In Just 6 Months, the Global Ocean Race Kicks Off and Rhode Island Is America's Host

In Just 6 Months, the Global Ocean Race Kicks Off and Rhode Island Is America's Host

The Ocean Race -- which is described as the toughest test of a team in sport and sailing's greatest round-the-world challenge -- is going to start in just six months. 

In 2023, the race makes its only North American stopover in Newport -- and is a big boost to Rhode Island. 

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The event has a wide-ranging economic and tourism impact on the community. Organizers released a detailed economic impact report that showed that the 2015 stopover generated an estimated $47.7 million for Rhode Island's economy.  The race came to Newport again in 2018. 

Both events were huge draws for visitors, with over 137,000 people in the race village in 2015 and over 100,000 visitors in 2018, which was dampened slightly due to some rainy weather.

On Friday, GoLocal had the opportunity to go aboard the Newport-based 11th Hour Racing Team's 60-foot IMOCA ‘Mālama’ -- skippered by Rhode Island native Charlie Enright. 

Prior to sailing, GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle talked with Mark Towill, the CEO of the 11th Hour Racing Team. 

"We're just under six months to go to the start of the Ocean Race, the world's premiere around-the-world sailing race, and we're really excited here in Newport," said Towill. "We just sailed here from France at the beginning of June, which was a part of our training and next week. We'll be leaving still back to France which is another big milestone."

 

Critical to the mission of the 11th Hour team and the race is the sustainability of the world's oceans.

"Both Charlie and I, the founders of the team, are really passionate about ocean health and trying to make a difference and leave things in a better place -- and that's essentially the mission of our title sponsor," said Towill. "So to have that value alignment and be able to use the platform of our team to inspire change is really an incredible opportunity." 

11th Hour Racing's mission is described as the following:

"From plastic pollution to climate change to the environmental impacts of our sport, our oceans are threatened. The clock is ticking. 11th Hour Racing works with the sailing community and maritime industries to advance solutions and practices that protect and restore the health of our ocean. Inspired by and furthering the mission of The Schmidt Family Foundation, 11th Hour Racing embraces sponsorships, grantees, and ambassadors who integrate sustainability into their values and operations while educating, innovating and inspiring people with the critical message of ocean stewardship."

 

 

 

Once again, Sail Newport, Rhode Island's Public Sailing Center, will organize the event.

Executive Director Brad Read said in the announcement of the return of the race, “This is the pinnacle event of the sport of ocean racing. These athletes are spending 24 hours a day for weeks on end transiting oceans in storms and calms and as a community we have the privilege of welcoming them to the only stop in North America."

"Our entire community will greet them as we have greeted seafarers for generations. We will welcome them and celebrate the human victory of overcoming the monumental challenge," he added. 

The Ocean Race 2022-23 will visit nine iconic international cities over a six-month period, with leg one starting from Alicante, Spain, on January 15, 2023.

The start of the 14th edition of The Ocean Race, early in the new year, will follow the Reyes holiday period in Spain, and see the two racing fleets (the foiling IMOCAs and one-design VO65s) depart on a 32,000 nautical mile (60,000 km) race around the world in separate divisions.

Read more about the race -- and the route -- here.