2016 Atlantic Cup - Four additional teams announced

by Julianna Barbieri on 20 Apr 2016 The 2016 Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing announced today four additional teams bringing the international field of Class 40s from the USA, France, Spain, Sweden, Canada and Great Britain to twelve. The four teams announced include: 65-Carac, 147-Campagne de France, 141-Eärendil, and 102-Privateer.

Several accomplished sailors recently joined the field including two-time British Olympic team meteorologist and accomplished Volvo Ocean Race sailor, Libby Greenhalgh (Oakcliff – USA). Her co-skipper, Canadian, Liz Shaw is Canada’s youngest National Race Officer. The duo is competing in the first leg of the race; Hobie Ponting (Oakcliff – USA) and a yet to be named co-skipper will sail legs two and three. Louis Duc (Carac – FRA), 2015 Transat Jacques Vabre third place finisher; Jeffrey Brock (Pleiad – USA), former Volvo Ocean Race sailor and French pair Halvard Mabire and co-skipper, Miranda Merron (Campagne De France – FRA) are new additions to the race, shaping up for a tough field of competitors in the fifth edition of the Atlantic Cup.

“I am really looking forward to competing in this year's Atlantic Cup and excited to be teaming up with Liz to race as the first all-female team to compete in the Cup,” said Greenhalgh. “This race will be challenging with the strong competition, tough course and also a new experience for me racing short-handed. I think it is important to have good role models out there for young women to see the pathway in sailing and it will be great to make a little bit of history and challenge more to follow us!”

The Class 40 teams will set sail from Charleston, S.C., on Saturday, May 28 at 12 p.m. ET en route to Brooklyn, N.Y., for the second leg of the competition and a Pro-Am event, May 31-June 3, before departing on June 4 at 12 p.m. ET, on the final leg of competition. The biennial event culminates in Portland, Maine, with two days of inshore racing and the Atlantic Cup Festival, June 10 and 11.

Event organizers also announced the return of official beer partner Pabst Blue Ribbon, and welcomed Hyatt Place Portland and AARP of Maine as race partners for the Portland stopover.

2016 Atlantic Cup Teams

Boat Name	Country	Skipper	Co-Skipper
#39 Pleiad Racing	USA	Ed Cesare	Chad Corning
#54 Dragon Ocean Racing	USA	Mike Hennessy	Merf Owen
#65 Carac	France	Louis Duc	Yves Sale
#95 Talanta	Sweden	Mikael Ryking	TBD
#102 Privateer	USA	Rich Fleishman	David Hommel
#118 Oakcliff Racing	USA	Libby Greenhalgh (Leg 1)	Liz Shaw (Leg 1)
		Hobie Ponting (Leg 2)	TBD (Leg 2)
#123 Tales II	Spain	Gonzalo Botín	Pablo Santurde
#127 Amhas II	USA	Micah Davis	Rob Windsor
#128 Toothface 2	USA	Mike Dreese	Tristan Mouligne
#143 Longbow	USA	FK Day	Linc Day
#145 Eärendil	France	Catherine Pourre	Antoine Carpentiere
#147 Campagne de France	France	Halvard Mabire	Miranda Merron