This compelling edition of The Ocean Race has presented many twists and turns and the drama continued right up until the end of the last leg, as the fleet headed towards the Grand Finale in Genova.
Throughout the complex 2,768 nautical mile journey from The Hague, light and variable wind conditions meant the boats made steady but slow progress. As they entered the Mediterranean, the teams were neck and neck, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Team Malizia navigated a tactically astute race and on the very last night, managed to move ahead of the pack and stay there, despite pressure from the other boats.
The win for Team Malizia and their skipper Boris Herrmann is the perfect end to an exhilarating Ocean Race adventure. They won the very first In-Port race in Alicante back in January, as well as the brutal, one-month long marathon 3rd leg. The 3rd leg victory included winning the iconic ‘Roaring Forties Trophy’ for the fastest time from Cape Town to Cape Horn, in spite of an early problem with the mast that nearly ended their race prematurely. They also broke the world monohull 24-hour distance record during leg 5 after covering 641.08 nautical miles in 24 hours.
Team Malizia collected five points for the leg win and currently sit in 3rd place in the overall race rankings of this edition of The Ocean Race, achieving a podium finish on their first participation in the race. They are also still in contention in the In-Port Race Series, with the final race taking place in Genova on Saturday, 01 July.
Moments after celebrating with the entire team on stage, an emotional Boris Herrmann said: “There is nothing sweeter than winning. It changes everything. There were a couple of times in this race where we were so close, four minutes in Aarhus, just over one minute in The Hague…therefore I think we earned this one, and it feels really good. The team performed so well on many levels and I’m incredibly proud to work with them. Working together gave us so much energy and joy. The Ocean Race is more than just a race, and the biggest lesson was ‘never surrender, never give up, there’s always something to fight for. And if you do, you’ll get rewarded”.
The Ocean Race is a one of the toughest team challenges in the world, a ‘round the world’ race that tests the limits of human endurance with each edition pushing the boundaries of technology. Team Malizia have performed exceptionally well, and they certainly saved the best for last. Their IMOCA boat, Malizia – Seaexplorer, broke the mould and both boat and crew have been severely tested but as the race progressed, they developed a fantastic team culture, and it was clear they were gaining valuable experience and learning how to get the best from Malizia - Seaexplorer.
A large and enthusiastic crowd turned out to welcome the teams at the Ocean Live Park in Genova for the Grand Finale. The Ocean Race marks its 50th anniversary and five decades of around-the-world racing yachts and sailors will gather for the 50th Anniversary Legends Regatta, a unique part of the celebrations.
We have been proud to support Team Malizia and Boris Herrmann during The Ocean Race, and they have displayed immense competitive spirit at all times. The partnership is a testament to our shared values of teamwork, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence, as well as an ongoing commitment to sustainability. With their mission, ‘A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now’ at the forefront, they used the journey to some of the remotest areas on the planet to spread an important climate change message.
Well done to the whole team and enjoy the celebrations.
For more information and to follow the race, head to Team Malizia's website and social media channels (YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram) or visit The Ocean Race website.