Ocean Race Europe: Half-time on leg two
At first it was exciting for a long time, but then the same winner crossed the finish line as in every classification in the Ocean Race Europe to date: Paul Meilhat's crew on "Biotherm" won the half-time classification on leg two from Portsmouth to Cartagena. The French Imoca reached the fly-by harbour of Matosinhos-Porto in Portugal after 2 days, 8 hours, 25 minutes and 15 seconds.
Paul Meilhat, whose team has now scored maximum points at the first gate in Kiel, at the finish of leg one, at the first gate and at the halfway point of leg two, can continue to rejoice. The Vendée Globe fifth-placed said in the fly-by harbour of Matosinhos-Porto, where the crews only have three hours before they continue the second leg with halfway point two: "It was different to the first leg: we were ahead and sailed a different race."
This time it was tough right to the end." Paul Meilhat
Even on the last night, the wind was different than expected, according to Paul Meilhat. Meilhat explained: "So we made a few gybes. The wind was very shifty. But we found the solution to still be really fast. We are really happy with the boat." Meilhat's "Biotherm" therefore remains the summer rocket of this second edition of the Ocean Race Europe for the time being - and has already left the fly-by harbour again after a three-hour flying visit. The other boats will gradually continue the leg in the intervals between the finishes.
Commenting on the unusual half-time fly-by with a three-hour layover in Matosinhos-Porto, Paul Meilhat said: "It's really strange because you cross the finish line but it's not over yet because it starts again in three hours. Normally you cross the finish line and just enjoy the people. Right now the music is really loud. We still try to stay focussed and prepare the boat for the start. That's our most important goal."
Yoann Richomme's "Paprec Arkéa", which was also in the back of the pack in the first half of the race, crossed the Portuguese fly-by finish line just under three quarters of an hour after "Biotherm". Team Holcim-PRB with skipper Rosalin Kuiper followed with renewed vigour. This was the first time the green and blue team had scored points in this Ocean Race Europe after the dramatic crash in Kiel. After seven points for "Biotherm" and six for "Paprec Arkéa", five points went to Team Holcim-PRB.
Lightning stop in Matosinhos: "cool and challenging"
Rosalin Kuiper said: "We are very happy to be back in the race, especially after what happened in the first stage. It's great to see all the people here cheering for us when we arrive. It's very different to what we're used to, because normally we're finished after docking and can really relax, but now the clock is ticking. It's very different to what we're used to, but it's also very cool and challenging."
After "Holcim-PRB", Team Malizia with skipper Will Harris, Justine Mettraux, Francesca Clapcich and Loïs Berrehar were the fourth Imoca to cross the finish line. They receive four points for this and increase their account balance as current third in the Ocean Race Europe behind "Biotherm" (18 points) and "Paprec Arkéa" (13 points) to ten points. The Malizian quartet only just missed out on the podium, having even been in the lead the day before.
Boris Herrmann had abandoned this leg as planned. The Malizia founder will be back on board in the next port of call. He will arrive in Cartagena on Sunday. The crew is deliberately rotating in the Ocean Race Europe in order to test the crew constellations with the new team members.
In the NDR Live Talk, presenter Sven Kaulbars and expert and YACHT author Tim Kröger discussed this and other aspects of the race as well as the intermediate results and the further prospects:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
