Ocean Race Europe: New route, new teams - the Ocean Race moves the sailing world
The finish harbour for the 2nd Ocean Race Europe now also has a name: The European offshoot of the most famous team race around the world will see its finale in Boka Bay in Montenegro. This will be the first time the Imoca fleet has sailed the Adriatic.
After the starting signal on 10 August in Kiel, the Ocean Race Europe route takes the teams first to Portsmouth in the UK, then to the Mediterranean with stops in the Spanish port of Cartagena and Genoa in Italy. The race ends in Montenegro in mid-September.
Finale in the name of love for the sea
"We are so excited that the final of Ocean Race Europe will take place in Boka Bay! And we are happy that Boka will be the last stop on this journey, where we will welcome sailors and fans alike in the name of love for the sea," said Filip Radulović, Minister of Maritime Affairs of Montenegro. The hosts are expecting tens of thousands of visitors to Boka Bay during the four days of the event.
Next year, the Ocean Race Europe will mark the first of three consecutive offshore regattas for teams under one roof. This will be followed by the Ocean Race Atlantic from New York to Barcelona in September 2026 and the 15th edition of The Ocean Race, which started in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race and will begin in Alicante in 2027.
But first, the eyes of the sailing world will turn to the Ocean Race Europe 2025 after the final of the 10th Vendée Globe. More and more Imoca soloists and sailors from other disciplines are mobilising in new crew constellations. The newly formed Swiss Offshore Team has set its sights on three summit races: the Ocean Race Europe 2025, The Ocean Race around the World 2026/2027 and the Vendée Globe 2028.
Swiss new departure with Rura, Mettraux and Koster
Two-time Vendée Globe circumnavigator Alan Roura, Ocean Race circumnavigator Elodie-Jane Mettraux and Class 40 champion Simon Koster have been working on the newly initiated Swiss project for several months. Their joint venture brings together three strong personalities, three inspiring lives and three different but complementary approaches to life as a professional sailor.
We have a shared desire to take part in the Ocean Race team races after this third Vendée Globe campaign." Alan Roura
"I'm currently in the final stages of preparing for my third Vendée Globe with my team," explained Alan Roura. "But I'm lucky enough to already be thinking about what comes next. And this "after" will be in the plural. With Simon and Elodie, things have almost worked themselves out. We have a boat, we have a base in Brittany, we have a team that works very well."
Alan Roura is only 31 years old and is already embarking on his third solo tour around the world on 10 November. With the new project, Roura and his team-mates want to "show real Swiss identity". "Swiss sailing is in a golden age," said Roura. "There is a real dynamic in all areas and a wealth of talent just waiting to express itself on different types of boats. We want to be part of this positive dynamic with our project."
Confederates together for The Ocean Race
"It will be great to be involved in a Swiss project - with a Swiss boat, Swiss sailors, Swiss sponsors - and to do our own thing!" said Elodie Mettraux. She continued: "I know The Ocean Race very well, having taken part in it several times. It's a very challenging and difficult race, but also a fabulous race that requires an extended team to allow for rotations across the stages. That's what we're going to build here."
This vision is shared by Simon Koster, who points out that the timing is perfect for taking on this new challenge. "The Ocean Race's decision to focus on the Imoca class is an important factor in our plans," says Simon Koster, the "Breton" of the Zurich sailors, who has been a member of Hublot Sailing for the past two seasons and also works regularly with Melwin Fink and Lennart Burke.
Simon Koster's assessment: "Three Swiss sailors will take part in the next Vendée Globe (ed.: Alan Roura, Oliver Heer and Justine Mettraux). It is logical that at least one of these boats will compete in the next races with a crew.
The Ocean Race Europe should be the prelude
The initiators have opened the door wide to applicants. The team statement reads: "Whether they come from the Olympic, offshore or America's Cup fields or are simply freshwater sailors: Anyone with big dreams can try their luck with a team that puts diversity at the heart of its programme." The ambitious project will kick off with participation in The Ocean Race Europe.
In addition to the sporting development, the construction or purchase of an Imoca, which is more modern and more powerful than Alan Roura's current monohull, is also to be announced following the Vendée Globe 2025. "Ultimately, the idea could be to have two boats in the team," explains Roura. "That way we can continue sailing while one of the boats is under construction.
Alan Roura's group is thinking in many different ways, as he explained: "The idea is also to offer Switzerland two opportunities to compete in the international fleet of large crewed offshore races. The current boat would be sailed by a crew of young talents developed within the team. The second boat would be reserved for the team's professional sailors."
Imoca heavyweight competes in the Ocean Race Europe
The group is looking for partners for its ambitious plans under the Swiss flag. The team announcement stated: "The next few months will be crucial when it comes to finding partners for the project who are willing to commit to the Swiss Offshore Team in the long term." Alan Roura explained: "We want to prioritise Swiss companies in order to maintain an identity that stands for expertise and reliability."
Just a few days ago, the Ocean Race was able to announce the start of an Imoca heavyweight in the Ocean Race Europe: Team Paprec Arkéa will be on the start line off Kiel on 10 August 2025. Vendée Globe co-favourite and skipper Yoann Richomme has confirmed that he will switch to crew mode after his solo around the world, just like Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia.
I'm really looking forward to sailing with a full crew." Yoann Richomme
Richomme is no stranger to the Ocean Race: he led Team Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team to victory in the VO65 fleet in the first edition of the Ocean Race Europe in 2021, before taking part in two legs of the circumnavigation in 2023. "After the Vendée Globe, it will be nice to set up a team for The Ocean Race Europe. I will have to find the right people to sail on a boat that is designed for solo sailing. It will be a good challenge."
The confirmed teams for the Ocean Race Europe so far are Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia, Team Holcim-PRB with skipper Rosalin Kuiper and Yoann Richomme's Team Paprec Arkéa. Other teams are registered but not yet officially confirmed. Boris Herrmann's forecast: "I would guess eight to ten boats for the Ocean Race Europe. Participation means a logistical situation that is already challenging for a smaller Imoca team. But then I'd say: man, guys, hire a van, put a trailer on it and go on a road trip."
