Renowned Swiss skipper Nils Palmieri joins team Oliver Heer Ocean Racing for the 2023 IMOCA Series
by Oliver Heer Ocean Racing 23 Aug 2023 07:11 PDT
Nils Palmieri joins team Oliver Heer Ocean Racing for the 2023 IMOCA Series © Oliver Heer Ocean Racing
Oliver Heer Ocean Racing, the Swiss offshore racing team is thrilled to announce the addition of Nils Palmieri, an exceptional Swiss sailor, to their team as Co-Skipper for the upcoming Defi Azimut and the double handed Transat Jacques Vabres 2023 IMOCA races.
Both the 2023 Défi Azimut Regatta and the double handed Transat Jacques Vabre hold significant importance in the IMOCA (International Monohull Open Class Association) racing calendar. They provide Oliver and the Oliver Heer Ocean Racing team with valuable training experience, preparation, and exposure ahead the 2024 Vendée Globe, which is considered one of the most prestigious solo around-the-world races in the sailing world.
"Having this double handed sailing and training time with Nils will be invaluable for my preparation for the 2024 Vendée Globe. He is an exceptionally talented sailor, and I am looking to learn from him and take away as much as possible in the coming months." Oliver Heer, CEO and Skipper of Oliver Heer Ocean Racing
Who is Nils Palmieri?
Born in the picturesque town of Montreux, Switzerland, Nils Palmieri's passion for outdoor sports started early, and by 7, Nils transitioned into competitive sailing world in optimists, earning a place on the Swiss junior team, and participating in three Junior World Championships.
In 2014, Philippe Rey-Gorrez, CEO of TeamWork, invited Nils to helm the M2 TeamWork, a 28-foot catamaran sailed by a crew of four, competing on Lake Geneva. During this time, Nils also had the opportunity to develop his skills on board the Class 40, helming for Betrand Delesne on the return from the Route Du Rhum. The following year, co-skippering with Betrand Delesne, Nils secured 5th place in the 2015 Transat Jacques Vabres.
In 2019, Nils's talent was recognised when he was chosen to take over the helm of the Figaro Bénéteau 3 TeamWork from Justine Mettraux. His greatest result to date came in 2021, winning the Transat Double-handed race with partner Julien Villion.
The following year, he established himself as a serious contender for the legendary Solitaire du Figaro, finishing a remarkable 6th and becoming the first foreigner to achieve this feat.
Nils's has been named the Male Swiss Sailor of the Year for 2021-2022, won the Suisse Sailing Awards 2023 and received the Super combativity Award at the 2022 Solitaire du Figaro.
Beyond sailing, Nils's continues to enjoy a wide range of outdoor adventures including ski touring, freeriding, paragliding, and climbing. He is also a keen kite surfer and practices callisthenics as part of his physical preparation.
Oliver Heer, CEO and Skipper of Oliver Heer Ocean Racing, expressed his enthusiasm for this partnership, stating, "Nils's unparalleled experience, dedication and seamanship align perfectly with our team's vision for extreme shorthanded competitive sailing. His addition as Co-Skipper reinforces our commitment to excellence and will undoubtedly elevate our performance in the upcoming races and beyond to the 2024 Vendee Globe."
Nils Palmieri shared his excitement saying, "I am thrilled to join forces with Oliver Heer Ocean Racing and be part of a team that shares my passion for offshore sailing. I'm looking forward to racing on the IMOCA, contributing my skills and working closely with the team to achieve remarkable feats on the open waters."
The Défi Azimut Regatta and the Transat Jacques Vabre are the next two races that form part of the IMOCA race calendar.
The Défi Azimut Regatta is an annual sailing event that takes place in Lorient, France from September 20th and is a significant event for IMOCA class boats, which are high-performance monohull sailboats designed for long-distance ocean racing.
The regatta serves as a prelude to major Transat Jaques Vabres race and offers Oliver and Nils the opportunity to fine-tune their boat and test their skills in various conditions. The event includes multiple races, both short and long, allowing competitors to demonstrate their boat speed, manoeuvrability, and crew coordination.
One of the standout features of the Défi Azimut Regatta is the speed runs, where boats try to achieve the highest average speed over a specified distance. These runs showcase the incredible performance capabilities of IMOCA boats and attract sailing enthusiasts and professionals alike. In 2022 Oliver Heer Ocean Racing were the fastest non foiling IMOCA boat in the speed runs.
The Transat Jacques Vabre (TJV) is a long distance offshore transatlantic yacht race, 2023 will be the 30th edition of this challenging course, which spans approximately 4,350 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean. The race starts on the 29th of October in Le Havre, France, and finishes in Martinique. The race is open to multiple classes of boats, with IMOCA being one of the most prominent and competitive categories.
Joining forces with the Oliver Heer Ocean Racing, Nils Palmieri will assume the role of Co-Skipper for the upcoming IMOCA races, lending his exceptional talent, experience, unwavering determination, and a profound connection to the sea to this extreme sailing challenge. Nils's presence on the team promises to deliver an exhilarating race experience for sailors and enthusiasts worldwide.