Brooklyn Boro

Atlantic Cup sailing race cruises into Brooklyn Bridge Park

June 1, 2016 By Scott Enman Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The American ship Toothface, which finished the first leg in second-to-last place, enters the final stretch of the race off Bay Ridge’s coast. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese
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Brooklynites are accustomed to seeing New York Water Taxis, Circle Line Cruises and Staten Island Ferries in New York Harbor, but on Tuesday, onlookers of the city’s waterfront may have been surprised to see numerous 40-foot racing sailboats.

These massive boats are part of the Atlantic Cup, an intense, two-man crew, offshore race held on the eastern seaboard of the U.S. every two years. Eight teams from four different countries are taking part in this year’s competition.    

“This particular race is the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic,” said co-founder of the Atlantic Cup Julianna Barbieri. “We think it is one of the toughest races in the U.S. because it combines both offshore and inshore. Once they get to Portland, they’re going to race for two days around buoys and they have to add additional crew to do that.

“This race really tests the overall sailor with a long offshore leg and then a sprint leg and then an inshore leg as well … You have to be very well rounded to win the entire Atlantic Cup.”

The teams must complete two legs of the race. They start in Charleston, South Carolina, finish the first leg in Brooklyn and end the final leg in Portland, Maine.

“We sort of managed to make the event a race that goes from three pretty hip cities,” Barbieri told the Brooklyn Eagle. “From Charlestown to Brooklyn and now Portland, we’ve gone to three pretty cool, progressive, young, edgy, upbeat cities, and that’s a neat component too to the event.”

Besides being a tough water competition, another unique aspect of the Atlantic Cup is that it promotes sustainability.

The entire race is carbon neutral, meaning each team tracks, calculates and offsets its carbon footprint. The teams make sure to recycle and compost, and each boat is equipped with an alternative energy source. Those sources include solar panels and hydro generators so that the boats can create electricity without using diesel fuel.

In the past, the boats have docked in Manhattan, but the founders of the Atlantic Cup chose to dock in Brooklyn this year because Brooklyn Bridge Park now boasts One°15 Brooklyn Marina. They chose Kings County as well because the marina is environmentally responsible and also carries a message of sustainability, which aligns with the Atlantic Cup’s standards.

Barbieri articulated the beauty of sailing into New York Harbor.   

“I’ve never sailed into New York City, but the teams all rave about it,” said Barbieri. “In fact, the Earendil crew was just saying that this morning when they started to come up on the approach, it was super foggy. They were really worried that they wouldn’t be able to see the city in all its glory, but of course the fog lifted and they said it’s just magnificent.

“To come by water into New York, all of the teams are always inspired by that. It’s one of the highlights of the trip.”

On Thursday, the teams will take part in the Atlantic Cup’s Pro-Am race where professional sailors and amateur ones will race together around New York Harbor. The Eagle will have the pleasure of riding in one of the racing vessels.

The race kicks off at 3 p.m. and can be viewed best from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 5 and Pier 6. For more information, visit www.atlanticcup.org.

Below are the official first leg results:

Brooklyn Eagle Captures Atlantic Cup Action from Scott Enman on Vimeo.

Atlantic Cup Sailboat In Action from Scott Enman on Vimeo.

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