Helly Hansen and The Ocean Race Renew Partnership in Long-Term Extension

November 21, 2024

The leading global sailing brand will be the Official Clothing Partner of The Ocean Race for the next 7 years, covering 2 consecutive race cycles and beginning with The Ocean Race Europe in 2025

OSLO, NORWAY (21 November 2024) /OUTDOOR SPORTSWIRE/ – Helly Hansen, the leading global sailing brand trusted by professionals around the world, and The Ocean Race, known as sailing’s toughest team challenge, are proud to announce the renewal of their long-standing partnership. With the extension of the partnership, Helly Hansen will provide professional grade apparel for the entire race organization, including partners and the on-water race management team, for 2 consecutive race cycles through 2031, with the first race cycle to include The Ocean Race Europe in 2025, The Ocean Race Atlantic in 2026 and The Ocean Race (around the world) in 2027.

The partnership between Helly Hansen and The Ocean Race unites their shared passion for the sport, bringing together the world’s best sailors and putting them and their gear to the test in some of the most extreme ocean conditions around the world. With a racecourse that circles the planet and takes sailors and teams from the stifling heat of equator crossings to the cold of the Southern Ocean around iconic landmarks like Cape Horn, The Ocean Race is often described as the longest and toughest professional team sporting event in the world.

Helly Hansen and The Ocean Race also have a shared dedication to sustainability and a commitment to respect and protect the environment. As the partnership progresses, Helly Hansen will continue to support The Ocean Race’s Racing with Purpose program, a platform that utilizes the unifying power of sport to educate, inspire and accelerate action towards a healthier ocean.

“It’s a pleasure to welcome Helly Hansen back as our Official Clothing Partner,” said Richard Brisius, the Race Chairman of The Ocean Race. “It is always rewarding to embark on a long-term journey with a trusted partner. Helly Hansen not only shares our commitment to advancing the sport of sailing through engagement and innovation, but the brand also shares our mission of protecting and restoring ocean health. We look forward to continuing to work together with Helly Hansen to inspire our fans through the power of world-class sport.”

With nearly 150 years of knowledge, experience and expertise creating performance-driven apparel, Helly Hansen has developed lasting partnerships with sailing’s top athletes, including teams that have participated in and won The Ocean Race. Described as the ultimate ocean marathon, The Ocean Race is a demanding, round-the-clock adventure across the world’s toughest waters, making it an ideal environment for putting professional grade gear to the ultimate test.

“We are excited to extend and elevate our partnership with The Ocean Race, an organization that shares our passion for sailing, our dedication to innovation, and our commitment to respecting and protecting the environment,” said Carrie Ask, CEO, Helly Hansen. “We believe that not only is The Ocean Race the toughest team sporting event, it is also the toughest testing lab on earth for our apparel, fueling our innovation and new product development. We look forward to actively engaging with sailing communities around the world, building awareness of ocean health, and inspiring action.”

The Ocean Race is entering a new, ‘always on’ era, with ongoing ocean health initiatives and two additional races – The Ocean Race Europe (2025) and The Ocean Race Atlantic (2026) – building into the main, iconic, around the world event – The Ocean Race 2027, which is scheduled to start from Alicante, Spain in January 2027 and finish in AMAALA in the Red Sea six months later. Each of the events feature women and men racing together in the foiling IMOCA class, where innovation and technology combine to produce record-breaking performance.

As part of the partnership, Helly Hansen will launch an official merch collection, which will be available for race fans both online and in Ocean Live Park, the international stopover race villages, starting with The Ocean Race Europe in 2025.

To stay updated on the partnership between Helly Hansen and The Ocean Race, visit hellyhansen.com.

About Helly Hansen

Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen continues to develop professional grade apparel that helps people stay and feel alive. Through insights drawn from living and working in the world’s harshest environments, the company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics nearly 150 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, made with LIFA® Stay Dry technology, the patented H2Flow™ temperature regulating system, and the revolutionary lighter, warmer LIFALOFT™ insulation. Building on Helly Hansen’s proprietary HELLY TECH® waterproof/breathable system, the technical outdoor brand has most recently introduced the award-winning LIFA INFINITY PRO™ – the company’s most innovative waterproof/breathable technology to date.

Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 55,000 professionals and can be found on Olympians, National Teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations globally.

Helly Hansen’s outerwear, base layers, sportswear and footwear are sold in more than 40 countries around the world and the company is owned by Canadian Tire Corporation (CTC). To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit www.hellyhansen.com.

About The Ocean Race

Since 1973, The Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test of a team and a human adventure like no other. For 50 years, it has kept an almost mythical hold over some of the greatest sailors and been the proving ground for the legends of our sport.

The 14th edition of The Ocean Race started from Alicante, Spain on January 15th 2023, and finished in Genova, the Grand Finale, in Italy on 1 July 2023 after visiting nine iconic cities around the globe. Led by skipper Charlie Enright, the American 11th Hour Racing Team won the race, which was contested for the first time in the flying, foiling, record-setting IMOCA boats.

The Ocean Race celebrated its 50th anniversary during 2023 and is looking ahead to The Ocean Race Europe in 2025; The Ocean Race Atlantic – New York to Barcelona in 2026; and the next edition of the around the world race, which will start from Alicante, Spain in 2027 and finish in AMAALA on the Red Sea.

Sustainability in The Ocean Race

At The Ocean Race, we have a proven commitment to sustainability, and with the support and collaboration of our sailors, teams and key stakeholders, we are inspiring action and creating tangible outcomes.

Building upon our award-winning legacy in sustainability, our innovative Racing With Purpose programme is a catalyst for positive change while accelerating innovative solutions to help restore ocean health.