Amaala, a new sports and wellness destination on the Red Sea, will host the arrival of the 15th edition of The Ocean Race in the summer of 2027.
The Ocean Race – the fully crewed round-the-world race that first set off in 1973 – is known for being the toughest sporting event for a team and for its renowned ocean health initiatives.
These key aspects of the race will be shared with visitors in Amaala as the fleet navigates its waters, known for their healthy and thriving coral reefs and impressive marine biodiversity.
Amaala is located in the northern part of the Red Sea, on the western coast of Saudi Arabia, and ocean research in the region – especially around the resilience of coral reefs in waters that are warming due to climate change – is incredibly important for understanding how to mitigate the impact of rising temperatures on ocean health.
In the run-up to the race’s arrival in 2027, The Ocean Race and Red Sea Global (RSG), promoter of Amaala and Partner of The Ocean Race Regenerative Project since 2022, will collaborate on initiatives related to ocean science and health as well as in education and learning programs aimed at young people in the region in line with the challenge of the United Nations Ocean Decade of restoring society’s relationship with the ocean.
The Ocean Race and Red Sea Global have further committed to working together to support sailors and racing teams in carrying out initiatives that drive positive change and have a significant impact on ocean health projects.
“Through our work with RSG over the past three years, we have seen that Amaala, on the Red Sea, is a destination with enormous potential for meaningful engagement around ocean health. We believe we can help raise awareness of the critical importance of the ocean in a region with a young population that is connecting with its coastline and celebrating its maritime tradition and heritage,” said Johan Galen, Director of The Ocean Race, at the announcement ceremony held this Friday.
«From a sporting perspective, this last stage north of the Red Sea will be an exciting culmination of the round the world trip with a short final stage with favorable conditions for an interesting outcome of the round the world trip in Amaala».
The Ocean Race 2027 will depart from its base in Alicante – Port of Departure (Spain) in January 2027 and will take the IMOCA fleet with foils, flyers and cutting-edge technology, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Atlantic Ocean to continue towards the Antarctic Ocean before round Cape Horn and return to Europe via America.
Between the start in Alicante and the arrival in Amaala, more stops will be announced that will complete the regatta route. The dates of all stops and the end of the race will be confirmed when the full route is outlined.
The penultimate stage of The Ocean Race 2027 will go from a European port to the finish line in the Mediterranean off Port Said (Egypt). The fleet will then gather to head to the Red Sea via the Suez Canal and begin the final leg, approximately 135 nautical miles, to the finish line in front of Amaala.
“Sailing has been a central element of life on the Red Sea for centuries. Now it will host the Grand Final of the largest sailing trip around the world. “The Ocean Race’s ambition to be a catalyst for change that accelerates the protection and restoration of our seas coincides perfectly with our own mission to pioneer regenerative tourism.”declared John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Global Group.
Corallium, one of the leading marine life institutes dedicated to coral scientific research and will act as a visitor attraction to involve people in ocean conservation will be part of the “Triple Bay” marina that will host the regatta in Amaala, along with a state-of-the-art four-story yacht club.
“By bringing this prestigious international event to Saudi shores, we are helping to ensure the future health of the Red Sea and ocean around the world, while training the next generation of Saudi sailors and building a sailing legacy for the world.” years to come”Pagano concluded.
The finals hosting agreement in Amaala is an extension and expansion of the original Regenerative Projects agreement between The Ocean Race and Red Sea Global, which began during the 2022-23 edition of the event.
The announcement of the 2027 race final follows confirmation of The Ocean Race Europe route in 2025 and the creation of a new event, The Ocean Race Atlantic: New York to Barcelona, to be held in 2026. The Ocean Race enters a new era of constant activity with ongoing ocean health initiatives and two additional races that will culminate in the main event: the iconic round the world race – The Ocean Race 2027.
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