The last day of the Ocean Race Europe brought Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia a small "happy ending". Almost six weeks after the dramatic crash start in Kiel, where "Holcim-PRB" and "Allagrande Mapei" collided with each other, all seven crews completed the European marathon with the final short race in Boka Bay in Montenegro. Worries about winds that might be too mild proved unfounded in ten to 14 knots of wind under a bright blue sky.
Ocean Race Europe: worthy winners
The final short race was also won by team "Biotherm" (55 points) with skipper Paul Meilhat. The overall victory in the Ocean Race Europe was already out of reach for the French team after a dominant gala and four out of five possible stage wins. Some had therefore thought that Meilhat and his "musketeers" might now take it a little easier. The opposite was the case.
The two rivals in the duel for second place in the Ocean Race Europe - "Paprec Arkéa" and "Holcim-PRB" - initially got off to a strikingly good start and Team Malizia also made a remarkable and determined start. However, on the second lap around the square course, the "Biotherm" crew once again skilfully exploited the speed potential of their boat and their own skills in target-oriented positioning.
Team Biotherm attacked the leading "Paprec Arkéa" and, with a faster speed and an inside position, pulled away irresistibly at the halfway point of the race. It stayed that way until the finish: "Biotherm" won the coastal race worth an entire leg ahead of "Paprec Arkéa". After boat speeds of up to 26 knots on the first run, Paul Meilhat said in the arms of his jubilant crew after crossing the finish line: "That was pure joy. Everyone in the team put all their energy into it once again."
As a crew, we are simply happy to be sailing together. Who knows when we'll be able to do that again? There was just happiness. We enjoyed the moment." Paul Meilhat
Shortly afterwards, "Paprec Arkéa" skipper Yoann Richomme let his paws of joy thunder onto the boat many times before raising a fist to the sky and celebrating the secured silver in the Ocean Race Europe like a king of France.
That was a great race! It feels so good to be able to show the potential of the boats." Yoann Richomme
Turning to the dominant winners on "Biotherm", Richomme joked: "There's something almost rude about them, but they're so strong that we can't blame them. Coming second behind the boys and girls is not bad at all."
Bronze for "Holcim-PRB"
Rosalin Kuiper's crew on "Holcim-PRB" suffered in the lost duel for second place in the 2nd Ocean Race Europe. The Kuiper crew completed their rollercoaster ride around Europe with third place in the final after the keel collision, the near knockout, the resurrection and the strong comeback.
Behind "Paprec Arkéa" (40 points), "Holcim-PRB" (38.5 points) also took third place on the podium in the overall standings. "This is not the place we were fighting for. But we worked so hard. I'm happy with how far we've come, what we've learnt and what we've achieved," said Rosalin Kuiper shortly after the decision in Montenegro.
When you look back at what we've been through, I'm incredibly proud of my team." Rosalin Kuiper
The second exciting duel in the final race in Boka Bay also had a clear winner: Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia left nothing to chance in the duel with the Italian team Allagrande Mapei Racing for fourth place in the Ocean Race Europe. In fifth place after five legs, the Malizians had started the final Saturday leg with as much determination as they could muster.
Malizians fourth after a strong start
Boris Herrmann had previously announced: "We can actually start quite well." No sooner said than done. With fourth place in the coastal race, Team Malizia was the only team on the final day in Boka Bay to finish in the overall classification of the Ocean Race Europe. after third place on stage five and finished the round for Europe in fourth place.
Shortly after the race, Boris Herrmann took stock in Montenegro, saying: "These six weeks have been an incredible adventure, an incredible race. It's nice to end on a high." This 20 September was a special day for the 44-year-old: after a demanding farewell tour of Europe, Herrmann skippered the last race with the "Malizia - Seaexplorer", which was christened in Lorient on 19 July 2022.
"Malizia - Seaexplorer" has served her skipper and his team for 1159 days, two circumnavigations and more than 100,000 nautical miles since she was launched in Lorient on 19 July 2022. Boris Herrmann said: "It's an emotional moment. This was my last race on 'Malizia 3', 'Malizia 4' is under construction."
There is both nostalgia and anticipation for the new chapter that is about to begin." Boris Herrmann
The boat will be taken over by the Italian-American Francesca Clapcich. Clapcich sets course for her first Vendée Globewill be one of Boris Herrmann's competitors with "Malizia 4" in the 2028 solo circumnavigation with the former "Malizia - Seaexplorer", which will have long since been renamed "11th Hour Racing". His racing team will continue to oversee the Clapcich campaign under the Malizia team umbrella. Which is why Herrmann can also keep an eye on the boat, which will "always remain the most important thing in my career".
Team Malizia: with new goals for the future
Team Malizia's new boat is due to take to the water at the end of June 2026. The team's major sporting goals are the Ocean Race Atlantic 2026, the second Ocean Race around the world in 2027 and Herrmann's third Vendée Globe in 2028. Before that, Herrmann plans to spend a month in the Antarctic in November with the research vessel "Malizia - Explorer". At that time, Francesca Clapcich and Will Harris will be competing in the two-handed Transat Café L'Or race, which starts on 26 October.
For Team Malizia, the field is thus well tilled. Boris Herrmann and his management crew have once again proven how well they plan for the medium and long term and how successfully they have made their racing team fit for the future with their partners. For some other teams, it is far less clear what the future holds for them and their protagonists. This applies to Team Holcim-PRB, for example, but also to other top players in the Imoca world.
The overall classification in the Ocean Race Europe is completed by the teams Allagrande Mapei Racing with skipper Ambrogio Beccaria in his first major Imoca race, Team Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive and Team Amaala in fifth, sixth and seventh place. Click here for the final result.
