The race before the race
Kiel’s harbour was already alive with anticipation when The Ocean Race Europe fleet arrived. But before the first official start gun, the focus was on a different kind of competition — the Pro-Am races.
Short for Professional-Amateur, Pro-Am sessions are a unique tradition of The Ocean Race. They’re not about podiums or points. Instead, they’re designed to let sponsors, media, and special guests sail alongside the professionals in close-to-shore speed runs. It’s a format that delivers two big wins: guests get an unforgettable taste of life on an IMOCA, and fans lining the Ocean Live Park get to see the boats in action before the serious miles begin.
For 2025, organisers even introduced a Pro-Am ranking, adding a little extra spice without losing the light-hearted spirit.
Aleh, Beucke, and a Canadian Vendée dream
On Friday, one Pro-Am crew had more medals than most fleets see in a lifetime. New Zealand’s Jo Aleh, an Olympic gold and silver medallist now part of the SailGP Black Foils, joined forces with Germany’s Susann Beucke, silver medallist in the 49erFX and now on a solo offshore trajectory towards the 2028 Vendée Globe.
Their ride? Canada Ocean Racing’s Be Water Positive IMOCA 60, skippered by Scott Shawyer. Shawyer’s own target is to become the first Canadian to finish the Vendée Globe, a feat that has eluded his country despite two previous attempts. Through his Pathway Program, he’s also working to bring new Canadian sailors into the offshore scene with training, internships, and professional opportunities.
“This project is about showing what’s possible when you push yourself,” Shawyer said earlier this year. “The Vendée is the ultimate test of seamanship, but it’s also a platform to inspire and to protect the oceans we sail on.”
Energy on the water and on the dock
The Kiel Pro-Am delivered a light-wind challenge, but the crew’s energy made up for the lack of breeze. “These boats look like they’re going to absolutely send it. You’ve got to love foiling,” Aleh said afterwards, clearly itching for more speed.
Beucke, who switched to offshore racing in 2022, was equally animated. “I thought I only had to learn a few things — turns out I had to learn everything again. These boats are bigger, and there’s so much more technique involved.”
Both sailors were quick to connect with the Be Water Positive mission. “We live on the ocean. It’s life. We need to look after it,” Aleh said — a simple truth that echoed through the event’s sustainability-focused programme.
Kiel’s big weekend
On shore, Ocean Live Park along the Kiellinie waterfront was heaving. Fans packed the promenade for team presentations, autograph sessions, and ocean literacy workshops. The Ocean Race Summit Kiel brought together scientists, policy-makers, and sailors to discuss ocean health — underlining the event’s mix of elite sport and environmental advocacy.
“It’s been fantastic to see so many stakeholders come together to make such an amazing event,” said Boris Herrmann, skipper of home team Malizia. “I see a lot of very happy fans and sailors on the promenade — it’s exciting for all of us.”
The Ocean Race Summit Kiel: racing for the ocean
Ahead of The Ocean Race Europe start, Kiel hosted the Ocean Race Summit, uniting sailors, scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders under the theme “Connecting Europe for a Smart Ocean.” Held at the ZBW – Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, the event tackled ocean health challenges, from plastic pollution and climate impacts to unexploded wartime munitions in the Baltic.
Germany’s State Secretary for the Environment, Jochen Flasbarth, underlined the need for urgent action, announcing investment in nature-based solutions and a €100 million coastal munitions recovery programme. Schleswig-Holstein’s Environment Minister Tobias Goldschmidt added: “There is no time to lose and no room for excuse.”
Sailors brought a frontline perspective. Boris Herrmann (Team Malizia) praised the Summit’s role in climate action, while Rosalin Kuiper (Team Holcim-PRB) reminded that “the ocean is our playground… we are ambassadors for the ocean.”
A panel on participatory science showcased how IMOCA teams collect critical ocean data mid-race, supporting global research. The day closed with “Making Waves – Baltic Edition,” a call to “give the Baltic a break” by easing fishing pressure to restore balance.
As the race begins, the Summit’s Racing for the Ocean message will travel with the fleet across Europe.
From celebration to competition
Sunday’s start will see the tone shift from festival to full race mode. Leg One takes the fleet from Kiel to Portsmouth, a three-to-four day sprint that opens a six-week, 4,500-nautical mile marathon around Europe. The course will weave from the Baltic and North Seas to the Atlantic, into the Mediterranean, and finally to Boka Bay, Montenegro.
“It’s one of the trickiest race courses we can have,” said Paprec-Arkéa skipper Yoann Richomme. “From tiny islands to open ocean and light Mediterranean breezes, every leg could have a different winner.”
More than just a warm-up
For Aleh, Beucke, Shawyer, and the Canada Ocean Racing crew, the Kiel Pro-Am wasn’t just a curtain-raiser — it was a convergence of Olympic skill, offshore ambition, and a shared message about the ocean’s value.
It showed that even before the fleet clears the Kiel Canal and heads for open water, The Ocean Race Europe can inspire — not only through its competition, but through moments where fans, sponsors, and sailors meet on equal terms, grinning into the wind.
