Ocean Race Europe: With Mettraux, Clapcich and Berrehar - Malizia's European crew complete

Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia have announced their line-up for the 2nd Ocean Race Europe. After the core trio with Boris Herrmann as skipper and the two co-skippers Will Harris (Great Britain) and Cole Brauer (USA) had been finalised for some time, the other team members have now been announced.

Ocean Race Europe: Winners for Team Malizia

New to the team for the European "farewell gala" with the "Malizia - Seaexplorer", co-developed by Boris Herrmann and already sold to the team led by Italian-American sailor Francesca Clapcich, are the future skipper "Frankie" Clapcich herself as well as the best Vendée Globe skipper Justine Mettraux (Switzerland) and the Frenchman Loïs Berrehar.

This means that the balance in the rotating team is even: three men and three women fill the four positions in the sailing crew, which will be joined for the race alternately by onboard reporter Antoine Auriol and onboard reporter Flore Hartout. "I'm really looking forward to the Ocean Race Europe 2025. I love the challenge of single-handed sailing, but being part of a crew is something very special," says Boris Herrmann.

I'm looking forward to being back on board the 'Malizia - Seaexplorer' and having a crew of fantastic sailors around me. Everyone brings their own strengths and together we spur each other on to do our best." Boris Herrmann

Skipper Boris Herrmann and his fellow competitors Will Harris, Cole Brauer, Justine Mettraux, Francesca Clapcich and Loïs Berrehar will be spurring each other on for around six weeks from 10 August in the Ocean Race Europe. For Francesca Clapcich, sailing alongside Boris Herrmann marks the start of her own journey to the Vendée Globe premiere planned for 2028 and getting to know the Imoca, which will take her solo around the world in three and a half years.

"Frankie" Clapcich learns for the Vendée Globe

The Italian-born, US-based professional sailor wants to become the first female athlete to have taken part in all four sailing summits: the Olympic Games, the Puig Women's America's Cup, the Team Ocean Race and the Vendée Globe. This summer, Francesca Clapcich will co-skipper the Ocean Race Europe on "Malizia - Seaexplorer" before handing over Boris Herrmann's boat to her team. On the Vendée Globe course, Clapcich will be supported by her title sponsor 11th Hour Racing.

37-year-old Francesca Clapcich said: "I am very excited to be part of the Team Malizia crew. I'm looking forward to the high intensity format and sailing with a high performing team of really nice and inspiring people. As I'm buying the boat, it's also an incredible opportunity to sail with the very team that built it and knows all its secrets."

Boris Herrmann is delighted with the new team-mate, saying: "Francesca is not only an incredibly talented sailor and Ocean Race winner, she also brings a lot of energy and values in terms of sustainability that fit perfectly with our team. She will undoubtedly learn a lot about this boat, but I am equally, if not more, excited to benefit from her experience and compete together at the highest level."

Justine Mettraux ahead of second Ocean Race Europe

Switzerland's Justine Mettraux will also contribute to the high standard. The two-time Ocean Race winner and strong Vendée Globe eighth-placer is also coming on board "Malizia - Seaexplorer" as co-skipper for the Ocean Race Europe. Boris Herrmann is looking forward to the collaboration, saying: "Justine is another great addition to the team. She is simply one of the best sailors there is." Last weekend, Herrmann and Mettraux had just seen each other at the Vendée Globe farewell party. Click here for the YACHT report.

I've sailed bow to bow with her several times and can say from experience that she demanded everything from me." Boris Herrmann

The Swiss herself said: "I am very happy to return to The Ocean Race Europe. I took part in the first edition in 2021 and have great memories of it. It's a type of event that I love: with varied courses sailed with a crew from all over Europe, in constellations where you can get 100 per cent out of these boats."

The 38-year-old from Geneva continued: "I'm looking forward to sailing with Boris. We spent a lot of time together at the last Vendée Globe and also at other races. It will be great to join a new team and experience a new dynamic. I also sailed against Will in the Figaro back in 2016. We were both rookies back then, so it will be nice to finally sail together instead of against each other."

A young up-and-comer for Team Malizia

Loïs Berrehar is still the least well known in Germany. He also joins the crew of Team Malizia as co-skipper and brings a lot of offshore experience with him. After several successful years on the Figaro race course, he is currently embarking on his Imoca career. His goal is also to take part in the Vendée Globe 2028, which he has set his sights on with Team Banque Populaire. This year he will be racing for Team Malizia.

Loïs Berrehar said: "My connection to Team Malizia is still quite young, but I've been following the team for a long time and I'm delighted to be part of such a strong crew." The flowers came straight back from Boris Herrman, who said: "Although this will be his debut with the team, Loïs and I have known each other for many years. I knew him when he was still a child. In 2008 he baptised my 'Beluga Racer', the Class40 with which I took second place in the Artemis Transat and later won the Portimão Global Ocean Race."

Loïs Berrehar also remembers this and said: "We haven't sailed much together, but we know each other well. I have an emotional connection with Boris, so I'm delighted to have the opportunity to spend time with him at sea, especially in such an exciting race."

Two on-board reporters for the Ocean Race Europe

Another exciting new addition to Team Malizia is French-Dutch sailor Flore Hartout, who has come on board as a full-time content creator and one of the team's two onboard reporters for the Ocean Race Europe.

Flore Hartout is no stranger to the world of sailing. She has already worked for the Ocean Race, sailed 26,000 nautical miles in the Clipper Round the World Race and took part in the 2024 Défi Azimut with Samantha Davies on the "Initiatives Coeur".

Being part of Team Malizia now feels like we've come full circle." Flore Hartout

She also explained her mission: "As a trained oceanographer, editor, documentary filmmaker and now also a reporter on board, I can bring all my passion and commitment to the ocean to this role. I look forward to sharing these stories with Malizia fans." Also back on board is the German-Frenchman Antoine Auriol, who fans have long known as the "Fly Captain".

On course for the future in the Ocean Race Europe

Antoine Auriol's credo: "I've never felt so ready to film on board the 'Malizia - Seaexplorer'! When I started three years ago, I was scared, even if I didn't show it. The Ocean Race then gave me strength, as did the entire Malizia team, who believed in me and gave me the freedom to tell the story on board as naturally as possible."

With a total of three male sailors, three female sailors and two onboard reporters, Team Malizia has put together a larger squad than the minimum required, including more women and nationalities than stipulated in the rules. The goal declared in the official statement is: "To build a strong, well-coordinated team that can grow together over time."

Boris Herrmann explains: "Just like in The Ocean Race 2022/2023, our aim is to build a team of sailors who can get to know each other and develop together over time. Even if they return to their own projects in between, the aim is to create a close-knit crew that knows how to work together and in which everyone can contribute their own skills. With this approach, we are laying a strong foundation for the future."

Full steam ahead! Team Malizia's latest VLog on the refit for "Malizia - Seaexplorer":