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Boris Herrmann

Loïs Berrehar

Cole Brauer

Francesca Clapcich

Flore Hartout

We compete on the highest level in the toughest races, inspire action & create awareness and highlight solutions to the climate crisis.

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After an intense race that stretched from the tricky waters of the Solent to the Bay of Biscay and a push down the Portuguese coast, Team Malizia crossed the line of the Leg 2 Matoshinhos/Porto Fly-By in fourth place. Following a short three-hour stopover, the crew has already set off again on the second stage of the leg, racing towards Cartagena, Spain, where The Ocean Race Europe 2025 battle continues.

20 August 2025, Matosinhos/Porto, Portugal 

 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025, bringing their 

 after a nail-biting race from Portsmouth, UK. Led by skipper 

, the team arrived in Matosinhos/Porto at 12:30 local time (11:30 UTC), after 2 days, 19 hours, 30 minutes, 20 seconds at sea. Just over three hours earlier, Biotherm crossed the line first and extended their overall lead, followed by Team Paprec Arkéa arriving in Portugal in second and Team Holcim-PRB in third.

The race began in Portsmouth with the exit out of the Solent, followed by a compression of the fleet and a position reset off Ouessant yesterday. Once clear of the light winds, the teams entered the Bay of Biscay, which delivered a long tack resulting in long hours of trimming, tweaking, and hand-steering in a tightly packed group. Throughout the past 2,5 days, Team Malizia fought hard to stay in the leading pack. At times, less than five miles separated the top five boats, with constant position changes, making for a suspenseful race.

“We really felt in the fight all the way until last night and then one small mistake cost us, “ said skipper 

as he stepped on the dock. “We expected a bit more from the first half of the leg and this really shows how close the racing is. The team is sailing super well, we have proven we are one of the fighters and maybe even surprised a few others, especially in these light winds. That first night had stronger winds and better conditions, but it wasn’t the deciding factor at all; the lighter wind moments were clearly the more tactical and more important ones. Coming into Porto, we lost a few extra miles on the Top 3 but looking ahead, I think there are still opportunities to catch up, and we are really motivated to be hunters again.”

Half of the Leg 2 points are awarded based on fleet positions at the Matosinhos/Porto Fly-By, while the remaining 50% will be decided at the finish in Spain. With Leg 2 also counting for double points, Team Malizia’s arrival in fourth-place today means that they secured four points mid-leg. As each boat crossed the line in Matosinhos/Porto, a three-hour countdown began. After a quick hour ashore for media interviews, crews returned onboard to cross the line exactly three hours later, powering into the second half of Leg 2 toward the Mediterranean and the finish in Cartagena.

, who’s been working hard on the tricky navigation in the past few days, commented: “As we leave Matosinhos, we’ll likely restart in a solid northwesterly breeze with strong downwind sailing. That means plenty of jibes and maneuvers as we work our way along the Portuguese coast. Gibraltar looks uncertain and could even mean a restart, so there’s still everything to play for. We know we can fight for a better result and gain some valuable points.”

Throughout The Ocean Race Europe 2025, as in every race, training, and delivery, Team Malizia has continuously run their OceanPack to collect vital sea-surface data on CO₂, temperature, and salinity, contributing to Ocean science. In addition, the team deployed a prototype drifter buoy in the Bay of Biscay yesterday morning. Unlike the heavier, more expensive buoys usually used, this new model is lightweight (just 4 kg vs. 20 kg), made with only a few hundred grams of plastic, and built from easily sourced components. It is also far more affordable, costing a few hundred euros instead of several thousand.

“The drifter buoy sends its GPS position via satellite every 15 minutes to the SOOP programme in Hamburg, allowing scientists to track surface currents”, explains 

. “With a lifespan of two months and without the atmospheric sensors of its larger counterparts, it is very much a test, but a promising one, showing how future buoys could be both more sustainable and more accessible.” After assembling and signing the buoy, Will Harris and Flore Hartout, both with backgrounds in oceanography and a passion for connecting Ocean science with offshore racing, deployed it into the Bay of Biscay as instructed by the scientists. The aim is for the buoy to drift out into the Atlantic, and Leg 2 provided the perfect opportunity for this release. 

Science and observation continue alongside racing down the Portuguese coast. “As we rounded Cape Finisterre, we saw loads of dolphins and then pilot whales, like every 50-100 meters either side”, commented the 

, still amazed. “We had actually lost a few miles at that point, so it was really fascinating to see all this marine life and those awesome moments brought smiles to our faces.” To support research on whale migration and to help define exclusion zones that protect these animals, the teams have been reporting sightings to the Marine Mammal Advisory Group. 

Now, heading into the Strait of Gibraltar, they will enter an area known not only for heavy marine traffic and challenging winds but also for possible encounters with orcas. These intelligent and curious marine mammals make headlines for their occasional interaction with yachts and while the reasons behind this behavior remain unclear, such situations can be stressful and carry risks for both animals and sailors. Team Malizia recalls a past encounter on their return delivery from The Ocean Race 2022-2023, with no damage or consequence, but certainly not something a team wishes to face, particularly in the middle of a race. With this in mind, the team stays alert and hopes for a smooth passage, seeing both these remarkable creatures and their competitors only in the rearview mirrors.

Passing Gibraltar, the IMOCA boats will leave the familiar Atlantic behind and enter the Mediterranean, where they will sail for the rest of The Ocean Race Europe. Taking it step by step, Team Malizia is focused on finishing Leg 2 strong and securing valuable points in Spain. “I was born and raised by the Adriatic Sea, so it feels a bit like going back home”, 

reflects. “But people don’t really realise how tricky the Mediterranean is. Everybody asks about the Southern Ocean, but the hardest sailing I’ve ever done? It’s in the Mediterranean. The weather is unpredictable, especially in August, so it will take a lot of mental strength to get through it but there’s also the opportunity to gain some miles, we’ll see!” The fleet is expected to arrive in Cartagena on Saturday, 23 August 2025.

A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!

mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its 

: KPMG Germany, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, and Schütz. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.

Team Malizia and Biotherm at the Matosinhos/Porto Fly-By

Team Malizia's Leg 2 crew in Matosinhos/Porto, from left to right: Flore Hartout (onboard reporter), Justine Mettraux, Francesca Clapcich, Will Harris, and Loïs Berrehar

Team Malizia's Leg 2 crew in Matosinhos/Porto, from left to right: Flore Hartout (onboard reporter)

Team Malizia's Leg 2 crew in Matosinhos/Porto

Co-skipper Loïs Berrehar hand-steering Malizia - Seaexplorer in Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Skipper Will Harris before deploying the prototype drifter buoy in the Bay of Biscay on 19 August 2025

Skipper Will Harris before deploying the prototype drifter buoy in the Bay of Biscay on 19 August 2025 © Flore Hartout | Team Malizia

Onboard reporter Flore Hartout capturing photos yesterday of Team Malizia's frequent companions, the dolphins

Onboard reporter Flore Hartout capturing photos yesterday of Team Malizia's frequent companions, the dolphins © Flore Hartout | Team Malizia

After a three-hour stop, Team Malizia is back racing in Leg 2 towards Cartagena

Arrival order of boats in Matosinhos/Porto:

Team AMAALA (not arrived at time of publication)

Provisional overall leaderboard at the Leg 2 Matosinhos/Porto Fly-By: 

Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive – 6 points

Team AMAALA – 3 points (not counting Leg 2 points yet as not arrived by publication)