The previous edition four years ago, then still known as the Volvo Ocean Race, had already set new standards in terms of reporting. Daily videos of the participants from on board, live shows and analyses brought fans closer to the action than ever before.
This could now intensify. The US media company Warner Bros. Discovery will provide intensive media coverage of the Ocean Race 2023 and broadcast it on all of the company's sports channels. The cooperation with the race organisers provides for comprehensive coverage of the sailing regatta as well as intensified acquisition and support of fans and partners.
The start of the Ocean Race Europe, 2021 from Lorient via Cascais and Alicante to Genoa, had already been broadcast by Discovery, the world's leading provider of real-life entertainment. In particular, the television channel Eurosport, part of Discovery, was in the spotlight and broadcast the start live in 19 languages. The merger of Warner and Discovery took place in 2022.
An event with enormous storytelling potential
"We see the Ocean Race as an event with enormous storytelling potential," says Andrew Georgiou, President of Eurosport and Discovery Global Sports, explaining the partnership.
The Ocean Race has long been regarded as the toughest test for a team in ocean sailing. Since 1973, the race has attracted the world's best sailors and pushed them to their limits. In previous editions, the race has already impressed with spectacular images and caused a furore. Last but not least, the introduction of on-board reporters on every boat was revolutionary in the sport of sailing.
German participants in the spotlight
From a German perspective, special attention will be paid to Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia and the sailors from Guyot Environnement - Team Europe. The latter recently strengthened its team with the addition of French solo offshore specialist Sébastien Simon. The team sailed to second place in the 48-hour Défi Azimut race with co-skippers Benjamin Dutreux and German Robert Stanjek and their team-mates Phillip Kasüske and Annie Lush.
Boris Herrmann, his co-skippers Will Harris, Rosalin Kuiper and Nico Lunven and on-board reporter Antoine Auriol initially defended second place for long stretches of the race. However, they eventually crossed the finish line in third place.
Stanjek's team on the former 11th Hour Racing Imoca coped well with the conditions and showed potential. "We still have to develop the team. This will be a learning process that will extend into The Ocean Race," said Stanjek, explaining the steep learning curve he is aiming for.
For Benjamin Dutreux, as well as Boris Herrmann, the Route du Rhum in solo mode is also on the programme from 6 November, before continuing with The Ocean Race as a team. "The crew will use the yacht's return from the Caribbean for intensive training on the Atlantic," reports team manager Jens Kuphal with a view to the start of the Ocean Race on 15 January in Alicante.
