May 25, 2024 – Charleston, S.C. – Eight teams representing four countries started the 2024 Atlantic Cup at 12:00 ET today in sunny skies, with an initial 3-5 knot north breeze, that soon after switched to southeast. The start cannon was fired off the Spirit of South Carolina with spectators looking on from land and sea. The German team Sign for Com won the start, with Nestenn Entrepreneurs Pour La Planete and Scowling Dragon closely behind.
However, with extremely light and flukey conditions the teams struggled to reach the mark. It was Vogue Avec un Crohn, followed by Acrobatica and La Manche Evidence Nautique who led the fleet once out of the jetties after the sea breeze filled in.
Unfortunately, the wind is expected to die tonight leaving the teams with a major tactical decision on how best to position their boats – hug the coast or sail further offshore to catch the Gulf Stream and the current push it will offer. The boats that can get the furthest northwest in the next 12 hours will be in the best position heading into Newport– resulting in a straight boat-speed drag race to the finish-line in Rhode Island.
Atlantic Cup Race Director, Hugh Piggin said, “With the current pushing the teams out of the harbor in flukey winds, it was a very difficult start. Once they got into the harborentrance the sea breeze filled in and the teams were able to increase speeds. I’m sure they are happy to be out of the harbor. They’ve got to get as much progress this evening as they can because the wind is going to die down tomorrow. With all things considered, the race start went smoothly, and it was nice to see such a strong presence of the South Carolina community out for the Atlantic Cup’s return!”
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