The Ocean Race Europe Leg 2 Video Review
by Mark Jardine 24 Aug 10:21 PDT
Paul Meilhat, skipper of Biotherm, interviewed after winning the Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe in Cartagena, Portugal © Jean-Louis Carli / The Ocean Race Europe
Before Leg 2 even began, the race was on for Holcim-PRB and Allagrande Mapei to make it to Portsmouth in time for the start after competing repairs from their Leg 1 Start crash. Thanks to the Kiel Canal they both made it in time, bringing the fleet back to full strength.
Portsmouth gave a great reception to the fleet, and the crowds were out in force to send them off on Leg 2 to Cartagena with the Porto Fly-By.
Thankfully there was no repeat of the drama we saw in Kiel, with the sailors choosing conservative starts in 10 to 14 knots of wind off the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes. It was once again Paul Meilhat's Biotherm taking the two points, followed by Paprec Arkéa gained a single point at The Needles scoring gate.
Once past the Needles and into Christchurch Bay the IMOCA yachts were doing what they do best - flying.
At the Matosinhos Fly-By it was once again Biotherm taking the spoils, extending their perfect record in the race, but they were pushed all the way by Paprec Arkéa, who had to fight through the pack after losing ground at a tidal gate off Brittany.
The leg also saw some spectacular sighting of whales and dolphins playing with the fleet.
Yoann Richomme's Paprec Arkéa blasted down the Portuguese coast to take the lead, with Biotherm and Holcim-PRB on their heels.
The fleet then made the turn at Gibraltar, exiting the Atlantic Ocean, and into the Med.
At the finish in Cartagena it was once again the Biotherm team who took the win, retaking the lead in the Mediterranean on the closing stretch, with the returning Holcim-PRB second and Paprec Arkéa third.