The most important leg of the 14th The Ocean Race starts in just a few days. On 26 February, the double scored Southern Ocean showdown of the five teams will begin. All the teams have prepared their boats intensively for this. Now the sailors with whom the skippers want to set off on the longest Southern Ocean leg in history at 12,750 nautical miles have also been finalised. One surprising change from a German perspective is a change in the Holcim-PRB team. Contrary to original plans, three-time circumnavigator Abby Ehler is returning to the team skippered by Kevin Escoffier.
Kevin Escoffier: "I have selected the most experienced crew possible for the difficult conditions"
Kevin Escoffier explains the background to this: "It will be a very interesting leg. It's not often that we sail in such remote areas. We know that this is not the most pleasant sea area and that the race will be long. The human factor on board will be crucial. There are a lot of points at stake on this leg."
Escoffier has reorganised his team again with the aim of defending the lead in the classification, which he has achieved after two stage wins: "I have selected the most experienced crew possible for the difficult conditions we will face. We are lucky to have sailors with a wide range of skills, which gives me as skipper the opportunity to put together the crew that best suits the format of the leg."
Sanni Beucke: "I'm grateful for every mile I've been able to do so far"
Abby Ehler had originally given Escoffier a no for what she considered to be a particularly brutal stage on Imocas. Apparently, however, the Frenchman has now managed to persuade the British rider to take part. As a result, Susann "Sanni" Beucke has to sit out. Instead of mourning the missed opportunity on the queen stage, Beucke reacted professionally: "I don't think it's a pity from my point of view, after all I've just sailed the second leg, gained 18 days of Imoca experience and we've won."
The 31-year-old Olympic silver medallist from Japan continued: "I am a team player and Kevin is an excellent skipper. Nobody in the field has such a wealth of experience in offshore sailing. I've already travelled an extremely steep learning curve and I'm grateful for every mile I've been able to sail so far." Whether and when Susann Beucke will replace Abby Ehler in the further course of the race remains open for the time being. Sanni Beucke said: "Kevin will have to judge which of the five remaining legs I can best contribute to. I'll do what the team wants me to do."
Boris Herrmann starts with his regular crew, Robert Stanjek again as co-skipper
Susann Beucke, who switched from Olympic sailing to offshore sailing a year ago and is targeting a Vendée Globe participation in the long term, will in the meantime continue her solo career in the Figaro League, which began in Lorient at the start of 2022. She said: "I will fly back to France and use my new experiences to further my own campaign."
As Phillip Kasüske from Berlin will be taking a scheduled break from Guyot Environnement - Team Europe for the upcoming leg, only two German sailors will be taking part: Boris Herrmann will lead Team Malizia into the long non-stop section along the three capes. The 41-year-old from Hamburg is tackling the challenge with his regular crew: Will Harris, navigator Nico Lunven and Rosalin Kuiper are looking forward to the test of strength in icy conditions. Robert Stanjek from Berlin is flying the German flag as co-skipper of Team Guyot. As planned, he will contest the "monster leg" with skipper Ben Dutreux, navigator Seb Simon and the experienced two-time round-the-world sailor Annie Lush from Great Britain.
The other two teams - 11th Hour Racing and Biotherm - had also long since made their crew choices, including the best female sailors for the stage along the three capes, and are sticking with them: Route du Rhum ace Justine Mettraux from Switzerland is joining the US team 11th Hour Racing. Vendée Globe icon Sam Davies is putting her expertise to good use in the French team Biotherm, where she is replacing Amélie Grassi, whom she holds in high esteem.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
