Sustained High-Speed Voyage: Pip Hare's Enlistment in Canada Ocean Racing for The Ocean Race Europe
British IMOCA sailor Pip Hare is set to join Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer's team, Be Water Positive, for the upcoming crewed multi-stage race, The Ocean Race Europe 2025. Hare's ability to lead through action and dig deep is expected to be a valuable asset to the team.
Scott Shawyer's team is about to take possession of a new foiling IMOCA yacht, details of which will be announced soon. The team's goal is to sail this yacht at max warp for days on end, making the most of the foiling technology available.
For Hare, this opportunity presents a chance to sail with other IMOCA sailors and learn about managing a fully crewed foiling IMOCA. She is looking forward to the experience and the challenges it will bring.
The Ocean Race Europe 2025, starting on 10 August 2025, will cover approximately 1,400 nautical miles, with Leg 2 taking the fleet from Portsmouth, England to Cartagena, Spain, via Matosinhos/Porto, Portugal. This leg is a new area for Hare, who has previously participated in The Ocean Race Europe in 2021.
Leg 3 of the race will take the fleet to Nice, then to Genova, and finally to Montenegro. The course for Leg 2 is expected to be challenging, particularly the stretch from Kiel, Germany to Catagena, Spain. The Mediterranean leg of the race can be frustrating due to wind shadows and parking up, but Hare is ready to face these challenges head-on.
Scott Shawyer considers Hare a ruthless competitor with a huge heart, bringing a unique mix of tenacity, experience, and humanity to his team. Hare is currently seeking a new title sponsor for her own Vendeé Globe 2028 campaign.
Collaboration within the IMOCA class is important for maintaining knowledge, driving performance, and finding sponsorship. Shawyer has been working with Vendeé veterans Alex Thomson and Nick Moloney to build experience and prepare for the 2028 Vendeé Globe, and this collaboration is set to continue with the addition of Hare to his team.
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 is not only a competitive event but also a race with a focus on water conservation. Shawyer's team, Be Water Positive, shares this focus, echoing a broader challenge of balancing competitive sailing performance with environmental responsibility.
[1] The Ocean Race [2] Be Water Positive [3] Pip Hare Racing [4] Sail-World.com [5] Yachting World [6] Sailing Today [7] IMOCA Official Website [8] Vendeé Globe Official Website
The joining of Pip Hare to Scott Shawyer's team, Be Water Positive, for The Ocean Race Europe 2025 allows for a blend of sports competition with environmental responsibility. Pip Hare, a skilled IMOCA sailor known for her tenacity and leadership, is eager to learn from this crewed multi-stage race and its challenges, particularly legacy 2's demanding stretch from Kiel, Germany to Cartagena, Spain.
