The Ocean Race 2027 will conclude at the stunning AMAALA
A spectacular finale is scheduled for the summer of 2027 on the Red Sea…
Action, suspense, drama – The Ocean Race promises all of this. Famed for testing endurance and teamwork on the high seas, the world’s most prestigious round-the-world sailing challenge is writing an exciting new chapter.
For the first time ever, The Ocean Race fleet will sail the pristine waters of the Red Sea, with AMAALA hosting the Grand Finale in the summer of 2027.
The event will highlight and celebrate the vibrant coral reefs and rich marine biodiversity that characterise the Red Sea.
What is The Ocean Race?
The Ocean Race – the fully crewed, offshore sailing race around the world first contested in 1973 – is known as the toughest test of a team in sports and for its award-winning ocean health initiatives.
It is widely recognised as the pinnacle of achievement for sailors across the world, creating legends throughout the years.
Scheduled to run every four years, The Ocean Race is entering a new, ‘always on’ era, featuring three distinct racing events over the next three years: The Ocean Race Europe 2025, the creation of a new event, The Ocean Race Atlantic 2026: New York to Barcelona, and The Ocean Race 2027, all of which sit alongside its ongoing sustainability initiatives promoting a healthier ocean.
The Ocean Race 2027: The iconic round-the-world race
In 2027, AMAALA will proudly host the Grand Finale of this iconic race. This event connects Saudi Arabia’s maritime past with its ambitions for the future, spotlighting the Red Sea’s pristine environment and elevating Saudi Arabia’s role in global sailing and ocean conservation.
The around-the-world race will start in January 2027 from its home port of Alicante, Spain. This event will maintain its status as the pinnacle of offshore sailing, testing teams as they circle the globe in IMOCA 60 yachts.
The foiling, flying, high-tech IMOCA fleet will then travel from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic and the Southern Ocean, rounding Cape Horn and returning to Europe via the Americas.
Between the start in Alicante and the race finish in AMAALA, up to six additional stopovers will complete the racecourse. Dates for all stopovers and the race finish will be confirmed when the full race route is finalised.
The penultimate leg of The Ocean Race 2027 will be from a European port to a finish line in the Mediterranean Sea off Port Said, Egypt. The race fleet will then assemble to transit together to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal for the start of the final leg – approximately 135 nautical miles – to the finish line just off AMAALA.
A celebration of sport, sustainability, and collaboration
Tucked in the northern part of the Red Sea, on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, AMAALA will offer the perfect backdrop for the culmination of the 15th edition of The Ocean Race 2027.
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A leading marine life institute, Corallium, focused on coral science research, will be part of the ‘Triple Bay’ marina facility hosting the Race at AMAALA, alongside a state of the art, four-story yacht club. It will also act as an immersive visitor attraction to engage people in ocean conservation
In the build-up to the 2027 race finish, The Ocean Race RSG, the developer of AMAALA and the Regenerative Project Partner of The Ocean Race since 2022, will collaborate on ocean science and ocean health initiatives as well as ocean literacy and education programs aimed at youth in the region, in line with the UN Ocean Decade Challenge of restoring society’s relationship with the ocean.
“Sailing has been at the heart of life along the Red Sea for centuries. By bringing this prestigious, purpose-led international event to Saudi shores, we are helping to secure the future health of the Red Sea and the ocean around the world, while nurturing the next generation of Saudi sailors and building a sailing legacy for years to come,” said John Pagano, Group CEO of the Red Sea Global.
Visit: Redseaglobal.com / @theoceanrace
Images: Supplied