Ocean Race Europe: One month until the European race - "Winning is the goal!"

The countdown clock is slowly ticking louder: as of today, there is still one month to go until the Ocean Race Europe. The starting signal will be given on 10 August at 3.45 pm in Kiel. Even before then, the teams will gather in the north of Germany, where the Ocean Live Park will be open daily along the Kiellinie on the inner fjord from 6 August. Admission is free to the stage show, infotainment, many hands-on activities and interactions with the teams.

First Admiral's Cup, then Ocean Race Europe

The hosts in Kiel are expecting around a quarter of a million visitors on the days of the event in Schleswig-Holstein's Sailing City. But until then, Boris Herrmann and part of Team Malizia still have another challenge to overcome: They are competing for the team from the Yacht Club de Monaco in the revival of the Admiral's Cup in England.15 two-boat teams have entered.

Six-time circumnavigator Boris Herrmann, Will Harris and Cole Brauer will be in action on Peter Harrison's "Jolt 6". The Carkeek 40 with the Malizians will be skippered by co-skippers Pierre Casiraghi (Monaco) and Tom Dawson (Great Britain). The big team sister for the Admiral's Cup also belongs to Peter Harrison: well-known professionals such as America's Cup winner Ed Baird (USA), navigator Andy Green (Australia) and Cameron Dunn will be competing for the golden trophy for Monaco on the Botin 52 "Jolt 3".

The Admiral's Cup finale will take place with the anniversary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race. One hundred years after its first edition, the organisers from the Royal Ocean Racing Club, which is also celebrating its centenary this year, are looking forward to a record fleet of around 470 boats on the Fastnet start line. The most famous long-distance race in international sailing is thus heading for a new historic high. The starting signal for the race from Cowes around the Fastnet Rock in the Irish Sea to the French finish port of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin will be given on 26 July.

From the Rolex Fastnet Race to the Ocean Race Europe

Following the British event, Team Malizia will head straight to Kiel, where Boris Herrmann and his team will gather for final preparations for the Ocean Race Europe. At the same time, "Malizia - Seaexplorer" will reach Kiel on 1 or 2 August after a final short summer refit. The team will then be focussing on the European race, which they are very much looking forward to.

For Boris Herrmann, it will be the farewell gala with "his" boat before it is handed over to fellow Ocean Race Europe competitor and then new skipper Francesca Clapcich in the autumn. Boris Herrmann said with regard to his debut in the European race: "I think the Ocean Race Europe will be a fantastic race because we only have top teams."

The team is ready to go again." Boris Herrmann

Will Harris was also jubilant: "The Ocean Race Europe is a great race. I've missed it since we did the race around the world. It's a fantastic experience travelling to different places. Racing between them is intense, but also a lot of fun. I'm very excited to see how we get on and perform."

The goal is to win, otherwise I wouldn't do the race." Will Harris

Looking back on the course of the Cap, which had just finished in fourth place, 'Malizia - Seaexplorer' co-skipper Will Harris, who led the team in the race around the British Isles, said: "Team Holcim-PRB finished the race one place ahead of us. We battled with them until the last day. It's good to see that we can really keep up with them."

I think we have shown the other teams that we are competitive in all conditions, which gives us a lot of confidence." Will Harris

Will Harris continued: "This race was of course a preparation for The Ocean Race Europe, which lasts much longer and includes many different stages. We gained a lot of valuable experience on the course of the Cap. And reminded us to race our own race and sail as we see fit. After this race, we are now more confident that we can do our best in The Ocean Race Europe."

Ocean Race Europe: tough competition

Cole Brauer commented on her team's performance: "We finished the race in fourth place. We fought the whole time to finish third, but Team Holcim-PRB was just a bit too good this time. Nevertheless, it gives us a lot of confidence as a team. When we got off the boat, we were totally excited. We had the feeling: Okay, we can do this. Especially because we're a fairly new team and haven't worked together that much, it really gave us the feeling that everything else that's coming will be easier if we can do this and finish successfully."

The competition for a podium place in the Ocean Race Europe will be tough: In addition to Team Holcim-PRB with skipper Rosalin Kuiper, Vendée Globe runner-up Yoann Richomme and his team Paprec Arkéa will be the favourites on the Kiel starting line. They will be joined by Allagrande Mapei Racing with skipper Ambrogio Beccaria and Thomas Ruyant in the team. Paul Meilhat's "Biotherm" was the first Imoca to reach Kiel on 5 July.

There are also two teams with outsider chances: "Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive" with skipper Scott Shawyer and Alan Roura's last-minute team Amaala. The fact that the course will provide more than a light wind trap in the often light winds of midsummer could also offer opportunities for the less strongly rated teams. Just like at the premiere of the race around Europe, which was surprisingly won by the non-foiler "Einstein" with Robert Stanjek and his crew in 2021.

There is still one month to go until the starting signal for the Ocean Race Europe in Kiel on 10 August:

The finale from the sky! To get you in the mood for the Ocean Race Europe, we show impressive drone footage of the final sprint in the last Ocean Race 2023: