Anticipated 100,000 Spectators Gather for Kiel's Ocean Race Europe Commencement
The much-anticipated Ocean Race Europe 2025 commenced on August 10 in the picturesque city of Kiel, Germany. Seven IMOCA foiling yachts, known for their impressive performance in the Vendee Globe, set sail on an approximately 4,500 nautical mile journey across Europe.
The race route, spanning five legs, will take the competitors from Kiel to Portsmouth, with a flypast at Matosinhos/Porto, Portugal, then to Cartagena, Nice, Genoa, and finally concluding in Boka Bay, Montenegro. The race is expected to end around mid-September 1.
Each boat carries a mixed-gender crew, with at least two nationalities represented and at least one female sailor. The fleet includes skippers from the Vendee Globe 2024-25 and former Ocean Race winners 2.
Broadcast and public engagement for the event are extensive. Warner Bros. Discovery will provide television coverage across Europe, while TNT Sports UK’s YouTube channel will offer delayed coverage outside Europe. Real-time race tracking is available on the official website’s innovative Race Tracker. Leading up to the race, there were fan events, including the Ocean Live Park in Kiel with Pro-Am speed runs, and considerable fan presence along the waterfront before the start 4.
The starting line for the race is between Laboe and the Olympia Centre Schilksee on the Kiel Fjord. Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia, one of the participating teams, will be navigated by Justine Mettraux, a Swiss sailor 1.
The competitors are expected to arrive in Portsmouth three to four days after the start on Sunday. The hosts anticipate over 100,000 visitors on the starting day 3.
Other teams participating include Team Amaala, a joint venture between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia, Be Water Positive from Canada, "Allagrande Mapei Racing" from Italy, and the French boats "Paprec Arkéa" and "Biotherm" 1.
Rosalin Kuiper, the skipper of the co-favourite Swiss boat "Holcim-PRB", is another notable competitor in this round-Europe race 1.
The race will go through five stages, traversing the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the English Channel, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, and the Adriatic 1.
The NDR will broadcast live from 13:15 1.
Spectators can look forward to exciting sports action during the Ocean Race Europe 2025, as several teams, including Team Malizia and Holcim-PRB, are known for their impressive performance in sports events like the Vendee Globe. The race's route includes various stops at cities such as Portsmouth, Portugal, Spain, Italy, and Montenegro, making it an exciting sports event for participants and viewers alike.
