Consistently pushing maximum sailing speeds for extended durations! Pip Hare's Involvement in Canada Ocean Racing for The Ocean Race Europe
In an exciting development for the sailing world, British IMOCA skipper Pip Hare has announced that she will be joining Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer's team for The Ocean Race Europe 2025. This collaboration comes after Hare's dismasting in the 2024 Vendeé Globe, during which she and Shawyer began discussing potential collaboration.
Hare will be part of a four-person team for the entirety of The Ocean Race Europe, which kicks off on 10 August 2025. The race covers approximately 4,500 nautical miles with stops in six countries, linking Northern and Southern Europe and finishing in Montenegro, marking the first time the race will be on the Adriatic Sea.
The most challenging and longest leg of the race, Leg 2, is a 1,400-nautical mile race from Portsmouth, England, to Cartagena, Spain, including a fly-by in Matosinhos/Porto, Portugal. This leg is notably long and involves diverse sailing conditions along the Atlantic coast and into the Mediterranean. For Hare, this leg is particularly difficult due to its length and unfamiliar territory in the Mediterranean.
Scott Shawyer, who announced his Vendeé Globe ambitions in 2022, is about to take possession of a new foiling IMOCA yacht, details of which will be announced soon. Shawyer has been working with Vendeé veterans Alex Thomson and Nick Moloney to build experience and prepare for the 2028 Vendeé Globe.
Hare's ability to dig deep and lead through action is seen as a valuable asset by Shawyer. He describes her as a ruthless competitor with a huge heart. Hare, for her part, is looking forward to the opportunity of sailing with other IMOCA sailors and learning about managing a fully crewed foiling IMOCA.
Meanwhile, Hare is currently seeking a new title sponsor for her own Vendeé Globe 2028 campaign. Her own IMOCA is currently being shipped back to Europe after dismasting in the 2024 Vendeé Globe.
The Ocean Race Europe - Leg 2 will be challenging, with a course that includes stops in Kiel, Germany; Portsmouth, UK; Matosinhos, Portugal; Catagena, Spain; Nice, France; Genova, Italy; and Montenegro. The stopovers during The Ocean Race Europe are not expected to be lengthy.
This collaboration between Hare and Shawyer promises to be an exciting addition to The Ocean Race Europe 2025, and sailing fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on their progress.
[1] The Ocean Race, "The Ocean Race Europe 2025 Route Announced", 2023,
Pip Hare, a resilient competitor, will be part of Scott Shawyer's team for The Ocean Race Europe 2025, competing in challenging sailing conditions across various stops in Europe, including the Mediterranean. This collaboration, eagerly awaited by sailing fans, presents an exciting addition to the race.
