First held | 25 May 2021 |
---|---|
Organiser | The Ocean Race |
Yachts used | IMOCA 60, Volvo Ocean 65 (VO65) |
Start | Lorient, France (2021) |
Finish | Genoa, Italy (2021) |
Competitors | 12 |
Legs | 4 |
Website | www |
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 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]
The next edition has been announced for 2025. The start is planned to take place in the Baltic sea, with a finish in the Mediterranean sea and up to five intermediate stops.[4]
In 2018, The Ocean Race was taken under new ownership by The Ocean Race 1973 SLU,[5] a successor company to Atlant Ocean Racing.[6] 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[7] and premier partner.[5] A ten-year plan confirming future editions of The Ocean Race on a four-year cycle was announced in July 2020.[2][8]
After the 2021 Ocean Race was postponed to 2022-23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic,[5][9] the event's owners carried out a feasibility study on a potential European race in 2021.[8][10] The 2021 Ocean Race Europe was announced in October 2020,[11][12] with entries opening in January 2021.[13] 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][14]
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.[15] Both the IMOCA 60s and VO65s will contest the 2023 Ocean Race.[10]
Edition | Class | Legs | In-port races | Entries | Start | Finish | Winning yacht | Winning skipper |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | IMOCA 60 | 3 | 2 | 5 | Lorient | Genoa | Offshore Team Germany [16] | Robert Stanjek |
Volvo Ocean 65 | 7 | Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team [16] | Yoann Richomme |
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]
# | event | start date | start place → finish place |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Leg 1 | 29 May 2021 | Lorient → Cascais |
02 | In-port race | 5 June 2021 | Cascais "Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy" |
03 | Leg 2 | 6 June 2021 | Cascais → Alicante |
04 | Leg 3 | 13 June 2021 | Alicante → Genoa |
05 | In-port race | 19 June 2021 | Genoa "Genova Coastal Race" |
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.[18][19]
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,[20] and in the VO65 class by The Austrian Ocean Race Project.[21][22]
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,[23] and in the VO65 class by Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team.[24]
The second leg of the 2021 Ocean Rage Europe, from Cascais to Alicante, commenced on 6 June 2021.[25] 11th Hour Racing Team were forced to return to Cascais after a collision that damaged their port foil.[26] The team resumed racing later that same day after their damaged foil was removed.[26][27]
Skipper | Leg 1 | In-port | Leg 2 | Leg 3 | In-port | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Volvo Ocean 65 class | |||||||
Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team | Yoann Richomme | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 |
Sailing Poland | Bouwe Bekking | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 17 |
AkzoNobel Ocean Racing | Chris Nicholson | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 17 |
Team Childhood I | Simeon Tienpont | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
The Austrian Ocean Race Project | Gerwin Jansen | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Viva México | Erik Brockmann | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
Ambersail 2 | Rokas Milevičius | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
IMOCA 60 class | |||||||
Offshore Team Germany | Robert Stanjek | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 16 |
11th Hour Racing Team | Charlie Enright | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 |
LinkedOut | Thomas Ruyant | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 |
CORUM L' Épargne | Nicolas Troussel | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
Bureau Vallée | Louis Burton | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
Source:[28] |