The Ocean Race Europe Video Preview - We speak to Phil Lawrence, Peter Rusch & Pip Hare
by Mark Jardine 8 Jul 2025 06:30 PDT
10 August - 21 September 2025
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 - Course © The Ocean Race
The Ocean Race Europe will take place between 10th August and 21st September 2025, following a debut event in the summer of 2021. The racing is in IMOCA yachts, the same as in the Vendée Globe, but this time with four crew and an OBR (On Board Reporter) who will document the action on board.
It will build on the foundations of the inaugural race and will be held under the banner of “Connecting Europe” with a race course that stretches from the Baltic Sea, through the North Sea and English Channel, into the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean before a finish in Boka Bay, Montenegro - the first time The Ocean Race will compete on the Adriatic Sea.
The start is in Kiel, Germany, and there are stopovers in Portsmouth in the UK, a fly-by in Matosinhos / Porto in Portugal, then in to the Mediterranean and on to Cartagena in Spain, Nice in France, Genova in Italy, followed by the final leg round to Boka Bay in Montenegro.
Seven teams are taking part: Team Malizia skippered by Boris Herrmann, Team Holcim - PRB skippered by Rosalin Kuiper, Team Paprec Arkéa skippered by Yoann Richomme, Team Be Water Positive skippered by Scott Shawyer, Allagrande Mapei Racing skippered by Ambrogio Beccaria, Biotherm skippered by Paul Meilhat and Team AMAALA skippered by Alan Roura.
I recently went to Portsmouth to talk with Phil Lawrence, Race Director for The Ocean Race Europe, Peter Rusch, the Communication Director, and Pip Hare, who will be competing on Team Be Water Positive.
Find out more at www.theoceanrace.com/en/europe/2025