They are off – and what a crazy start it was indeed! Today the Ocean Race Europe has started, initially sending seven Imoca 60 racing boats onto their approximately 4.500 nautical miles journey. With two out after a horrific crash at the start, five a left. That´s one hell of a statement: This race, dubbed the “small brother” of the Ocean Race, is in no way “small!”. Leading the pack through the densest commercial sea traffic areas, like the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel, it will certainly put high stress on the crews working these behemoths of ocean racing. Leading their way down south around the Iberian Peninsula, the fleet will enter the Mediterranean through the Gibraltar strait, dash east via Nice and Genoa. Finally, sailing around the Italian boot to a glorious finish in Boka Boy, Montenegro. Exciting!
Kiel, Sailing City!
It indeed is an exciting race, having crewed Imocas racing each other around Europe in only approximately 25 days! So we can expect a lot of great racing coverage as this race is always well within reach of a camera, helicopter or drone. The Ocean Race Europe is divided into five legs. The first one leads from Kiel, Germany all around Denmark and the North Sea into the English Channel to Portsmouth, UK. Depending on the weather, this can be pretty tough. After a brief stop there, it´s a daring dash through Bay of Biscay along the Portuguese coast, passing Gibraltar into the Med to the second stopover in Cartagena, Spain.

From there it´s a short one to Nice where an even shorter, “drag race”-like sprint to nearby Genoa is following. The last leg leads the pack all around Italy, passing Sicily on port side, rounding the “boot” and sailing up the Adriatic to the finish line in beautiful Montenegro. Truly a very attractive route. Attractive especially for sailing afficionados and fans of professional boat racing. I drove to Kiel, which is just one hour away from my home town, to get a glimpse of the race. And boy, was I about to be surprised! Kiel calls itself the “Sailing City”, and it really is the center of German sailing, the Teutonic Les Sables d´Olonne, if you will. But even I was amazed by the sheer size of the Ocean Race Europe craze I was about to experience.
A little touch of Vendée Globe
Along the Kiel Fjord, or Kieler Förde, as we say in German, the organizers had set up a proper “racing village” along the waterfront. Thousands of people marched up and down the pier side on the three days the racing circus was there. You had your usual food trucks of all sorts, ice cream vendors and souvenir shops, but also businesses selling sailing gear and clothing. A large emphasis was put on ocean protection and sustainability, which, at times, I found a bit overshot. But that´s Germany, I guess. I came not to feast on Bratwurst and Beer. I wanted to see the Imocas!

Just a bit like the most famous Les Sables Vendée Globe-pontoon I have strolled so many times before, a “pit lane” had been set up the organizers. Visitors could walk along and have a great view on each of the racing yachts from above, whilst underneath a separate pontoon had been set up where the crews could work uninterrupted. Not quite as near as in Les Sables, but otherwise great for fans and people. Arriving, a bit ahead of time since I assumed it would become even more crowded the earlier starting time would come, I still had a good view on the yachts. Many of the boats are old acquaintances.

There was Team AMAALA on exHUGO BOSS. I still think that this Pete Hobson design (with VPLP) is still one of the sexiest Imocas around. I love the closed stern section, the flowing lines and flat hull. It is amazing that this boat is still one of the potent contenders in this class, given the fact that she has been built in 2019, that´s 6 years old! The new team´s design elegantly matches the aggressiveness of the design.
IMOCA time! As near as you can get …
Walking a few meters more, an old friend of mine came into sight. Sold now again, I can very vividly remember this morning in Les Sables when I showed up – a bit ahead of the scheduled time – for a guided walkthrough of that boat. At that time she was operated by Team Dubreuil under skipper Sebastien Simon. Unfortunately, nobody showed up even after waiting a quarter of an hour and since I´ve had to go for my own appointments in delivering a sailboat, I had to pass on this chance.

Nevertheless, I was able to produce a funny article about an Imoca walkthrough that never was. Since Groupe Dubreuil and Simon are building a brand new Imoca, designed by Guillaume Verdier, their “old” boat has been sold apparently and is now re-christened BE WATER POSITIVE under Canadian self-made man and skipper Scott Shawyer for Canada Ocean Racing. Again, this 2021 Verdier design is also a very beautiful yacht, I´d say and I wish newcomer and literal lateral entrant Shawyer all the best for his Ocean Race Europe!

