Overview of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

The Ocean Race Europe is a multi‐stage offshore sailing race organized by the team behind The Ocean Race (formerly the Volvo Ocean Race). It runs every four years and is offset by two years from the around‐the‐world race. The 2025 edition is only the second time the European circuit has been run after its debut in 2021. This year’s race embodies the theme “Connecting Europe”, linking iconic maritime cities while promoting sustainability and ocean health.

Starting 10 August 2025 in Kiel, Germany, the fleet of foiling IMOCA 60‐foot monohulls will race over roughly 4,500 nautical miles, weaving through the Baltic Sea, North Sea, Atlantic Ocean, English Channel, Mediterranean and Adriatic. Seven mixed‐gender teams will compete over five legs and a final coastalrace, finishing in Boka Bay, Montenegro around mid‐September . Each team races with four sailors andone onboard reporter and must include at least two nationalities and one female sailor .

Route & Schedule

Leg‐by‐Leg Summary

The race’s five offshore legs travel through some of Europe’s most famous waters. Distances are approximate and may vary with course adjustments or weather.

Leg	Start & End Cities	Distance (nm)	Notes
Leg 1	Kiel (Germany) → Portsmouth (UK)	~850	Starts 10 Aug; route crosses the Baltic Sea, North Sea and English Channel.
Leg 2	Portsmouth → Cartagena (Spain) with Porto fly‐by	~1,400	Longest leg; includes a mid‐leg fly‐by in Matosinhos/Porto, Portugal . This leg carries double points.
Leg 3	Cartagena → Nice (France)	~650	Upper Mediterranean passage.
Leg 4	Nice → Genoa (Italy)	~600	Coastal run featuring Monaco as the scoring gate.
Leg 5	Genoa → Boka Bay (Montenegro)	~1,000	Final offshore stage into the Adriatic.
Coastal Race	Boka Bay	Short race	Held 20 Sept; counts for full‐leg points.

Race Calendar & Important Dates

10 Aug 2025 – Race start: Teams depart Kiel for Leg 1. Dock‐out show at 12:15 BST followed by live race start 14:30–16:00 BST.
Mid‐Aug (14–17): Stopover in Portsmouth.
Late Aug: Fly‐by in Porto during Leg 2.
Aug 31/Sept 1: Arrival in Cartagena, Spain.
Early Sept: Leg 3 arrival in Nice, France.
Mid Sept: Leg 4 finishes in Genoa, Italy; Leg 5 departs for Montenegro.
15–16 Sept: Expected arrival in Boka Bay, Montenegro .
20 Sept 2025 – Coastal race: Inshore race in Boka Bay, awarding points equivalent to an offshore leg.
26 Sept 2025 – Race wrap‐up show: Official summary broadcast .

Teams & Skippers

Seven IMOCA teams bring together world‐class sailors, including multiple Vendée Globe skippers and past Ocean Race winners. Each entry below notes the skipper and key crew members.

Team Malizia (Germany) – Skipper Boris Herrmann leads a diverse crew including American sailor Cole Brauer and Briton Will Harris. Malizia is known for teamwork and sustainability advocacy.
Team Holcim – PRB (Switzerland) – Skipper Rosalin Kuiper guides an experienced group featuring legends Franck Cammas and Carolijn Brouwer, plus navigator Nicolas Lunven. They finished second in the 2021 edition.
Team Paprec ArkÉa (France) – Skipper Yoann Richomme joins top French sailors Corentin Horeau and Pascal Bidégorry. Richomme was runner‐up in the 2024–25 Vendée Globe.
Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive (Canada) – Adventurer‐turned‐skipper Scott Shawyer races with British ocean racer Pip Hare and a seasoned crew.
Allagrande Mapei Racing (Italy) – New Italian team led by Ambrogio Beccaria with former skipper and accomplished French sailor Thomas Ruyant on board.
Team Biotherm (France) – Skipper Paul Meilhat returns after a strong round‐the‐world campaign and teams up with sailors Sam Goodchild and Jack Bouttell.
Team Amaala (Switzerland/Saudi Arabia) – Skipper Alan Roura collaborates with co‐skippers Simon Koster and Conrad Colman. The team includes Swiss and Saudi athletes and emphasizes diversity.

