The Ocean Race: "Biotherm" and "Malizia - Seaexplorer" chase "Holcim - PRB"
Tatjana Pokorny
· 25.06.2023
"The last word has not yet been spoken," announced Boris Herrmann von See in the three-way battle for the final stage win. Although his team was "only" in third place on Sunday morning, a good two days before the expected finish, the three Imoca teams are still sailing within sight of each other in the battle for the final points in this 14th edition of the race around the world. At around 9 a.m., the leading "Holcim - PRB" only has less than 400 nautical miles to go to the Ocean Race finish harbour of Genoa.
No matter what we manage to do on this leg: We are third in the Ocean Race" (Boris Herrmann)
Just four nautical miles behind, skipper Paul Meilhat and his team Biotherm attacked the Swiss strongly. Like "Malizia - Seaexplorer", the French were travelling at higher speeds close to the Spanish coast. Between Barcelona and Mallorca, for example, the Imoca teams are fighting for every nautical mile in light winds of around four or five knots. At the moment, everything is pointing to a flat shake for the final spurt.
"It's a very slow stage. We are in good fashion and also in a good mood with the team. It's fun to be here at sea. I'm looking forward to the remaining days. Luckily we don't have so much pressure on our shoulders," said Team Malizia's skipper Boris Herrmann. His view of the developments since the crash caused by Team Guyot with 11th Hour Racing is as clear as the current view at sea: "No matter what we manage to do on this leg: We are third in the Ocean Race."
I don't understand at all why the jury wants to question us about the case" (Boris Herrmann)
Team Malizia also does not see itself affected by the upcoming jury decision in the case that has kept the Ocean Race world on tenterhooks since the collision shortly after the start in The Hague: "We are not affected by the jury's scepticism. I don't understand at all why the jury wants to question us about this. I have nothing to say about it. It's just a clear case of port to starboard."
At the jury hearing scheduled by the organisers for 29 June - i.e. after the fleet arrives in Genoa on 27 or 28 June - all Ocean Race teams will be given the opportunity to give their opinion on the case. "I think they have used the questioning of all the teams as an alibi so that they don't simply have to announce a winner and take the tension out of the race before the arrival in Genoa," said Boris Herrmann.
First the sport, then the decision at the green table
From the perspective of the organisers and the very committed finish port organisers in Genoa, it is understandable that they want to finish the race first and then decide on the final placings at the green table. It remains an unfortunate situation for everyone involved, which will only be resolved on 29 June or later by the jury's decision, which is still pending. Until then, it remains to be seen what the verdict will be.
A calculation example shows what could follow the - possibly granted - request for compensation by 11th Hour Racing. If the three boats sailing on leg seven were to finish as they are currently sailing, Team Holcim - PRB would have 36 points in the final Ocean Race standings. With 27 points so far and three more points for third place, Team Malizia would total 30 points. Team Biotherm can no longer intervene in the battle for the podium places.
Will it be that "easy"?
If the jury were to award 11th Hour Racing the average of the points earned on six legs so far after the official abandonment of the seventh leg as a result of the collision, the American leaders would have a total of 37.1 points, with 33 points plus 4.1 points so far. That would give them overall victory in the 14th The Ocean Race. Will it be that "easy", or will other factors play a role in the judgement? For example, the fact that Team Holcim - PRB is indirectly affected by the crash because the Swiss did not get the chance to make up their three-point deficit to 11th Hour before the start of the seventh leg in the final sprint on the water?
