© Amory Ross/11th Hour Racing
NEWPORT, R.I., U.S., May 26, 2022 — Our friends at 11th Hour Racing will host a free week-long, ocean-themed initiative in Newport, R.I., from June 12 to 18, to celebrate 11th Hour Racing Team’s return to Narragansett Bay, the organization announced today.
Visitors will see how Newport-based organization, 11th Hour Racing, harnesses the power of sport to inspire action for ocean health. The week-long initiative, named #OceanHour Week, will be held at Fort Adams State Park. The feature exhibit will be an immersive hologram experience about the importance of marine ecosystems. The hologram exhibit debuted in Le Havre, France, at the Transat Jacques Vabre last November, encouraging children and adults alike to discover what’s under the surface of the ocean. Additionally, #OceanHour Week will include a display of local students’ ocean-themed artwork, and information on actions the public can take for the ocean.
© Mark Lloyd/11th Hour Racing
The event will also serve as a public send-off for 11th Hour Racing Team, which will compete in the Newport Bermuda Race starting on June 17.
11th Hour Racing Team’s IMOCA 60, Mālama, which means “to care for” in Hawaiian, will make its debut on Narragansett Bay following a transatlantic crossing from its training base in Concarneau, France, to its Rhode Island hometown.
“Welcoming the 11th Hour Racing Team back to Newport after almost two years will be a special moment for our organization, our entire community, and for the Team’s large, local fanbase,” said 11th Hour Racing Managing Director Todd McGuire. “The whole team has been putting in an outstanding amount of work to get ready for this transatlantic, and we are thrilled to involve the community in this journey. Please join us!”
© Amory Ross/11th Hour Racing
Mālama will be docked at Fort Adams, where fans will have the chance to get a close look at this next-generation foiling IMOCA 60 that will compete in The Ocean Race, the round the world fully crewed sailing race that starts in January 2023. When not out on the water training, Team members will be on the dock to explain the boat’s innovative features, share their sailing experiences, and demonstrate how a professional sports team can integrate sustainability and performance.
#OceanHour Week will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, Friday, June 17, and Saturday, June 18, and from 2 to 6 p.m. on Monday, June 13 through Thursday, June 16. Learn more on the #OceanHour Week Facebook event page and follow along for updates.
About 11th Hour Racing
11th Hour Racing works to mobilize sailing, maritime and coastal communities with an innovative approach to inspire solutions for the ocean. Driven by a philosophy of “local solutions to global problems,” the organization connects international sailing teams with global events and utilizes these platforms to spotlight a broad portfolio of community grant projects. Learn more at www.11thhourracing.org.
About 11th Hour Racing Team
11th Hour Racing Team was formed in September 2019 and is led by American offshore sailors Charlie Enright and Mark Towill. Supported by title sponsor 11th Hour Racing, the Team’s mission is to build a high-performance ocean racing team with sustainability at the core of all operations, inspiring positive action among sailing and coastal communities, and global sports fans to create long-lasting change for ocean health. Towill and Enright have competed in the last two editions of The Ocean Race and the team is set to race in the inaugural, fully-crewed IMOCA Class of The Ocean Race 2022-23 with their next-generation race boat – Mālama. Learn more at 11thhourracingteam.org.
