Newport, Rhode Island, to Again Host World-Renowned Ocean Race

THE GLORIOUS CITY-BY-THE-SEA MAKES HISTORY AS THE ONLY NORTH AMERICAN STOPOVER THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES!

The Ocean Race, considered the most grueling professional sporting event in the world, is headed to the Ocean State for a nine-day family-friendly celebration, May 13-21.

Sailors are heading for Newport from Itajaí, Brazil, during Leg-4 of the 5,500-nautical mile journey along the eastern seaboard and are expected to arrive in port May 10-12.

Fans are waiting to see Bristol, R.I. sailor Charlie Enright on the Newport-based 11th Hour Racing Team’s entry. Enright skippers the only American vessel in the race.

Amory Ross of Newport is participating as an onboard media crew member, accompanied by three other international men and women crew.

The focus resonating during the Ocean Race event is sustainability, a core value of the race and the Newport stopover. Sustainability programs aim to bring awareness to ocean health issues and inspire and engage the sailing community, sports world, cities, states and countries, and visitors of all ages, to become acquainted with this critical issue.

“Newport and the Ocean State always offer an enthusiastic and warm welcome to the teams, their families, and all those who come to visit and experience this exciting and fun event,” says Rob MacMillan, 11th Hour Racing President and co-founder. “The State of Rhode Island continues to demonstrate its leadership in marine events, sustainability, and ocean stewardship. We are fortunate to have a great sailing team and wonderful partners in Sail Newport, DEM, and the entire state.”

Sail Newport, Rhode Island‘s Public Sailing Center, along with the State of Rhode Island and 11th Hour Racing, will co-host the event at Fort Adams State Park. The Newportbased 11th Hour Racing is an organization that mobilizes sailing, maritime, and coastal communities with an innovative approach to inspire solutions for the ocean.

The Ocean Race organizers intend to hold the first climatepositive international sporting event; the Newport Stopover embraces this goal by striving to be a zero-waste event with a minimal carbon footprint.

After the event finishes at the tip of Fort Adams State Park, the sailors onboard the high-tech IMOCA 60-foot sailboat fleet will have completed four of the seven legs of the race and covered 24,800 nautical miles or 77 percent of the course. The high-tech sailboats practically “fly” over the water on J-shaped hydrofoils with speeds reaching over 40 knots.

Adjacent to the racing boats at the Sail Newport docks in Fort Adams State Park, a festival known as “Ocean Live Park” will be open to the public free of charge—from May 13-21.

“This race is a showcase of human endurance and world-class sailing,” says Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport. “We’re so proud to offer the shoreside Ocean Live Park to the public for free due to the generosity of our partners and our shared commitment to keep sailing thriving and sustainability at the forefront in the Ocean State.”

Visitors will enjoy up-close sailboat racing, an immersive experience presented by 11th-hour Racing, children’s activities, outdoor family games, music, food trucks, entertainment, cocktail cafés, special events, and sailor parades.

“The 2015 and 2018 [Ocean Race] stopovers drew over 200,000 visitors to Newport and generated tens of millions of dollars in economic activity in Rhode Island,” said Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos. “I invite Rhode Islanders to come see what it’s all about in May.” H

For details, visit theoceanracenewport.com.

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