Biotherm Victories Ocean Race Europe's First Leg; Two Competitors Struggling to Complete Repairs Ahead of the Second
The Ocean Race Europe Leg 2 is set to kick off on Sunday, 17 August, from Portsmouth, with excitement building after a thrilling first leg that saw its fair share of drama.
Last month, the race began in Kiel, Germany, with Team Biotherm, helmed by Paul Meilhat, taking an early lead and maintaining it throughout the race to win Leg 1. However, two boats, Holcim PRB and Allagrande MAPEI, were involved in a collision at the start, causing significant damage and forcing both teams to retire.
Both teams filed official protests against each other, and the International Jury, appointed by World Sailing, reviewed statements from other teams and video evidence. The jury's decision was made during the stopover after Leg 2 and finalized by 24 August, 2025. The collision resulted in compensation for Team Holcim-PRB but no further penalties for either team. Team Holcim-PRB's results for the uncontested first leg will be based on the average score from legs 2 to 5[1][3].
After four days of repairs, Allagrande MAPEI is ready to rejoin the fleet in Portsmouth, while Holcim PRB is still working towards a fix to rejoin the race.
Meanwhile, Team Malizia snatched second place from Paprec Arkéa during the final stages of the first leg, thanks to a strategic move involving a spinnaker. The English Channel's routing squeezed the fleet, narrowing to 3.3 miles at its tightest, making for a challenging race.
Team Be Water Positive sailed into Dover in thick fog with less than 30 meters visibility, while Team Amaala struggled with slow speed, averaging just 3 knots, during the final stretch of the English Channel.
As the teams prepare for Leg 2, the focus is on safety, strategy, and speed. The hearing for the protests will take place during the Cartagena stopover following Leg 2. The race promises to be just as exciting as the first leg, with teams eager to make up for lost ground and claim victory.
Sports enthusiasts eagerly await the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe, set to commence on Sunday, 17 August in Portsmouth. Despite the collision during the first leg that led to the unfortunate retirement of Holcim PRB and Allagrande MAPEI, both teams are ready to rejoin the competition and strive for victory.
