Rescue for The Ocean Race?: The Ocean Race: Paul Meilhat on board with Biotherm

Is this the breakthrough on the competitor front? French skipper Paul Meilhat will fulfil a lifelong dream in January 2023 when he leads his new team Biotherm across the starting line of the 14th edition of the Ocean Race off Alicante. Known from the Imoca scene and the Vendée Globe, Meilhat and his team will be sailing one of the newest Imocas in the fleet. The Verdier design is likely to be one of the favourites for the most famous team race around the world before its skipper - just like Boris Herrmann - heads for the next edition of the Vendée Globe in 2024/2025.

"I am very pleased to officially announce our participation in the Ocean Race with Biotherm," said Meilhat. "I have been working for the last three years to be on the start line of this race. Everything about the Ocean Race excites me. It's about the sport, but it's also about sailing around the world, discovering other countries and socialising with new people; all of this is great and I'm looking forward to experiencing the whole story of one of the greatest events in our sport. We are lucky to have a great boat to participate in the whole Imoca Globe Series programme. I am thrilled that we have secured our participation in the Ocean Race, which adds a new, even more international dimension to our campaign."

Commenting on the challenges ahead, Meilhat said: "This opportunity is important both for the sporting side of our project, as the sailing team is hungry to take on this incredible challenge, and for our title sponsor Biotherm, an international skincare brand of the L'Oréal Group. Biotherm has been committed to marine conservation for over ten years. The brand's values are aligned with The Ocean Race, which is committed to bringing people together to protect the health of the oceans."

The Ocean Race: "It's a different culture with a lot of engagement on board between the sailors"

Like many Imoca sailors, Meilhat is known for his ability to compete successfully in regattas alone or in pairs. Winner of the Route du Rhum and the Fastnet Race as well as champion of the 2021 Imoca Globe Series, he also brings experience and ambition from crewed format races and is convinced that the two disciplines complement each other: "From a sporting point of view, it's great to have the opportunity to race around the world, test our boats and compete with the best with a full crew on board. It's a different culture with a lot of engagement on board between the sailors. The crew brings a real dynamic. At Ocean Race Europe, we clearly saw that the boats were travelling with good energy and making remarkable progress as the season progressed. Racing with a crew also allows us to sail more than we could alone. During the Ocean Race we will sail almost more than in the entire Imocas solo or double-handed programme over the next three years. This volume of racing is very beneficial as the stopovers allow for development, restarts and so on."
Meilhat also explains why The Ocean Race and the subsequent Vendée Globe link up so well: "The new format of The Ocean Race fits perfectly with our current Imoca programme and schedule. It is one of the great races that aligns with what we do and has the advantage of taking us to the Southern Ocean where we sail in difficult and challenging conditions, which helps us to develop our boats and ourselves as sailors." The new "Biotherm" is expected to be christened in August and will take part in the Route de Rhum this autumn - just like Boris Herrmann's new Imoca - before crossing the start line of the Ocean Race on 15 January 2023.
"It's fantastic that Paul and his Biotherm team have confirmed that they will be taking part in the Ocean Race," said Johan Salén, Managing Director of The Ocean Race, "Paul was one of the first Imoca skippers to signal his ambition and intention to take part in the race. We know he has worked very hard over the last three years to get this project off the starting line. We look forward to seeing him in the race."
Paul Meilhat's Team Biotherm joins skipper Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia and skipper Charlie Enright's 11th Hour Racing Team as confirmed Imoca campaigns for The Ocean Race 2022/23. Three is still not enough for one of the two advertised classes, but could make for an exciting race. More should follow according to the race organisers. A full list of registered teams working on campaigns for The Ocean Race can be found here (please click!).