The Ocean Race: Team Malizia sets the pace on the Southern Ocean motorway
Tatjana Pokorny
· 06.03.2023
Team Malizia got the second week of the third leg of the Ocean Race off to a flying start. With an average speed of almost 20 knots in the previous 24 hours, the sailing quartet on "Malizia - Seaexplorer" catapulted themselves very close to the US team 11th Hour Racing. Team Malizia is still around 65 nautical miles behind the second-placed French team "Biotherm".
Paul Meilhat: "It's getting cold. We're wearing hats"
At the head of the fleet, Kevin Escoffier's Swiss team Holcim - PRB continued to dominate the action at the end of the eighth leg. So far, "Holcim - PRB" has hardly lost any nautical miles despite "descending" south to the competition shortly before reaching the Rhumbline. The lead over "Biotherm" is still a comfortable 470 nautical miles. In the meantime, the entire field is racing eastwards between the 45th and 46th parallel south.
"It's getting cold, we're wearing hats," reported "Biotherm" skipper Paul Meilhat. "It's really frosty on deck when you pick up the lines. We are sailing in pleasant conditions. It's quite windy with a strong swell. Tomorrow morning we will reach the Kerguelen Islands and jibe."
Sam Davies: cheerful despite a split lip
His team-mate Sam Davies, smiling and with a bloody lower lip, explained how she sustained the injury: "I was at the ballast tanks when we dived deep into a wave with the bow. I was just about to put on a cap. Then I slid along the entire length of the water ballast tanks on my bum. That's okay, because you land softly at the other end. But I had this thing (ed.: plastic adjustment latch for the cap strap) in my hand and it hit my lip. Now I have this really cool looking war wound."
The day before, Sam Davies, who herself is aiming for the Vendée Globe 2024/2025 with her new "Initiatives - Cœur" and is supporting her skipper friend Paul Meilhat in the Ocean Race, described the mood on board the French yacht: "Finally, wedged into my 'sleeping place' on the port ballast tank and with my noise-cancelling headphones on my ears, I can get back to writing! Biotherm is sailing in rocket ship mode on calm seas, and the sun is shining."
Sam Davies: "The team is in top form"
The 48-year-old British woman continued: "My noise-cancelling headphones are not intended for the hum of the boat, but to block out the conversations and laughter of the crew. That normally happens during the day. The team is in top form. It's a pleasure to be part of a group that is so happy to be sailing this Ocean Race leg on this incredible yacht! Paul is a great leader who knows his boat very well and sets the pace for us to follow. The aim is to sail hard and fast, but also to take care of our boat and not underestimate the distance we have to cover and keep the boat in good shape."
Sam Davies described the "Biotherm" crew structure as follows: "Anthony (Marchand) is a great wingman for Paul. He has his back and takes the lead on weather and strategy. He's a great 'Mr Fixit' when it comes to fixing any kind of problems on board. Damien (Seguin) is always in a good mood, positive and contributes to the performance with his incredible sense of boat speed. And our on-board reporter Ronan (Glatt) does his job, even though we are propelling the boat and not exactly making life easy for him. He has an infectious laugh and seems to be really enjoying this adventure. He never seems to run out of ideas for the next stories ..."
The crews are powerful units with their own structure
As on "Biotherm", all crews in the Ocean Race act like small units, each with its own human and professional structure. The following clip shows just how harmoniously Team Malizia works together in both good and bad times.
"Apollo M!" The fourth episode of the documentary series "Malizians":
Morning tea with Boris Herrmann:
The latest news about The Ocean Race:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
