The start of the Imoca regatta La Course des Caps brought some challenges for the teams. Calm sea conditions and light winds characterised the first two days, which led to close tactical duels. Things got particularly exciting when an unexpected sail repair had to be carried out on "Malizia - Seaexplorer" in the middle of the race.
Unexpected repair
A special moment on the first day of racing for the crew of the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skippered by Will Harris was a sail repair. The A2 gennaker tore after getting caught in a foil. However, the sail could be dried and mended and is still available for use.
Everything still close together
In the early afternoon, Thomas Ruyant with "Vulnerable" was in the lead heading north after the fleet of eleven Imocas had left the English Channel. Following just 1.5 nautical miles and 2.1 nautical miles behind were Elodie Bonafous with "Association Petits Princes - Quéguiner" and Sam Goodchild with "Macif Sante Prevoyance". This, admittedly still very close order, is not without a certain explosiveness. The former is a sister ship to the latter, which was built in the same mould as the winning yacht of the last Vendée Globe. Both Imocas are something like Zillinge.
However, the Vendée winner Charlie Dalin will not be sailing, as he had to cancel the season for health reasons. His replacement, Sam Goodchild, was still in the lead until this morning, but then had to let the other two pass with the passage of Bishops Rock.
He was followed by Nicolas Lunven on "Holcim - PRB", 2.2 nautical miles behind, and in fifth place "Malizia - Seaexplorer", 4.5 nautical miles behind, skippered by Will Harris. Boris Herrmann is not on board for this regatta, so Will Harris will have the opportunity to continue practising in the skipper role, which he will also hold on a leg of the Ocean Race Europe, which starts in Kiel on the second weekend in August.
This is La Course des Caps
The Cape Race of the Banque Populaire du Nord Boulogne-sur-Mer, as the Course de s Caps is called in full, is a new event in the Imoca Globe Series Championship with start and finish in Boulogne-sur-Mer. The race began on 29 June 2025 and is sailed with four active participants on board plus one media person on board. The participants will sail almost 2,000 nautical miles around 6,000 islands in five to eight days, with seven trophies being awarded.
The IMOCA record for the circumnavigation of the British Isles has been held by the crew of the Artemis Team Endeavour under skipper Brian Thompson since 2014 with a time of 5 days, 14 hours and 54 seconds.
