Spanish photographer Pedro Martinez and his team from Sailing Energy worked intensively on this series of portraits. The haunting images of the participants were taken in the Brazilian stage harbour of Itajaí. This is where Pedro Martinez caught the sailors after the queen's stage and captured them with his camera. The faces of the Cape Horn conquerors tell the story of the royal stage.
The Southern Ocean has taken its toll
Framed by thickly grown beards, bruises but still sparkling eyes, skippers Boris Herrmann, Kevin Escoffier, Charlie Enright and Paul Meilhat and their team-mates look into the lens of Pedro Martinez. The photographer gets them up close and personal. Some of the well-known challengers are barely recognisable, so much have they changed during the mammoth five-week, 15,000-nautical-mile stage.
The sailors may have been more or less protected in their cockpits, but the hardships of the Southern Ocean marathon have not left them unscathed. The Southern Ocean has clearly taken its physical and mental toll. The powerful portraits bear witness to this without words.
New addition to Team Malizia
Less than a week after winning the leg, Boris Herrmann's team Malizia has now announced its crew for leg four at an early stage. The 5,550 nautical mile leg from Itajaí to the American port city of Newport begins on 23 April. As planned, Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann will be taking a break. His British co-skipper Will Harris takes over his position for the second time after leg two. Frenchman Christopher Pratt is a new addition to the team. Navigator Nico Lunven and Rosalin Kuiper remain on board. Rosie Kuiper is currently recovering with her family in Holland from the concussion she suffered shortly before the Cape Horn passage.
The 42-year-old Christopher Pratt brings a wealth of experience on board the "Malizia - Seaexplorer". He has worked for many years as co-skipper with "Charal" driver Jérémy Beyou and successfully competed in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 and 2021 with two third places. Pratt has also worked for teams such as Maître Coq and Banque Populaire as well as for Armel Le Cléac'h, the winner of the 2017/2018 Vendée Globe.
Taking part in this race is a childhood dream come true." (Christopher Pratt)
Both Nicolas Lunven and Will Harris know Christopher Pratt well. Will Harris said: "I'm really looking forward to skippering the next leg. I will miss Boris and his experience, but I am also looking forward to sailing with Christopher and bringing his experience as an Imoca foiler to our team. He has a good reputation and we can learn a lot from each other."
Christopher Pratt himself commented on his Ocean Race commitment for Team Malizia as follows: "I am very excited to be competing in the next leg of the Ocean Race with Team Malizia. Taking part in this race is a childhood dream come true. I have been following the race very closely right from the start. Even more intensively during the last leg. I am impressed by the commitment and perseverance of the team that won the longest leg of the race. I will do my best to contribute my experience and enthusiasm to the team."
