Redress for The Ocean Race Europe crash

The Ocean Race Europe 2025 had just gotten underway, with seven IMOCA teams on a tight reach to begin the first of five scheduled legs. However, these 60-foot offshore rockets, along with their crew, are not well suited for closed course racing, and a two boat collision happened within minutes.

When a gust hit Team Holcim-PRB, they lost control and rounded up into the unsuspecting Allagrande Mapei Racing that was roaring along to windward. Video footage captured the sequence, with significant damage requiring both boats to retire.

Each team protested the other, with an International Jury Hearing finding in favor of the leeward boat. Among the questions they had to decide was whether the windward boat had sufficient time to avoid the collision, particularly as the high-speed IMOCA have limited visibility and maneuverability.

The Jury said no further penalties would be imposed on either team (beyond retiring from the opening stage) but that Holcim-PRB should receive redress, giving them a finishing position in Leg 1 to be equal to its average finishing position at the finish of legs 2 to 5. The Leg 1 points would appear on the leaderboard after Leg 3 and be updated as necessary.

Prior to the hearing after Leg 2, the Jury invited the other teams to give a submission on what redress, if any, should be awarded. To read the jury decision, click here.

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.

The 5-leg race started August 10 from Kiel, Germany with the 850-nautical mile opening Leg to Portsmouth, England. Leg 2 sees the fleet race 1,400 nautical miles to Caragena, Spain – via a fly-by in Matosinhos / Porto in Portugal. The 650-nautical mile third Leg through the Mediterranean finishes in Nice, France, before the fleet sets off on the planned-to-be 600-nautical mile fourth Leg to Genova, Italy. The approximately 1,000-nautical mile fifth and final Leg takes the crews into the Adriatic to the Race finish in Boka Bay in Montenegro.

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.