New York, NY, April 13, 2010 -- The Transatlantic Race 2011 and the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series 2011 were announced today by their organizers: the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Yacht Squadron, in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Storm Trysail Club.

The Transatlantic Race, from Newport, RI to the Lizard, west of Plymouth, England, will offer staggered starts from June 26th-July 3rd, 2011 , and is for Racing, Racing/Cruising and Classic monohull yachts with a minimum length overall (LOA) of 40 feet. The minimum crew number is four. There are no maximums.

A separate class for racer/cruisers will be offered for Superyachts with LOA greater than 100 feet. Other class assignments will be determined by the yachts that are participating. The Transatlantic Race 2011 is principally for yachts rated under IRC, but level-racing classes such as Volvo 70, IMOCA 60 and Class40 may be included at the discretion of the organizing yacht clubs.

The New York Yacht Club at its Harbour Court Clubhouse in Newport, RI, and the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, England will welcome participating yachts at scheduled events on departure and arrival.

Prizes will be awarded for class and division finishes, for individual and team entries and will be suitable for a race of this magnitude. Corrected times and line honors will be recognized.

The race will be subject to the current Racing Rules of Sailing, the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCAS) and the 2010-2011 ISAF Offshore Special Regulations, Category 1.

The New York Yacht Club, Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Ocean Racing Club and Storm Trysail Club, also announce a complementary companion series: the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series 2011, in concert with the following clubs: Royal Malta Yacht Club, Annapolis Yacht Club, Ida Lewis Yacht Club, Montego Bay Yacht Club, Naval Academy Sailing Squadron, Jamaica Yachting Association, Antigua Yacht Club and Real Club Nautico de Sanxenxo.

There will be seven races in the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series. Three races, including the Transatlantic Race 2011, will be required to qualify. Races will be weighted equally with the exception of the Transatlantic Race 2011 that will be weighted 1.5 times. Cox-Sprague points will be awarded within individual races in the series to accommodate differences in fleet sizes. A yacht will be scored in the series using its two best finishes in addition to the Transatlantic Race 2011.

The seven qualifying races and their starting dates are:

Participation in each qualifying race will be subject to the NOR and Sailing Instructions as established by that race’s sponsoring yacht club or clubs. Yacht clubs may enter teams in the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series and will accordingly be included as participating yacht clubs.

Prizes will be awarded for individual and team entries and will be suitable for a series of this magnitude. The Atlantic Ocean Racing Trophy will be awarded to the overall winner.

Yacht owners, skippers or charterers interested in participating in the Transatlantic Race 2011 alone or as part of the Atlantic Ocean Racing Series -- or those needing further information -- should contact:

Media seeking further information may contact Michael Levitt at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Trisha Lewington at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .