The Ocean Race Europe

The Ocean Race Europe is an offshore yacht race around Europe created and run by the organisers of The Ocean Race.[1][2] Its inaugural edition is the 2021 Ocean Race Europe, which began 25 May 2021 as a three-leg course from Lorient, France to Genoa, Italy.[2]

The Ocean Race Europe
The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team's VO65 docked in Lorient, France before the start of the 2021 Ocean Race Europe.
The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team's VO65 docked in Lorient, France before the start of the 2021 Ocean Race Europe.
First held25 May 2021 (2021-05-25)
OrganiserThe Ocean Race
Yachts usedIMOCA 60, Volvo Ocean 65 (VO65)
StartLorient, France (2021)
FinishGenoa, Italy (2021)
Competitors12
Legs4
Websitewww.theoceanrace.com/en/the-ocean-race-europe

The Ocean Race Europe is planned to take place every four years, with a two-year interval between installments of The Ocean Race Europe and The Ocean Race. This would allow teams to take part in an Ocean Race-related competition every two years.[3]

Background

In 2018, the 2021 Ocean Race was taken under new ownership by The Ocean Race 1973 SLU,[4] a successor company to Atlant Ocean Racing.[5] This ended the twenty-year-long period of ownership of The Ocean Race by the Volvo Group and Volvo Cars, although Volvo was retained as a sponsor[6] and premier partner.[4] A ten-year plan confirming future editions of The Ocean Race on a four-year cycle was announced in July 2020.[2][7]

After the 2021 Ocean Race was postponed to 2022-23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic,[4][8] the event's owners carried out a feasibility study on a potential European race in 2021.[7][9] The 2021 Ocean Race Europe was announced in October 2020,[10][11] with entries opening in January 2021.[12] Twelve teams were announced for the 2021 Ocean Race Europe; seven teams competed in Volvo Ocean 65s (VO65s), while five others competed in IMOCA 60s.[1][13]

Yachts
Main articles: IMOCA 60 and Volvo Ocean 65

The 2021 Ocean Race Europe used foiling IMOCA 60s and the one-design VO65s.[1][3] The two classes compete at the same time and along the same route, with separate winners and prizes in each class.[1] All boats are fully-crewed and have female crew members on board.[14] Both the IMOCA 60s and VO65s will contest the 2022-23 Ocean Race.[9]

Editions

2021 Ocean Race Europe

The 2021 Ocean Race Europe began 25 May 2021 on a three-leg course from Lorient to Genoa, with stops in Cascais, Portugal and Alicante, Spain.[1]

A ten-day, four-leg race from Klaipėda, Lithuania to the South Swedish Waypoint was organised by four of the seven VO65 teams in the lead-up to the 2021 Ocean Race Europe. Team Childhood 1 took overall victory.[15][16]

The first leg of the 2021 Ocean Race Europe, from Lorient to Cascais, commenced on 29 May 2021. It was won in the IMOCA 60 class by CORUM L'Épargne,[17] and in the VO65 class by The Austrian Ocean Race Project.[18][19]

The first of two coastal races was held in Cascais on 5 June 2021. It was won in the IMOCA 60 class by Offshore Team Germany,[20] and in the VO65 class by Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team.[21]

The second leg of the 2021 Ocean Rage Europe, from Cascais to Alicante, commenced on 6 June 2021.[22] 11th Hour Racing Team were forced to return to Cascais after a collision that damaged their port foil.[23] The team resumed racing later that same day after their damaged foil was removed.[23][24]

Races
Edition Class Legs In-port races Entries Start Finish Winning yacht Winning skipper
2021 IMOCA 60 3 2 5 France Lorient Italy Genoa Offshore

Team Germany [25]

 Robert Stanjek
Volvo Ocean 65 7 Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team [25] Yoann Richomme

See also

References
  1. "The Ocean Race Europe". The Ocean Race. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  2. Peake, Rob (26 May 2021). "The Ocean Race Europe: runners and riders". Yachts & Yachting. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  3. Heppell, Toby (21 May 2021). "How to follow the Ocean Race Europe". Yachting World. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. Williams, Matthew (17 June 2020). "New ownership moves The Ocean Race away from title sponsorship model". SportBusiness. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  5. "The Ocean Race 1973 SLU". The Ocean Race. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. Bottinelli, Stef (31 May 2018). "Volvo Ocean Race: new ownership announced for 2021 edition". Yachting World. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  7. "The Ocean Race reboots with announcement of 10-year plan". The Ocean Race. 16 July 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  8. Morgan, Liam (19 July 2020). "The Ocean Race in 2021 postponed by one year because of coronavirus pandemic". Inside The Games. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  9. Peake, Rob (17 October 2020). "The Ocean Race postpones – and considers new event". Yachts & Yachting. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  10. "The Ocean Race Europe will promote international sport, the Green Deal, and European spirit". The Ocean Race. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  11. "On The Market: The Ocean Race in June 2021". Tip & Shaft. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  12. "Entries open for The Ocean Race Europe". The Ocean Race. 21 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  13. Peake, Rob (21 April 2021). "Ocean Race Europe starts in May". Yachts & Yachting. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  14. "The Ocean Race Europe marks a new fully-crewed standard". The Ocean Race. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  15. "The Ocean Race Europe Prologue". Sail-World. 17 May 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  16. "Prologue finishes with Team Childhood 1 overall victory". The Ocean Race. 18 May 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  17. Gorman, Ed. "'It was incredibly full-on' – Ocean Race Europe finely poised after tight first leg". The Times. Retrieved 7 June 2021. (Subscription required.)
  18. Mullan, Lynda (3 June 2021). "Leg 1 of The Ocean Race Europe". Sail Magazine. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  19. "Ocean Race Europe: Incredibly close finish to Leg 1". Yachting World. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  20. "The Ocean Race Europe Leaderboards Compress With Wins by Germany & Mirpuri in Cascais Coastal Race". Afloat. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  21. Thompson, Colin (7 June 2021). "Emily Nagel and Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team victorious in Portugal". The Royal Gazette. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  22. New, G. J. (6 June 2020). "Ocean Race Europe Leg 2 underway". Sail-Web. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  23. Winthrop, Christian (6 June 2021). "11th Hour Racing Team restarts Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe". Newport Buzz. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  24. "The Ocean Race Europe Crews Battle Fierce Conditions in Strait of Gibraltar". Afloat. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  25. "The Ocean Race Europe". The Ocean Race Europe Winners. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
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