Starting signal for the final leg of the Ocean Race Europe: Who will win the Mediterranean Poker?

The final spurt has begun in the new Ocean Race Europe. The last of the three legs will take the two fleets from Alicante in Spain to the Italian harbour of Genoa. On the programme is a 600 nautical mile long Mediterranean race in rather calm winds. However, there was plenty of pressure at the start. The seven VO65 yachts were the first group to be sent out on the course. Sailing Poland with skipper Bouwe Bekking had the conspicuous red bow for a short time after a successful start, before the crew of "Viva México", which was in last place in the overall classification, even fought its way to the top position around an hour and a half after the start.

It is quite possible that "Viva Méxicos" new last-minute navigator Juan Vila has played his part in this opening high. The top navigator from Barcelona, who will celebrate his 60th birthday in November, has been racing around the world since 1989/90, won in 2001/02 with the illbruck Challenge, triumphed in the America's Cup with Alinghi and has also won the Jules Verne Trophy on "Banque Populaire V". Juan Vila had only come to the harbour in Alicante on the eve of the last stage start to wish friends good luck on "Viva México". He was hired at short notice for the final and is now fighting with the team for a successful finish. "They asked why I wasn't coming along. As I'm on holiday, I said yes. And here I am," said the humorous Spaniard, who is extremely popular in sailing circles.

The Mexicans were involved in an exciting three-way battle for the lead at the start of the first leg with Team AkzoNobel Ocean Racing, who are in third place overall, and the leading Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team. French Mirpuri skipper Yoann Richomme said before the starting signal: "At least three or four boats can still win this race in our class. We will fight for victory." The Austrian Ocean Race Project, which was in fourth place in the VO65 overall standings after winning the first leg, was initially only in seventh place.

After a good start, Offshore Team Germany had to settle for fifth place in its Imoca fleet. After a strong starting cross, this was due to the fact that the German "Einstein" was the only non-foiler that could not quite keep up with the upcoming and overtaking foilers. In these conditions, the team led by skipper Robert Stanjek decided to break away from their own Imoca fleet and follow the coastal course previously set by the VO65 yachts. A short time later, the team on the French "Bureau Vallée" did the same as Offshore Team Germany. Both were initially rewarded with first and second place, while the other Imocas continued to seek their fortune out at sea.

All teams expect the final leg to be a rather slow race on average in Mediterranean winds that will rarely exceed 10 or 15 knots. "The wind will be switched off twice a day," Robert Stanjek had described the expected scenario strikingly before the start, "we are dealing with a very difficult Mediterranean risk management on this leg." The premiere of the Ocean Race Europe will probably still not be decided when it arrives in Genoa, as there is another coastal race on the programme in the Italian port city. This is where the final and presumably decisive bonus points will be awarded.

The "Einstein" team had built up a chance of victory before the start of this third stage, and was tied on points in the intermediate classification behind Thomas Ruyant's "LinkedOut" and ahead of Charlie Enright's 11th Hour Racing team in second place. All three leading teams had nine points each - a highly exciting starting position for the battle for the podium places. Click here for the live tracker and the intermediate results (please click!).