The Jury determined that Holcim-PRB should not be left without points after being eliminated through no fault of their own. Instead, their finishing position for Leg 1 will be calculated as an average of their results across Legs 2–5.
The decision, reached during the Cartagena stopover in Spain, ensures Holcim-PRB remain competitive in the overall standings. No additional penalties were imposed on either team beyond the retirements from Leg 1.
How redress will work
The ruling means Holcim-PRB’s Leg 1 score will update dynamically after each subsequent leg, starting with the finish into Nice. By using the team’s average performance across the race, the Jury aims to provide a fair reflection of their standing.
Importantly, the redress does not apply to the scoring gate in Leg 1, and future scoring gates will not alter the points awarded.
Reaction from the teams
Alan Roberts, representing Holcim-PRB in the hearing, said the outcome was both fair and necessary:
“We’re pleased with the Jury decision, which will allow us to score points for Leg 1 that fairly reflect the performance of the team over the course of the full race. This has been an important decision as it frees us up for the rest of the event to focus on our sailing and achieving the best performance on the water.”
He acknowledged the strain of the process, noting:
“The whole process has been hard on ourselves and Allagrande Mapei Racing too I’m sure, and we’re pleased to be getting out of the Jury room and back on the water.”
For Allagrande Mapei Racing, skipper Ambrogio Beccaria accepted the ruling even though his team was denied redress.
“The Jury decided not to grant us redress. We respect their ruling, even if it’s not the outcome we were hoping for. That’s part of our sport, and we accept it.”
Beccaria emphasised the importance of moving forward:
“This was a tough situation for both teams. Our energy is now directed toward the race itself. There are still three important legs ahead on the way to Montenegro.”
Looking ahead
The ruling ensures Holcim-PRB stays in the mix for the overall title, with their points tally for Leg 1 to evolve as further results come in.
For both Holcim-PRB and Allagrande Mapei Racing, the message is clear: leave the collision behind and focus on the racing to come. With the fleet heading for Nice and beyond, the battle for The Ocean Race Europe remains wide open.
