The start of the 14th edition of the most important team race in the world has been postponed by a year and will not take place in autumn 2021, but in 2022. Rumours had been circulating for some time. The registered teams were informed in advance. This afternoon, the management made the decision public. At the same time, a new ten-year plan was announced, which sheds more light on the course into the future. A European race is also being considered for the originally planned start year of 2021.
It is certain that the next edition will begin in October 2022 in Alicante, Spain, and end in the summer of 2023 in Genoa, Italy, where the 50th anniversary of the ocean marathon, which was launched in 1973/1974 as the Whitbread Round the World Race, will be celebrated with plenty of Azzurri passion. For the first time in the race's history, the organisers have already set key dates for subsequent editions. In addition, a feasibility study has been commissioned for the planned European race in summer 2021.
Race Chairman Richard Brisius and Managing Director Johan Salén in conversation
The organisers have cited the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic as the reason for the postponement of The Ocean Race. Richard Brisius, Race Chairman for The Ocean Race, said: "The Ocean Race has been one of the biggest challenges in our sport since 1973. The winning teams have shown that good preparation is the foundation for success. We are now in an unprecedented time and our priority is to all those who have been and continue to be affected by the pandemic. As an international sporting event with stopovers on six continents, we feel deeply connected to the changing reality of our sailors, teams, cities and partners around the world. We have worked closely together over the past months to develop a stable and better future. This has led to the first ten-year plan in the history of The Ocean Race. The ten-year plan is adapted to the new reality in an innovative, sustainable and responsible way."
For the teams and the host harbours, the postponement means a positive gain in time. Boris Herrmann, who has just finished the solo race Vendée Arctique, has already arrived back in his home port of Hamburg after a lightning return and is planning intensively for the next edition of The Ocean Race with his team Malizia, took the postponement calmly: "We welcome the announcement by the Ocean Race organisers and are adapting to it. The main advantage is certainly that there is more time for many teams - more time to organise themselves and more time to find sponsors. We feel that we are already well equipped, and since the recently completed Vendée Arctique we know for sure that our boat (Red.: the Imoca "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco, which will also be used in The Ocean Race) can compete well. The new plans for The Ocean Race are also very easy to communicate to our partners and make a lot of sense."
The upcoming The Ocean Race will be held in two classes: on the familiar VO65 yachts such as the Austrian "Sisi" and on Imoca yachts such as Herrmann's boat. Julian Kircher, Team Principal of the Austrian Ocean Race Project, said: "The Covid-19 crisis has made it more difficult for many teams to operate than expected and planned. We expressly welcome the postponement and are happy that we have more time for our strong project. Nothing has changed in our determination."
Olympic champion and America's Cup defender Peter Burling from New Zealand also commented on the news, saying: "Winning The Ocean Race is still a big goal for me." Burling took part in the last edition of the Ocean Race in 2017/18 with Bouwe Bekking's Team Brunel. Like his 49er co-skipper and friend Blair Tuke, who sailed to second place behind Team Dongfeng with the Spanish team Mapfre, Burling's team also narrowly missed out on the personal trifecta of Olympic gold, America's Cup victory and triumph in the Ocean Race with third place. Both Kiwis still have unfinished business to settle in The Ocean Race. Burling said: "I know how much effort and planning and preparation goes into a successful campaign. The extra year now built in increases the chance of strong, well-prepared teams turning up on the start line off Alicante. I think it's a well thought out and good decision."
The first pillars of the ten-year plan for the race around the world are the guaranteed organisation of the next three editions as a fully crewed race and the fixed years (2022/23, 2026/27, 2030/31). Regattas will also be organised in the years in between. The first of these is the 2021 European summer race for Imocas and VO65 yachts. It is even possible that other boat classes will be authorised.
If you can't wait until the next edition, you can watch this feature to remember the last race
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