Ahhh, look at these beautiful foils! A work of art, right? MAPEI and BIOTHERM are proudly displaying their filigree but rugged “mustaches”, which make those racing boats fly so fast. As I visited the fleet one day before the start of the Ocean Race, which was Saturday, I was about to witness some speed runs – partly pre-start sea trials and partly entertainment for the people – I was hoping to see some foiling action, as surely many of the thousands of onlookers did as well, but I soon realized that wind speeds were much too low for that.

Anyway, when I was walking down the pontoon, a few meters before me, a guy with the official Team Paprec-Arkea T-Shirt was walking. Looking at the tall person from behind, I thought … well, you know this one, don´t you? Let´s see his face, so I approached him. Turns out, it was skipper Yoann Richomme. Such a cool occasion. “Salut Yoann!”, I greeted him: He slowed down, smiled, and greeted back. He is among the coolest and most approachable guys within the Imoca-circus, excited and happy about his reaction, I asked: “So, how´s the J2 going?” Stange question? Well, there is a backstory …
Rewinding back a week
You may be knowing that I am actively working for Quantum Sails Germany as Social Media Manager and Content Producer. So, a few days before I went to Kiel, Sven Krause, boss of Quantum Sails Germany, sent a few whatssapp pictures for me to turn into a story. The message underneath the pictures was as unspectacular and understating as you can imagine: “Imoca headsail in da house for a recut!” I was stunned. Wait, what?

As it turned out, the team had assigned the guys to work on their fore sail. Namely the J2 headsail. These are originally made by Incidence Sails in France, but as they just have an agent here in Germany, the question was: Who can do this delicate work? Which sailmaker has the competence and even the facility to house a sail of these dimensions. I do not know who and on what basis made the decision to go for my friends at Quantum Sails, but I am happy they did: For me, Sven Krause and his dedicated team is sailmaker #1 in Germany, ALPHA, my own new boat, will receive sails made by these guys.

So, what did they do? The J2 needed a thorough recut at the luff. The sail designers back in France at Incidence Sails had provided a specification of what and where should be redone. The team in Flensburg rescheduled their jobs and immediately went to work. I mean, it´s high season in sailing here in Germany right now – blocking the whole loft (literally) for a couple of days for one sail is quite a thing. In detail: The luff an the lower side of the sail has been reworked so that the entry would be forming a rounder, fuller shape.

Looking at the pictures, it is a truly stunning occasion. I mean, I know that some of the prime clients of Quantum Germany are among very well known racing boats in the Baltic sailing circus, and that is why the loft is designed to house big time sails. But seeing the workshop completely conquered by the J2 of PAPREC-ARKEA was amazing! This sail – completely spread out – covers an area of just under 100 square meters. Bigger than most flats. Certainly bigger than mine …

It´s a nice little story and such a beautiful job. I am happy for the guys in the loft. One of the pictures shows Bennet, Quantum Sails sailmaker, upon delivery of the finished J2 to the yacht: They received a thorough walkthrough in the boat and even could try out the skipper´s carbon seat. And so I am happy for the guys and the occasion, but also a bit envy: Should I seize the opportunity and ask Yoann for a little tour through his boat …?
This very special atmosphere before a race start
„So, how´s the J2 going?”, I am asking. Fter I explained him who I am and why I knew, he smiled: “Very good. Great work, thanks so much!“ That sounds so good! At least the J2 headsail is one of the most important sails aboard an IMOCA 60 racing yacht. Used mainly upwind but also downwind in stronger breezes, it is one of the most frequently used sails of an IMOCA. So, seeing Yoann so happy and thankful, I asked for a quick dash down on the pontoon. Not my lucky day: With only 45 minutes to go for the next speed run, he says, he can´t grant access. Well. Next time maybe.

