Pourre Becomes 1st Female Skipper To Win Atlantic Cup

PORTLAND, Maine - Catherine Pourre of France became the first female skipper to win the Atlantic Cup when Earendil claimed a narrow victory following the final stage on Sunday.
 
Earendil beat Boston-based Toothface II, 77-76. Pourre and co-skipper Pietro Luciani of Italy dominated the two offshore legs and held on to a narrow advantage as Toothface II closed the gap with exceptional racing in the inshore series. The Portland-based Amhas, crewed by Micah Davis and Rob Windsor, placed third after a consistent performance in the two-week event.
 
"We could have been better on the inshore series,'' Pourre said. "Toothface was really great on the inshore series, and so was Dragon and Amhas and the others. I am happy to be the winner of course.''
 
Toothface II, skippered by Mike Dreese and Tristan Mouligne, made a late charge during the inshore series to secure second place and just missed out on an extraordinary comeback victory.
 
"We had a great inshore crew, and really picked up the pace,'' Dreese said.
 
Sailed in Class40s, the Atlantic Cup is the longest offshore race in the Western Atlantic at 1,008 nautical miles.