Biotherm unstoppable
Paul Meilhat’s
(FRA) arrived in Nice at dawn this morning, completing Leg 3 from Cartagena in 2 days, 16 hours, 12 minutes and 14 seconds. Their third consecutive victory in The Ocean Race Europe 2025 extends a flawless record — maximum points from every leg and scoring gate to date.
This leg was anything but straightforward. After sticky light airs around Mallorca, the fleet endured a violent Mediterranean storm that unleashed winds up to 70 knots. It was, in the words of Meilhat, “100 per cent Mediterranean – unpredictable, exhausting, and full of surprises.”
Holcim-PRB (SUI), skippered by Rosalin Kuiper, finished just 27 minutes later after pushing Biotherm to the wire. For hours, the gap was less than three miles, with both crews averaging over 20 knots through the darkness.
“It was a fantastic battle with Holcim-PRB from the start,” Meilhat said. “We are really tired because we did so many sail changes and manoeuvres. Only half a mile from the finish did we finally feel secure.”
Co-skipper Sam Goodchild added: “This was the first full Mediterranean leg and it was really intense. Storm clouds, shifting winds, forecasts that didn’t line up – it was full-on.”
Holcim-PRB keep the pressure on
For Kuiper and her Swiss crew, second place was another step forward after missing Leg 1 due to their collision with Allagrande Mapei.
“I am really happy with second place,” Kuiper said. “It was incredible racing – so many manoeuvres, no sleep, constant changes. We could smell Biotherm at times, but in the end they held us off.”
Holcim helmsman Franck Cammas summed it up: “Even two hours before the finish we hoped to overtake them. This is what we love about The Ocean Race – to fight all the way against the best.”
A podium for Italy
Ambrogio Beccaria’s Allagrande Mapei claimed third, 53 minutes behind Holcim. It was a milestone moment for the Italian entry in their first major campaign.
“This is super-hard racing and this is why we love it,” Beccaria said. “We didn’t make all the right choices, but we are improving so much as a team. Our boat flies when the breeze is up, and today I’m proud of what we achieved.”
Battles down the order
Paprec Arkéa, skippered this leg by Corentin Horeau, finished fourth just 49 minutes ahead of Team Malizia (GER). What looked like a comfortable cushion evaporated in the final hours as Boris Herrmann’s crew closed to within a mile of the French boat.
Herrmann later laughed: “From the outside it might have looked like a family summer cruise, but it was full-on all the time. In light winds you sometimes work harder than in storms.”
Canada Ocean Racing held off Team Amaala for sixth place. Skipper Scott Shawyer admitted the leg was “brutally hard”, while Pip Hare described it as “the very top of crewed offshore racing – physically and mentally demanding, but the reason we love this sport.”
Team Amaala, skippered by Swiss sailor Alan Roura, reported the heaviest conditions of the leg with gusts to 70 knots. Exhausted but upbeat, Roura laughed: “We had no option – it was really windy but the boat was fantastic. We love it when it’s stormy like this.”
Leaderboard after Leg 3
Biotherm – 34 points
Holcim-PRB – 23 points
Paprec Arkéa – 23 points
Team Malizia – 16 points
Allagrande Mapei – 12 points
Be Water Positive (Canada) – 10 points
Team Amaala – 6 points
With Biotherm perfect so far and Holcim-PRB and Paprec Arkéa tied behind them, The Ocean Race Europe is shaping into a fight for the minor placings. For the sailors, though, Leg 3 will be remembered less for the scoreboard and more for the storm, the sweat, and the sheer intensity of racing the Med at its wildest.
