The Ocean Race: "Just judgement" - Game, verdict and victory for 11th Hour

For the first time in the 50-year history of the Ocean Race, an American boat has won the most important team race around the world. Charlie Enright's US team 11th Hour Racing will lift the silver Ocean Race trophy into the sky above Genoa on the evening of 29 June. However, the late triumph was preceded by a nail-biting game at the green table.

Well-deserved compensation after the unfortunate crash

A crash caused by Team Guyot shortly after the start of the final leg in The Hague brutally slowed down the Americans on their wave of success after three consecutive stage wins. They were unable to contest the final Ocean Race leg to Genoa as leaders after six legs with a broken boat. In return, 11th Hour Racing had submitted a request for compensation, which the International Jury of the Ocean Race granted on Thursday morning after hearing all the teams and a brief consultation.

With a further four points, 11th Hour Racing was awarded the average score for the first six legs of the Ocean Race. With a total of 37 points, Charly Enright and his team secured the Ocean Race trophy for the first time in the skipper's third attempt, ahead of the Swiss team Holcim. PRB (34 points) and Team Malizia (32 points). In fourth place was the French team Biotherm (23 points) ahead of the unlucky team Guyot (2 points).

The judgement feels very good for us. We are in Genoa out of respect for 11th Hour Racing. We are very pleased that a fair decision has been made" (Jens Kuphal)

The people who caused the collision had abandoned the last leg out of respect for 11th Hour Racing. Their boat is already back in its home harbour in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Nevertheless, team manager Jens Kuphal, skipper Benjamin Dutreux and co-skipper Robert Stanjek are in Genoa for the finale. Jens Kuphal said: "We congratulate 11th Hour Racing. We are very happy that such a fair judgement has been made here." Benjamin Dutreux apologised once again to all the teams for the crash, which had robbed the race of its suspense at the end and robbed Team 11th Hour of the chance to win the Ocean Race on the water.

Team Malizia's skipper Boris Herrmann said: "We are all very relieved that the jury did not deliver any more surprises here. It all seemed very harmonious. Even Holcim - PRB said at the hearing that 11th Hour Racing should get the redress. We have a wonderful winner for this Ocean Race!"

Team Holcim-PRB's last-minute protest was rejected

Boris Herrmann's statement also refers to the last-minute protest organised by Team Holcim - the PRB had also filed a claim against 11th Hour Racing on the eve of the hearing on the application for compensation. The attempt to pin possible partial blame for the crash on the Americans in this way did not go down well with many participants and fans. However, it was not even heard, as the jury did not even allow the protest due to formal errors.

The lucky winners were still at sea on the day of the decisions, because the transfer took longer after the repairs in The Hague. 11th Hour Racing was not expected to arrive in Genoa until late Thursday afternoon at around 5 p.m., where preparations for the reception of the overall winners were in full swing. The award ceremony was scheduled for 6 p.m. before the 14th edition of the sea marathon comes to an end on 1 July with the last harbour race in Italy. However, the last show of the Ocean Racers no longer has any significance for the overall standings.

To be the first American team to lift this trophy is an incredible honour" (Charlie Enright)

For Charlie Enright, his team's historic achievement is the icing on the cake after a rollercoaster ride through this Ocean Race, which got off to a suboptimal start for the pre-start favourites with technical problems. "To be the first US team to hold this trophy is an extraordinary honour. With action and innovation for ocean health, this campaign has been one of the truly influential global campaigns in this race," said Enright.

Charlie Enright joined the first winner's press conference after the jury's decision on Thursday from the sea. "I'm absolutely thrilled," commented the 38-year-old from Newport on the good news from Genoa. "This race demands everything from you - emotionally, mentally and physically. I'm incredibly proud of our whole team who have worked tirelessly for three years to get to this point. There have been highs, some incredible highs, but also lows that have knocked us all down. But they were all worth it to hear this news today."

We would have liked to have had the chance to fight out the last leg on the water" (Charlie Enright)

"Mālama's" driver went on to say, "When we launched our 2019 campaign, we never thought it would end this way. Any sailor will tell you that they want to win races on the water and not in the jury room. After winning three legs in a row, we went into the final leg exceptionally strong and confident. We are delighted with the jury's decision, although we wished we had had the chance to fight out the final leg on the water as Holcim - PRB were exceptional competitors and challenged us all the way round the world."

A replay of the momentous crash in The Hague:

Once again to savour - the grand finale of Team Malizia:

Click here for the final results of the 14th The Ocean Race.