Arriving at the pontoon myself, the team did not really appear to be in the most stressful state at all, but anyway: If there´s no way, there is no way. So I went on strolling the jetty. To my surprise, I´ve met a bunch of well know people, colleagues and friends. All gathering here on this hotspot of sailing, at least for this weekend. Whereas most, if not all, of the boats had already been cleared of tourists and visitors to prepare for the upcoming race, there was one yacht still buzzing with people. Of course. Boris Herrmann and his MALIZIA.

I have a mixed relationship with MALIZIA. Well, not with the boat nor with her team, but maybe more with my fellow Germans. Don´t get me wrong here: What Boris has done for sailing and the sport in Germany in particular is absolutely outstanding and amazing! Even for the whole of Europe. His likable style and down-to-earth approach is a role model for so many people. Not just from a sailing and skipper´s perspective, but also as a human being. On the other hand, this frenzy for Boris is absolutely crazy. I mean, we Germans tend to over-glorify our idols. Think of Boris Becker in Eighties: Playing Tennis was something only a few were interested in. After Wimbledon, suddenly, the whole country watched Tennis! Or take Michael Schumacher. Nobody really cared about Formula 1 before him. But suddenly after he starts becoming World Champion, all Germans turn out to be car racing enthusiasts. There are many more examples, like ski jumping … and now, it´s sailing. It´s a good thing though, because sport always brings people together in friendly competition. But it still feels a bit off for me, if I´m honest.

Anyway. At the same time the start of the second speed run of Saturday was coming closer. As one of the service ribs casts off to position the buoys which would be marking the race track, I left the pontoon to look for a good spot to watch the drag racing. At last I couldn´t manage to sneak myself onto an Imoca again, so that´s an open wound still. But in this I was able to enter one pontoon right in front of the race track just before it was cordoned off by security to prevent chaos. Bring it on! Seeing Imocas racing with my own eyes at last, I was exhilarated.
Partly training, partly show: IMOCA speed runs!
The idea of the „speed run” is simple: There were two designated racing stages, both well inside the Kiel harbor area and thus perfectly visible from ashore for the crowds. Depending on the wind prediction, one of the areas was “activated” and prepared for the race. Of course, maneuvering a big boat like an Imoca in such narrow and confined spaces is very dangerous – a fact very memorably proved a few minutes after the start of the race when HOLCIM and MAPEI got entangled and badly damaged a day later.

In this, the speed run is not a race against each other, but a mere sprint from a windward mark to the leeward. This sprint is then repeated a couple of times with the time taken in between. The boat fastest overall scores some points. One by one the Imocas undock and steam down the Kiel Fjord, upwind, hoisting their massive mainsails. What a glorious sight indeed! Slowly, gracefully, the boats sail past us, just a stone throw away, with their colorful canvases being readied. I am excited – as is the rest of the crowd too.

Then, arriving at the windward buoy, one by one with being some seconds apart, the headsail is unfurled and the boats start to speed up. We have a pretty low windspeed that day, Saturday, with just 13 to 15 knots TWS max. No foiling for sure, but on the other hand, more time for us to admire these beautiful yachts dashing past the waterfront filled up to the brim with thousands of spectators. One by one the boats start their speed runs.

What´s most exciting: Normal port operations resume as if nothing happens. There are ferries coming and going, feeder ships approaching Kiel harbor and even a big-ass Color Line cruise ship departs, making a jaw dropping backdrop for the literally millions of pictures and films taken that day. Combined with a lush summer´s day – what more could you ask for?
A glimpse of what an IMOCA is capable of
It´s a perfect show: When sailing past the crowds after each speed run, the boats would try to sail as close to the spectators as possible. The crews on deck waving and smiling. This is confirmed in so many interviews later: All skippers and crew members expressed their gratitude and excitement being greeted by so many people. When I was standing there on the pontoon, I talked to a couple who came to Kiel just for this occasion, travelling as far as from Bavaria, which is a 10 hours train ride from Kiel!

Of course, Boris Hermann and his crew aboard MALIZIA harvested the loudest applause when passing by. Everyone wanted to get that glimpse of their hero, and their hero – as professional as he is – showed up on deck, punching his head through the coachroof and waving. Once the boat arrived at the windward mark, it luffed, unfurled the headsail (in this case the big Code 0) and accelerated.