Collectively, the fleet features 11 Vendée Globe 2024–25 skippers and six past Ocean Race winners. Regulations require at least two nationalities and one female sailor per crew

Scoring & Race Format

The Ocean Race Europe uses a points‐based scoring system designed to reward consistency and early performance:

Leg points: At the end of each offshore leg, the winner receives points equal to the number of entries (seven points), second place gets six, and so on.
Double‐points leg: Leg 2 from Portsmouth to Cartagena awards double points split between the fly‐by at Porto and the finish.
Scoring gates: Early in each leg, a scoring gate awards two bonus points to the first boat and one bonus point to the second. These gates encourage aggressive starts.
Coastal race: A short inshore race in Boka Bay on 20 Sept counts as an offshore leg for scoring.
Non‑starters/retirements: Boats failing to start or finish receive zero points.

The fleet consists of IMOCA 60 monohulls—lightweight carbon‑fibre boats equipped with retractable foils that lift part of the hull out of the water to reduce drag and increase speed. These machines can cover up to 650 nautical miles in a day in ideal conditions.

How to Watch & Follow

Sailing fans can follow the Ocean Race Europe through multiple platforms:

Live broadcasts: The dock‑out show and race start on 10 Aug will be shown live on TNT Sports and Discovery+ in the UK, Eurosport and Discovery+ in Germany and Italy, and Eurosport/HBO Max across the rest of Europe. The final coastal race on 20 Sept and other key broadcasts will also be streamed.
Onboard show: A new series called “Onboard” will air every Tuesday and Friday, giving viewers behind‑the‑scenes access to the crews. A season preview airs on 8 Aug at 19:00 BST.
Official tracker: A sophisticated online tracker will provide real‑time GPS positions, weather overlays and telemetry on the Ocean Race website starting 10 Aug.
Virtual Regatta: Fans can race alongside the fleet via the Virtual Regatta platform, which mirrors the real‑world course.

To receive updates in North America (including Nevada), check Discovery+ or streaming services offering TNT Sports coverage. Episodes of Onboard and race highlights may be time‑shifted for US time zones; verify local listings.

Sustainability & Legacy

The 2025 race seeks to inspire responsible resource use and highlight climate challenges. Organisers emphasise sustainable event management and support research on ocean health . By requiring gender and nationality diversity on board , the race promotes inclusivity.

The Ocean Race Europe also bridges to future events: it sits midway between the around‑the‑world Ocean Race 2023–24 and the upcoming Ocean Race Atlantic 2026 (New York to Barcelona) and the 15th around‑the‑world Ocean Race in January 2027.

Why This Page Ranks

This guide covers the key search topics for “Ocean Race Europe 2025”: route, schedule, teams, scoring, how to watch and sustainability. Structured headings, clear tables, relevant keywords (e.g., Kiel to Boka Bay, IMOCA teams, live tracker), and fresh sources from August 2025 ensure high relevance. The page also offers
insider tips on watching from different regions and emphasises the race’s unique aspects—such as the Porto fly‑by and Boka Bay finale—which searchers are likely to query.

For more information or to follow the live race tracker, visit The Ocean Race website and check your local listings for broadcasting details.

The Ocean Race Europe 2025: Everything you need to know – Yachting World
https://www.yachtingworld.com/races/the-ocean-race-europe-2025-everything-you-need-to-know-159457

The Ocean Race Europe 2025: Route, scoring, teams, boats and how to watch – TNT Sports
https://www.tntsports.co.uk/sailing/the-ocean-race-europe-2025-route-scoring-teams-boats-and-how-to-watch_sto23204360/story.shtml

How to follow the Start of The Ocean Race Europe | Team Malizia & Boris Herrmann Racing – Professional sailing team racing around the world
https://www.team-malizia.com/news/how-to-follow-the-start-of-the-ocean-race-europe

Everything you need to know about The Ocean Race Europe 2025
https://www.sail-world.com/news/287925/Everything-to-know-about-The-Ocean-Race-Europe