Bad seamanship or race management?

The 60-foot IMOCA is the premier offshore boat, but they are not safe in close quarters. High speed. Bad visibility. Foils and shroud outriggers extending their beam. Marginal foiling control. It was all on display as The Ocean Race Europe 2025 began its first leg with two boats colliding moments after the start on August 10 in Kiel, Germany.

En route to Portsmouth, UK, the seven teams had a reaching start in gusty breeze when Team Holcim-PRB, ahead and to leeward, rounded up and was rammed by windward boat Allagrande Mapei Racing which likely never saw them. Bad seamanship or race management? Both teams filed protests while returning to port.

To rejoin the 5-leg race, the repairs are not insignificant.

On Allagrande Mapei, the entire starboard shroud system that supports the mast is severely damaged, the J0 (headsail) was destroyed upon impact with Holcim’s outrigger, and the mainsail has a large tear. Conversely, Allagrande Mapei’s outrigger caused excessive hull damage to Holcim.

It was a sword fight with two losers.

Race details – Tracker – YouTube

Details: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/

The entrants feature a team of five, representing at least two nationalities, with at least one female crew member, bringing together solo round‑the‑world veterans, rising offshore talent, and onboard reporters to share the experience.

Entry list:
Team Malizia (GER) – Boris Herrmann (GER)
Team Holcim – PRB (SUI) – Rosalin Kuiper (NED)
Team Paprec Arkéa (FRA) – Yoann Richomme (FRA)
Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive (CAN) – Scott Shawyer (CAN)
Allagrande Mapei Racing (ITA) – Ambrogio Beccaria (ITA)
Biotherm (FRA) – Paul Meilhat (FRA)
Team AMAALA (SUI/KSA) – Alan Roura (SUI)

Race facts:
• Distance: 4,500 nautical miles across five Legs.
• Yacht-Type: High-speed IMOCA 60s, capable of reaching 25+ knots.
• Crews: 4 sailors per boat, representing at least two nationalities and with at least one female crew member. And 1 onboard reporter.
• Nations represented: Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Great Britain, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Brazil, Portugal.
• Historic firsts: First time racing into the Adriatic Sea and Montenegro finish.
• Tracking: Live GPS race tracker powered by ‘PredictWind’, with weather overlays and real-time routing.

The Ocean Race will begin again in 2027 using the IMOCA class boat, with two earlier events providing training and exposure to prospective teams. In 2025, The Ocean Race Europe will start on August 10 from Kiel, Germany and take a route south around the Iberian Peninsula and into the Mediterranean Sea. In 2026, The Ocean Race Atlantic will start in New York, USA and finish in Barcelona, Spain.