They've done it again! Not always in the lead in the second half of the second leg of the Ocean Race Europe, "Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat, Amélie Grassi, Sam Goodchild and Jack Bouttell beat the competition on the Cartagena course in the end and won. For the third time in a row, the victorious quartet scored the maximum seven points.
It was really tough, a long stage. We are very tired." Paul Meilhat
According to Meilhat, most of the stage took place in strong downwind conditions. "That's not exactly ideal for us. That's why we tried to minimise the gap to the leading 'Paprec Arkéa' as much as possible during this time."
Meilhat continued: "After Gibraltar we were also very, very fast before the wind, reaching an average speed of 30 knots on smooth water - simply incredible! Then the wind dropped to almost zero knots within a minute. These transitions are very difficult to manage. But our boat is quite fast in light and medium winds, so it's probably easier for us in these conditions in the Mediterranean."
Ocean Race Europe: "Biotherm" balance sheet perfect
After victories on leg one and winning the first half of the double scored second leg as well as first places in the early two scoring gates of both legs, the crew on the French light wind rocket "Biotherm" has a perfect record in the round Europe marathon. With the maximum possible 25 points, "Biotherm" is leading the Ocean Race Europe in dominant fashion. In terms of the total points to be scored, however, the halfway point in the Ocean Race Europe has not yet been reached.
A maximum of 34 points are still up for grabs on the remaining three legs, with a maximum of two bonus points each at early scoring gates and in the final coastal race in the finishing harbour of Boka Bay, which is worth the same as an offshore leg. This means that "Biotherm" has not yet secured victory in the Ocean Race Europe, despite such an impeccable performance to date. However, the performance of Vendée Globe fifth Paul Meilhat, his formidable crew and the Imoca, which was already well suited to the European race and has been optimised once again, is impressive.
The Verdier design "Biotherm" works outstandingly well in the predominantly lighter winds and with few waves. Paul Meilhat and Amélie Grassi in particular are extremely experienced in working with their boat and have already competed in the Ocean Race around the world together. Ocean Race winner Jack Bouttell and Sam Goodchild bring additional strength to the team. Goodchild only missed out on a top five place in his Vendée Globe debut on the "Biotherm" sister ship "Vulnerable" because he had to parry a mainsail damage shortly before the finish of the solo circumnavigation.
Four aces sting with "Biotherm"
The four "Biotherm" aces know how to set up their boat to perfection, and they are always on the mark in the Round Europe race. Now also at the finish of stage two. The second place of the crash and comeback crew around skipper Rosalin Kuiper on "Holcim-PRB" - also a Verdier design from 2022 - is also remarkable. In this crew, it is above all navigator Nico Lunven who brings a massive amount of experience with the boat from the Vendée Globe (6th).
The other three - Rosalin Kuiper, Franck Cammas and Alan Roberts - are also top sailors with different backgrounds who are hugely motivated after the keel collision with Allagrande Mapei Racing and the missed first leg. It also remains to be seen what the jury will decide in the crash case and whether compensation will be granted. "Holcim-PRB" crossed the finish line just under an hour and a half after "Biotherm".
"Holcim PRB" skipper Rosalin Kuiper summarised the mood of her team at the dock in Cartagena: "It's wonderful! So nice to be here. And in second place! Cheers to our whole team! We are very happy to be back in the race, especially in view of what happened on stage one. We have worked so hard. A week ago, it was hard to imagine being back on the start line. Now we have fought back as a team. I'm super happy and proud of the whole team!"
It's fun. We work hard. We play hard." Rosalin Kuiper
Third place was secured by Yoann Richomme's "Paprec Arkéa" in the second half of the stage after Cartagena. The Koch-Conq design had led into the Strait of Gibraltar on this section of the course, but "paid the price" as the race progressed. While "Paprec Arkéa" was the first to park in the Alborán Sea below the Spanish coast in the windless phase, the pursuers "Biotherm" and "Holcim-PRB" took the opportunity to overtake them - closer to land, "Biotherm" at the northernmost point. The "Biotherm" crew were able to extend their lead over the dethroned Gibraltar leader to around 20 nautical miles by the time they reached Almeria.
Team Malizia battles on course for Cartagena
After a total of 5 days, 10 hours, 53 minutes and 49 seconds, "Biotherm" had reached the finish line off Cartagena with a whopping 16 stage points in its luggage: twice seven points were awarded for the two stage half-times won. Plus two points at the early classification gate. It will take a lot to beat this crew in this 2nd Ocean Race Europe. Click here for the interim results in the overall standings for the Ocean Race Europe, which are updated on an ongoing basis.
"Paprec Arkéa" crossed the finish line almost four hours after "Biotherm" at 8.37 a.m. German time on Saturday. Allagrande Mapei Racing and Team Malizia still had a good 30 and 40 nautical miles to go to the stage harbour of Cartagena on Saturday morning at a boat speed of eleven or twelve knots.
With a gap of ten nautical miles, it will be more than difficult for Will Harris, Justine Mettraux, Francesca Clapcich and Loïs Berrhar to catch the competition under the Italian flag in the somewhat more stable winds of around nine knots in the battle for fourth place. Team Malizia is therefore likely to retain third place in the overall classification for the time being - at least until the jury hearing in the case of the Holcim-PRB and Allagrande Mapei Racing teams, which is due to take place on Sunday afternoon in Cartagena.
How Paul Meilhat's "Biotherm" crew dominates the Ocean Race Europe:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
