The Ocean Race Europe Leg 1 Day 4: Manoeuvre marathon looms in final stretch to Portsmouth
by The Ocean Race 14 Aug 01:46 AEST
13 August 2025
Leg 1 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 is set for "carnage" in its closing act, with crews facing a sleepless night of repeated manoeuvres as they beat upwind to the finish.
The opening days of the Ocean Race Europe 2025 have played out in clearly defined chapters. From the smash-and-grab coastal navigation out of Kiel, through the fast, steady reach across the North Sea, each phase has demanded a different skillset. Now, with less than 100 miles to run, the endgame promises to be the most gruelling yet: light winds, narrow lanes, and relentless manoeuvres all the way to the finish.
Yesterday brought the latest turning point - a high-pressure ridge where the fleet's fortunes split. Forecasts had suggested slowdowns here, but so far the leaders have managed to find more breeze than expected. "We enjoyed dream conditions right after [the last ridge], with an east-southeast wind that allowed us to make rapid progress," said Biotherm's Paul Meilhat, still holding the lead, while Yoann Richomme of Paprec Arkéa, in second place, was "pleased to have crossed [the ridge] faster than expected."
Those behind paid a heavier price. "We lost much more time there than we thought we would. It felt like we were stuck, it was frustrating," admitted Will Harris, whose Team Malizia in third saw their 2.5-mile gap widen to 10. At the back, Team Amaala suffered the most, averaging just 3 knots this morning as the front-runners slipped away.
"We're trying to make progress as best we can," said Alan Roura, skipper of Team Amaala. "We've got the current against us and it's not easy. We've caught up a bit, but not enough to play with our Canadian friends again. We're not giving up, but it's tough because there are only 4-5 knots of wind ahead. So it's all about having enough punch to get past the current."
For the final stretch, the focus shifts to the English Channel, where the route squeezes between the coast and exclusion zones. This afternoon, Biotherm was the first to hit a light-wind patch near Dover, where less than five miles separate the coast and the exclusion zone. From there, the route narrows further, just 3.3 miles at its tightest. In steady breeze that would already be a squeeze, but the forecast south-westerly - the one direction the crews didn't want - means no easy reaching. Instead, they will "ping-pong" from one side to the other, tacking repeatedly to make progress.
"We won't have more than half an hour without a manoeuvre until the end of the race," said Meilhat. For the crews, each manoeuvre means moving hundreds of kilos of equipment across the boat, all made even harder tonight under the cover of darkness. Sleep will be broken into five-minute scraps between tacks, if at all.
"Starting late tonight into the morning, it's going to be carnage, as there'll be light wind and lots of manoeuvres," said Jack Bouttell (Biotherm). "When we get towards Dover there's huge amounts of shipping traffic, from ferries to ships to cargo, so lots of things to watch out for the whole way."
As of 12:00 UTC, Biotherm remain out front with an 18-mile cushion over Team Paprec Arkéa in second, while Team Malizia sit another 14 miles back in third. Be Water Positive are 70 miles off the lead, with Team Amaala 96 miles back.
If Biotherm can keep up the pace and defend their lead through this punishing final section, they are on track to cross the finish line in Portsmouth in the early hours of tomorrow. But the fight will last all night, and with the wind shifts ahead expected to compress and stretch the fleet, the final miles of Leg 1 could still yet decide the podium.
As per race rules, the race course may be extended to bring the leading boats to Portsmouth during daylight hours and this remains an option - the ETA is currently early in the day on Thursday (local time in Portsmouth) and this will be updated on www.theoceanrace.com
Meanwhile, the teams involved in a collision shortly after the start - Team Holcim PRB and Allagrande MAPEI Racing - have filed protests against each other. The hearing is scheduled to take place during the Cartagena stopover following Leg 2. Both teams remain in Kiel, and continue to work step by step towards a return, with more news to come from each team as their repairs progress and their plans take shape.
Track the fleet at www.theoceanrace.com