Not all too fast: That Saturday speeds of 11 to 12 knots SOG had been reached maxing out, and so it was a mere glimpse of what an Imoca 60 racing yacht is really capable of. Today, 24 hours later at the starting line we would see, how powerful and incredibly fast these carbon-monsters would get at an instant: With “only” a few knots of TWS more. What I found especially exciting was not the speed during the runs, but the speed those yachts reached when coming back. Under mainsail alone, not even fully trimmed, an Imoca is faster than almost any other cruising yacht …

As one after another sailed past us, I recalled reading and watching some interviews with different crews participating in this Ocean Race Europe. At some point, everyone knows each other as professional offshore racing involves a relatively small group of people. But I was astonished to learn that the people aboard MALIZIA for example never ever had sailed together in this very combination. It´s their first time working together as a crew, can you imagine? From zero to hero – in one of the top tier races of the regatta calendar! This is, I can imagine, why those speed runs were all so important: Not just a show for the crowds, but at least a little training for the crews aboard.

Of all this we couldn´t know anything, standing there on the waterfront and watching these behemoths of offshore racing parading in light winds. It was pure eye candy, and believe me, I could have posted a hundred, even two hundred, pictures more. A sailing party, a peaceful, wonderful occasion for those ashore. And I am sure, a wonderful, lush and relaxing moment for the crews. Maybe a good chance to vent off some of the tension and pressure. Something we as ordinary skippers may take away for our own regattas?
This is how you promote sailing!
A day later, the day of the start, I sat at home, laptop on my knees. I had logged in into the live stream on the internet. A clever decision because judging from the scenes I saw, it was even more crowded than on Saturday. During the speed runs, tunring my head looking on the waterfront, it almost felt like a homecoming in Les Sables after a successful completion of a Vendée Globe. Wow!

So this is how you promote sailing, I thought: Bring up the big names, the talents, the protagonists. Have the Imocas lined up and organize public access to a certain extend. Have a big sailing party ashore, with live music, feasting on great food and good German beer and with some help by the God of good weather and sunshine, you´ll end up having a big come-together for so many people. Awesome! We need more of that, certainly. It showed very descriptively the true power of sports. Chapeau to the organizers!

Well, the peace and lush mood would dramatically change just 24 hours later. With poor MAPEI being badly damaged and HOLCIM´s hull ripped open by their outrigger. Compared with the relatively dull light wind start of the last Vendée Globe, this one was something for the history books. Incredibly fast, incredibly violent and horrific, especially for the two boats involved. It also showed how close together joy and misery are in sailing.

As I go home, I come by the big stage. Live music alternates with documentaries and little films shown on the big screen. Some interviews with interesting people take place, the crowd enjoys a good entertainment. I must admit, getting up today very early in the morning – at least it´s Saturday, well earned “work free” weekend – was a bit tough. But now, having experienced this wonderful sailing party, it was so much worth it! So, fellow readers: You know the upcoming stations of the Ocean Race – Portsmouth, Porto (although only for a brief 3 hours fly-by), Cartagena, Nice, Genoa and Boka Bay. If you have the chance – go there, it´s absolutely worth it!
Looking forward to an exciting Ocean Race Europe 2025
By now the yachts are underway. Maybe at least MAPEI can re-join, depending on how serious the damage is. HOLCIM is surely out with a big gaping hole in the hull. The remaining five yachts are now dashing up north in the Belt, a sailing area I know quite well from a few trips there myself, one even aboard a Class 40. Amazing to follow them on the live tracker: These Imocas are bridging distances in two hours, we average Joes on our average boats have to sail for half a day … mind boggling, isn´t it?

It´s eye-candy and fascinating, watching an Imoca fly. I wish all crews and all boats a safe, exciting and fast journey. And I wish us, onlookers and astonished mortals, an evenly exciting, gripping and interesting Ocean Race Europe 2025, which from now on will go on for some 8 weeks. Fair winds and following seas, friends. And may “our” J2 aboard PAPREC-ARKEA hold tight.
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