The Ocean Race: News from the world of sailing
The Ocean Race: Teams, route, ranking, German participants, all news
What began half a century ago will start once again in Alicante on 15 January. The most important team regatta in the world - around the world
The race has set a new record: never before have there been fewer boats in the Ocean Race. At the time, 19 teams and 324 sailors took part in the first Ocean Race. The largest fleet took part in the race in 1981/1982 with 29 boats. However, the competition at events such as the Vendée Globe and America's Cup has grown, and the coronavirus pandemic has not left this Ocean Race unaffected.
All about the Ocean Race
But because there are three teams with German participation at the start, Boris Herrmann as team leader and skipper on his new "Malizia - Seaexplorer", Robert Stanjek as co-skipper and Phillip Kasüske on "Guyot Environnement - Team Europe" as well as Susann Beucke on "Holcim - PRB", the enthusiasm is very likely to match - if not exceed - that which Boris Herrmann triggered worldwide two years ago when he took part in his first Vendée Globe.
A small, potent Imoca quintet is now in the starting pits. And with them, a few dozen active riders, who will take on the wild rodeo ride around the world in rotation due to the foils and the resulting enormous speed potential.
Only a few sailors will complete the entire race. On the one hand, the risk of injury on board the narrow boats that buck in the swell is considered high. Secondly, different talents are required depending on the stage - sometimes more small-scale tactics, sometimes toughness, renunciation and ocean experience.
Since 1973, more than 2,000 riders have taken part in at least one stage of the race. Only 120 of them were women - less than six per cent. Thanks to the current quota rule, this time the proportion is higher than ever, with at least a quarter on all boats.
Race tracker: This is the status of The Ocean Race
At this point, you will find external content that complements the article. You can display and hide it with a click.
The teams, the women, the route
Nothing has changed in the fact that the Southern Ocean remains the benchmark of the race, even on its way into the modern age. What's more, this time the highlight is the historically longest Ocean Race leg ever sailed - over 12,750 nautical miles non-stop along the three great capes. Double points are rightly awarded for this. You can win the Ocean Race in the Southern Ocean - or lose it. There is no doubt that the crews in their cave-like hulls, in the almost inhumanly narrow, barren, noisy accommodation, will have their work cut out for them.
On-board reporters will report on the battle in both classes. They are part of the team, but are not allowed to lend a hand. The drone footage taken four years ago in the Southern Ocean on the VO65s, which seem somehow well-behaved compared to the foiling Imoca 60s, is unforgettable - and yet they were easily able to cover more than 500 nautical miles per day in a storm. Anyone who sees today how arduous the race was even then, on conventional boats, inevitably wonders what lies ahead now - and whether the technology and crew can even cope with more speed.
All about the Imoca class
Kevin Escoffier, one of the top favourites in this race with "Holcim - PRB", knows how brutal the south can be. During the Vendée Globe, his previous "PRB" collapsed in a storm and sank within a short space of time; the skipper had to climb into the life raft at night. That didn't make much of an impression on him. Nevertheless, he had his new Imoca built considerably stronger in the bow area. And the following still applies: "A single wave is enough to break the boat." So who will utilise their potential most skilfully? What will the German sailors have to celebrate in sporting terms? Curtain up for the new The Ocean Race!
