Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Biotherm team in Alicante ahead of The Ocean Race

by Voile Biotherm 21 Dec 2022 23:22 PST
The IMOCA Biotherm arrives in Alicante © Anne Beaugé

On Monday 12 December, the IMOCA Biotherm arrived in Alicante, in southern Spain, after a 16-day delivery trip from Guadeloupe.

With the very recent Route du Rhum culminating in a very fine 6th place for the team, a very quick turnaround has been necessary so everyone can get back down to work to prepare for one of the major elements of the Biotherm project. Indeed, on 15 January, Paul Meilhat and his crew are setting sail on The Ocean Race, a round the world yacht race spread over 7 legs. A 6-month marathon spanning 8 cities and 3 continents, it covers all the oceans of the globe. Before this epic planetary adventure kicks off though, there is still a hefty jobs list. As such, the entire Biotherm team has rallied together in Alicante to repair and prepare the boat, which is due to be relaunched in early January.

There will be no or precious little Christmas break. The two-week sea passage from Pointe-à-Pitre, punctuated by a boisterous episode offshore of the Azores, served as a crash test of sorts. Biotherm handled things very well in the bad weather and rough seas, but a few teething issues have since surfaced. "Nothing crippling, nothing impracticable, explains Paul Meilhat reassuringly, but it serves as a reminder that we're still in the process of making her reliable."

"We still have a massive amount of work to do"

A foil casing and foil must be repaired. The electronic and electrical systems need to be improved, with a thorough check of all the key elements (rig, appendages, sails and large fittings). Finally, the fit-out has to be adjusted so that the 5 crew members (4 sailors and 1 on-board reporter) can work in a cramped cockpit for weeks on end.

"It feels as if our race against the clock - which began 11 months ago with the launch of the build for this IMOCA - never stops. We've still got a massive amount of work to do. Some of the team won't be going home for Christmas, even though everyone's been under a lot of pressure already. In fact, I'd like to thank our whole team for really stepping up to the plate in this project with a month to go till the start."

After arriving in Alicante on Monday, the boat has now been hauled out, her keel removed, her mast unstepped and her hull stripped of all her appendages. The base camp/technical zone has been set up amidst a mixture of marquees and containers, alongside the Malizia and Holcim - PRB teams, two of Biotherm's future rivals in the race. Meantime, Paul Meilhat has headed back to Brittany, the van loaded with sails and parts requiring servicing.

On 5 January, Biotherm will be relaunched and, just three days later, she'll take part in the first 'in-port race', a race around the bay organised as a prologue to each leg.

The teams will get down to business on 15 January at 14:00 hrs with the start of the first leg: a 'short' 1,900-mile sprint (around 6 days at sea) bound for Cape Verde.

The key 5 at the controls of Biotherm for this first leg:

  • Amélie Grassi
  • Ming Hao: reporter embarqué
  • Anthony Marchand
  • Damien Seguin
  • Paul Meilhat

Related Articles

Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy 2025 Preview
International sailing & ocean conservation unite in Cascais From July 4 to 6, Cascais hosts the biggest sailing regatta of the year with a strong focus on sustainability. The Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy celebrates six years of diversity, competition, and environmental commitment. Posted on 30 Jun
Tschüss 2 - Transatlantic Titans
Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 in the Transatlantic Race 2025 Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs. Posted on 26 Jun
Tschüss 2 powers ahead in Transatlantic Race
Her nearest rival, some 300 miles astern, is Oliver Kobale's VO65 Sisi Six days into the West-East Transatlantic Race, Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 Tschüss 2, co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has raced over 2,000 miles and is the clear leader for both Monohull Line Honours and the overall IRC win. Posted on 23 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership. Posted on 16 Jun
Pip Hare joins Canada Ocean Racing
Sailing alongside Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer for The Ocean Race Europe Canada Ocean Racing is excited to announce that British offshore sailor Pip Hare will join their Be Water Positive campaign for the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe. Posted on 30 Apr
Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy returns
With the introduction of the high-performance TP52 class The prestigious Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy is set to return for its sixth edition from July 4-6, 2025, promising a thrilling weekend of top-tier sailing in one of Europe's most scenic and challenging maritime locations, Cascais. Posted on 24 Mar
The Ocean Race Europe to make stop in Nice, France
Visiting the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer The Ocean Race Europe, the premiere fully-crewed, offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA Class, will visit the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer. Posted on 13 Mar
The Ocean Race Europe will race into Portsmouth
Back in the game for the IMOCA race in the summer of 2025 The Ocean Race Europe, an offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA class, will include Portsmouth on the south coast of England, among its six stopovers. Posted on 16 Sep 2024
Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race extend partnership
With a joint mission on ocean health Volvo Cars and The Ocean Race both share the strong commitment to a more sustainable future and to contribute and deliver actual change where it's needed, including in the restoration and preservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity. Posted on 28 Aug 2024
Franck Cammas awarded 2024 Magnus Olsson Prize
French 'sailor of the decade' is recognised for his spirit and impact on the sport Franck Cammas, the incredible French sailing champion, has earned another important accolade as he is named the winner of the 2024 Magnus (Mange) Olsson Prize. Posted on 9 Aug 2024
Maritimo M75Rooster 2025Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design