race is a five-month, 32,000-nautical mile long. It features a leg with the longest racing distance in the 50-year history of the event – a 12,750 nautical mile stretch from Cape Town, South Africa, to Itajaí, Brazil.  

There are two dynamic classes of boats: the IMOCA, a 60-foot single-hull yacht used by the five teams that sail worldwide. The other class is VO65, a 65-foot single-hull yacht used by the six teams racing three legs for The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup. Both classes are capable of traveling over 600 nautical miles in 24 hours. To win, The Ocean Race is based on a scoring system, and points are awarded each leg for the number of entries. So, for IMOCA, 1st place gets 5 points, second place gets 4, and so on. For VO65, first place is awarded 6 points and goes down. However, Leg 3 and 5 teams are eligible to receive double points.  .

The Ocean Race has officially made its way to Newport! On May 10th 11th Hour Racing Team was the first team to hit the shores of Newport. This 17-day leg tested these teams’ skills by facing transitions in weather systems and wind gusts of over 50 knots. From May 13th-21st at Fort Adams, Ocean Park Live will be open! This festival has a lot of activities, such as games/crafts, trying out sailing, food trucks, music, and more! You can also stop by Helly Hansen Newport, as we have a wide selection of The Ocean Race collection to show your support!