Ocean Race Europe: Bow to bow through the Bay of Biscay - Malizia leads the way

After the second night at sea, the leading boats in the Ocean Race Europe had almost mastered the Bay of Biscay. They are expected to pass Cape Finisterre in the afternoon. There will therefore be no relaxation on leg two, as the top crews are fighting bow to bow for every metre. The tension is high!

Ocean Race Europe: Cape Finisterre ahead

On Tuesday morning, the seven crews continued their crossing of the Bay of Biscay. In the afternoon, they are expected to pass Cape Finisterre, a crucial passage, before arriving in Matosinhos-Porto on Wednesday for a three-hour stopover. The gaps remain wafer-thin: the first five Imocas were separated by less than three nautical miles! Holcim-PRB" swapped the lead with Biotherm several times. Shortly after 11 a.m., Team Malizia took the lead.

While many Europeans are on holiday, enjoying the long summer days, relaxing and delaying their return to everyday life a little longer, the sailors out at sea continue to fight tirelessly. In light to moderate winds, there are currently hardly any opportunities to escape to the front. At best, the second comeback crew, Allagrande Mapei Racing, had occasionally pulled away a little in the east of the fleet and now in the west, but was not successful.

The teams stare each other down as they fight to squeeze every last ounce of speed out of their boats. This second leg is particularly important: it is the longest and offers double points. Half of these will be awarded on Wednesday in Matosinhos-Porto during the fly-by lightning visit. During the three-hour stop at the fly-by in Matosinhos-Porto - probably on Wednesday morning - as many points will be awarded as for the entire first leg from Kiel to Portsmouth.

Start, restart and jostling at the front

After an almost windless zone off Ouessant the day before had acted like a new starting line on leg two of the Ocean Race Europe, where the field was strongly bunched together, the race had started like new. "Holcim-PRB" navigator Nicolas Lunven explained: "It wasn't easy because the current was strong and we had to regroup, restart together and avoid some friends pulling away from us." Click here for the live tracker.

Sébastien Marsset's Team Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive had pulled out a nice lead at Ouessant. Marsset said: "We were really happy with our decision at Ouessant yesterday. It was a decision we had been planning for some time. The fact that we stuck with it and went through with it was very satisfying, especially as it allowed us to catch up with the field again."

Even better, says Marsset: "It was interesting because we stayed in the race. Immediately afterwards, we were able to really step on the gas and keep up. That was great fun, and of course we love that! The atmosphere on board is excellent, everyone is very focussed. The only discussion among us is about who gets the best bunk at the end of each watch!" By midday, the Canadians were still in fourth place.

Mild summer winds instead of autumn storms

The experienced teams experienced the familiar Bay of Biscay area differently this time than they often do at the Vendée Globe, when autumn storms give the soloists nasty conditions right at the start. This time it was "just a great day", as Nico Lunven said. His description: "We sailed on smooth seas and were able to reach our targets. There was little wind, but as soon as you exceed 13 knots, the boat accelerates strongly."

A clear fleet hierarchy cannot yet be recognised on this second leg of the Ocean Race Europe in view of the narrow gaps. While Team Amaala (7th) and Allagrande Mapei Racing (6th) have dropped back a little, the battle at the front remains intense in winds of eight to twelve knots, particularly in the current duel between Team Malizia and Team Holcim PRB.

All eyes are now on Cape Finisterre, which the crews should reach in the late afternoon. "We'll be heading towards it with a westerly wind, but the question is whether we'll have to tack to get past. Strategically, this is very interesting," announced "Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat. Once Cape Finisterre is behind the crews, it is likely to be a speed race all the way to Matosinhos-Porto.

Ocean Race Europe: Hoping for gifts

"This stopover is a bit unusual, we won't have much time to enjoy it," Paul Meilhat reminded us. But he remained optimistic: "I hope we'll meet a few people and maybe get a few small gifts - sardines and pastéis de nata. The whole crew would really enjoy that!"

Team Malizia's clip from the previous day shows just how tight the conditions are at sea on stage two: