The Ocean Race 2027 will feature a brand-new transatlantic leg launching from St. Pete-Clearwater, Florida, and finishing in Cascais, Portugal, marking a milestone moment for the landmark 15th edition of the fully-crewed offshore sailing event. For the first time in the race’s 54-year history, Florida’s Gulf Coast will serve as a host port, linking two world-renowned sailing destinations across 4,500 nautical miles of open Atlantic.
The St. Pete-Clearwater stopover is set for May 4-16, 2027. An Ocean Live Park race village will welcome visitors from around the world, based at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club along the downtown waterfront. The event is being organised in partnership with the University of South Florida, which is home to one of the country’s foremost marine science programs and ocean health research efforts. The foiling IMOCA fleet of 60-foot sailboats will be berthed at the USF waterfront during the stopover.
“The Ocean Race embodies much of what our community already represents: a deep tradition of ocean racing and a strong commitment to ocean science, sustainability, marine innovation, STEM education, and tourism,” said Rob Britts, Stopover Director for St. Pete-Clearwater. “We’re incredibly excited to welcome this event and the global spotlight it brings, but we’re even more excited about the lasting legacy it can create for our community for years to come.”
Florida has deep roots in this race. The state has previously hosted the event five times, with Fort Lauderdale welcoming the fleet in 1989-90, 1993-94, and 1997-98, and Miami serving as the host port in 2001-02 and 2011-12. Now the race’s American chapter shifts to the Gulf Coast for the first time, as St. Pete-Clearwater becomes the arrival port for the third leg, with the fleet sailing north from Itajai, Brazil.
The region is one of America’s most dynamic coastal destinations, blending a long sailing heritage with booming participation numbers. Visitors and locals enjoy picturesque natural beauty alongside a Michelin Guide-rated culinary scene and a vibrant downtown arts district anchored by the world-famous Dali Museum.
“It’s an honour to be selected as the North American destination on this prestigious race that encompasses some of the globe’s most iconic coastal communities,” said Steve Grimes, chief marketing officer for Visit St. Pete-Clearwater. “Everyone can expect a memorable stopover experience, which becomes a fantastic addition to our portfolio of major festivals and sporting events that give visitors a chance to experience our unique combination of 35 miles of award-winning white sand beaches, active waterfront and the urban oasis that St. Pete-Clearwater has to offer.”
The St. Petersburg Yacht Club, situated in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, will anchor the race festivities. “For more than a century, the St. Petersburg Yacht Club has helped shape the sailing culture of Tampa Bay, hosting generations of sailors and world-class regattas,” said Commodore Christian Bergstrom. “We are honoured to see that legacy continue as St. Petersburg becomes the North American stopover for The Ocean Race in 2027.”
Widely regarded as the toughest test of a team in sport, The Ocean Race has pushed sailors to their limits for over five decades. Adding St. Pete-Clearwater as a departure port signals the event’s continued expansion in the United States and introduces it to the thriving sailing community along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
During the stopover, the waterfront Ocean Live Park will offer a range of free public activities including team boat viewings and dock walks, sailing and ocean-themed exhibits, STEM and ocean science programming, and sustainability and ocean conservation showcases.
Beyond elite competition, the event serves as a global platform for ocean health through its Racing for the Ocean sustainability program. Collaborating with scientists, policymakers, and educators worldwide, the initiative champions ocean science, literacy, and marine protection. Through its partnership with the University of South Florida, the stopover will spotlight the importance of safeguarding ocean ecosystems.
“We’re super excited to welcome The Ocean Race teams to our waterfront campus in downtown St. Petersburg,” said Tom Frazer, dean of the USF College of Marine Science. “Advancements in science, technology and ocean education will be on full display. This partnership is a natural fit for the College and the University of South Florida more broadly.”
After departing Florida, teams will tackle the 4,500-nautical-mile Atlantic crossing to Cascais, one of Europe’s premier sailing destinations just west of Lisbon. The Portuguese coastal town will host the fleet in late May before racing resumes in early June.
“The Ocean Race has always been defined by the cities and communities that embrace it, and this new transatlantic leg showcases everything the race stands for,” said Race Chairman Richard Brisius. “Departing from the shores of St. Pete-Clearwater and arriving in the historic sailing waters of Cascais is a way to connect two coastal cities with enormous passion for the ocean.”
The 15th edition sets sail from Alicante, Spain on January 17, 2027, sending the foiling IMOCA fleet on the longest opening leg in race history, a 14,000-nautical-mile passage to Auckland, New Zealand. From there the route returns to South America via Itajai, Brazil, before heading north to the United States for the new transatlantic leg to Cascais. The race concludes with an unprecedented sprint down the Red Sea to AMAALA, the first time competitors have raced on those waters.
