2,000 miles, two classes of boats
The first edition of The Ocean Race Europe will be given on May 29, 2021 from the port of Lorient. The program includes a 2,000-mile course with stops in Cascais, Portugal, Alicante, Spain and Genoa, Italy. This edition will bring together two classes of boats - the original one-designs VO65 and the newcomers IMOCA, stars of the Vendée Globe. In total, 12 international teams and sailors from 23 countries will be sailing across Europe.
A departure to be followed live
The start will be broadcast live on Eurosport and can also be followed on the race website, YouTube and Facebook platforms from 1:30 pm; the kick-off will be at 1:45 pm.
The IMOCA teams
They are 5 crews to take part in this first event, now registered as IMOCA Globe Series, for the period 2021-2025 (arrival of the Vendée Globe). Alongside the 3 French teams, an American and a German team are also participating.
11th Hour Racing
The American team is led by Charlie Enright, who already has two participations in The Ocean Race. He will be accompanied by British sailor Simon Fisher (5 participations in The Ocean Race) and French sailor Pascal Bidégorry, winner of the 2017-2018 edition of The Ocean Race with Dongfeng Race Team. Finally, as the rules oblige each crew to embark at least one woman, it will be the Swiss sailor Justine Mettraux, a double participant in The Ocean Race, who will complete the foursome. The crew will also embark the mediaman Amaury Ross (USA).
Valley Office 2
After a very good 3rd place in the Vendée Globe 2020-2021, and a new boat (ex L'Occitane en Provence with its round nose), Louis Burton is embarking on a new adventure. He will be accompanied by his long-time friend, the navigator Davy Beaudart, who is used to crewed races, and his navigator wife, Servane Escoffier, who will be back in competition after a break. Louis' objective is to mix the crews at each stage, so the English sailor Pip Hare, who has distinguished herself by her performance and determination in the last Vendée Globe, will be part of the race.
Thibault Hector and Christophe Bachmann, enlightened amateur sailors with several Transat Jacques Vabre victories in Class 40, and Jean-René Guilloux, author of a very good performance in the Mini class, will also be involved in the race. Finally, three members of Louis Burton's sailing team will be on board: Arthur Hubert, Clément Commagnac and Baptiste Hulin, respectively 2018, 2019 and 2021 hopefuls.
Corum L'Epargne
Victim of a dismasting in the last Vendée Globe, Nicolas Troussel was unable to show all his talents. The two-time winner of the Solitaire du Figaro is back, more motivated than ever, accompanied by a trio of champions: Sébastien Josse, Marie Riou and Benjamin Schwartz, both winners of the last edition of The Ocean Race in 2017-18 with Dongfeng Race Team.
LinkedOut
After a 6th place in the 2020/2021 Vendée Globe, Nicolas Ruyant will be accompanied by four experienced sailors, Morgan Lagravière (he will also be Thomas' co-skipper for the next edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre 2021), Quentin Ponroy, Laurent Bourguès and Clarisse Crémer, who also finished the last Vendée Globe in twelfth place.
Offshore Team Germany
The German Robert Stanjek, Olympic sailor and experienced offshore sailor is planning to participate in the next edition of The Ocean Race 2022-2023. But before that, he will start the first European edition of the race accompanied by the Olympic sailor and two times round the world sailor Annie Lush, but also the young and talented German sailor Phillip Kasüske. Also on board will be the young Benjamin Dutreux who has brilliantly illustrated himself in the last Vendée Globe, racing in contact with the latest generation foilers on a daggerboard boat. The mediaman of the team will be the German Felix Diemer.
The teams in VO65
The VO65s have been used in the round-the-world race with stopovers - The Ocean Race - for two editions, and are about to participate in their 3rd e around the world in 2022-2023. These boats are built according to strict one-design rules and offer a close match.
The VO65 category in The Ocean Race Europe will be composed of two Dutch teams, one Austrian team, one Lithuanian team, one Mexican team, one Polish team and one Portuguese team.
AkzoNobel Ocean Racing - The Netherlands
- Skipper: Chris Nicholson (AUS)
- Boat captain: Liz Wardley (AUS)
- Navigator: Will Harris (GBR)
- Watch leader: Lucas Chapman (GBR)
- Number 1: Trystan Seal (GBR)
- Controller/Mediawoman: Rosalin Kuiper (NED)
- Setter/Runner: Rory Hunter (GBR), Charlie Wyatt (AUS), Giulio Bertelli (ITA)
Ambersail-2 - Lithuania
- Skipper : Rokas Milevi?ius (LIT)
- Navigator: Conrad Colman (NZL)
- Watch leader: Tomas Ivanauskas (LIT)
- Number 1: Domantas Ju?kevi?ius (LIT)
- Trimmer : Arnas Eimutis (LIT)
- GV trimmer: Deimant? Jarmalavi?i?t? (LIT)
- Number 1: Domantas Ju?kevi?ius (LIT)
- Crew member & Mediaman : Aiste Ridikaite (LIT)
Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team - Portugal
- Skipper: Yoann Richomme (FRA)
- Navigator: Nico Lunven (FRA)
- Watch Leader: Jack Bouttell (AUS)
- Number 1: Olly Young (GBR)
- Trimmer : Bernardo Freitas (POR)
- Pitman: Willy Altadill (ESP)
- Trimmer : Frederico Pinheiro Melo (POR)
- Team: Mariana Lobato (POR), Emily Nagel (GBR)
- Crew: Rob Bunce (GBR)
- Mediaman : Martin Keruzore (FRA)
Sailing Poland - Poland
- Skipper : Bouwe Bekking (NL)
- Navigator: Aksel Magdhal (NOR)
- Boat captain : Jens Dolmer (DAN)
- Watch leader: Jocca Signorini (BRA)
- Number 1: Simbad Quiroga (ESP)
- Team members: Maja Mici?ska (POL), Anna Weinzieher (POL), Alan Alkhatab (POL) , Stan Bajerski (POL) , Kacper Gwó?d? (POL) , Mateusz Gwó?d? (POL), Gustaw Mici?ski (POL)
- Mediaman: Adam Burdylo (POL)
Team Childhood I - Netherlands
- Skipper: Simeon Tienpont (NL)
- Navigator: Wouter Verbraak (NL)
- Watch leader: Gerd-Jan Poortman (NL), Peter van Niekerk (NL)
- Crew members: Pieter-Jan Postma (NL), Jelmer van Beek (NL), Rutger Vos (NL), Laura van Veen (NL), Arianne van de Loosdrecht (NL), Matt Whitehead (USA), Lars van Stekelenborg (NL), Max Deckers (NL)
- Number 1: Julius Hallström (SE), Robin Jacobs (NL)
- Mediaman : Brend Schuil (NL)
The Austrian Ocean Race Project - Austria
Core Team :
- Skipper : Gerwin Jansen (NL)
- Navigator: Jolbert van Dijk (NL), Oliver Kobale (AUT)
- Watch leader: Michiel Goegebeur (NL), Konstantin Kobale (AUT)
- Stage Manager: Anna Luschan (AUT)
Viva México - Mexico
- Skipper: Erik Brockmann (MEX)
- Watch leader: Roberto 'Chuny' Bermúdez (ESP), Jaime Arbones (ESP)
- Number 1: Juan Varela (MEX)
- Tuner: Juan Luis Medina (MEX), Carlos Robles (ESP)
- Grinder: Miguel Fernández (ESP), Moritz Spitzauer (AUT)
- Number 1: Nadir Balena (ITA)
- Piano: Eugenia Bosco (ARG)
- Mediawoman : Jen Edney (USA)
