HomeThe Ocean RaceOcean Race Atlantic 2026Ocean Race Atlantic: Colman vows to "Mop Up" as Malizia's woes continue

Ocean Race Atlantic: Colman vows to “Mop Up” as Malizia’s woes continue

Conrad Colman's Aotearoa Ocean Racing crew remain 480nm off the lead aboard MSIG Europe, but the Kiwi skipper isn't conceding anything.

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“We’re certainly behaving like we still have a chance,” Colman said, adding a warning for any rival that falters: “You want to beat people when they’re at their best, not when they’re broken down.”

MSIG Europe’s damage list grows: On top of the earlier furling line repair, the crew has now also ripped the track off the boom after it banged against the wind vane in rough conditions.

Malizia’s new boat, another rough night: The autopilot failed again overnight, requiring Cole Brauer and a woken Boris Herrmann to fix it by hand while hand-steering. A 30-knot squall hit mid-repair, forcing Julien Villion out to take a second reef. It’s the second traveler sheet replacement this week. Despite it all, Malizia won the day’s Super Sprint, its fourth win in five days, and leads the cumulative Super Sprint standings by two points over DMG Mori.

DMG Mori, 06 September 2026. Photo credit: Onboard photographer

Current standings, distance to finish:

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sailing yacht ocean
Oceanflo
Kiwi designed. Kiwi built.
Fresh water, anywhere at sea.
Three models · 12V & 24V · Under 4W per litre
Oceanflo OF70M
Model 01
OF70M
70 L / hr
Simple, robust, direct control. No-fuss desalination for owners who want clean water without extra electronics.
Manual Operation
Oceanflo OF70A
Model 02
OF70A
70 L / hr
Automated salinity control, auto-flush, and dual-panel operation. All the ease, none of the complexity.
Fully Automated
Oceanflo OF150A
Flagship
OF150A
150 L / hr
Brushless DC motor, automated control, double the output. For larger crews and serious bluewater passages.
High Output
  1. United by the Ocean – 1327.6nm
  2. 11th Hour Racing – 1329.4nm (1.9nm behind)
  3. DMG Mori – 1387.3nm (59.7nm behind)
  4. Malizia – 1441.3nm (113.7nm behind)
  5. Embrace the Challenge – 1716.1nm (388.5nm behind)
  6. MSIG Europe – 1807.8nm (480.3nm behind)

A fast 24 hours up front: 11th Hour Racing, United by the Ocean and DMG Mori all covered over 520nm in the last 24 hours, 11th Hour Racing topping the fleet at 547nm, short of the 641.13nm record but genuinely quick sailing. 11th Hour Racing‘s boat was previously campaigned as Malizia 3, with Will Harris, on loan from Team Malizia, helping skipper Francesca Clapcich get the best from a design he already knows well.

Today’s weather report with boat positions over. Photo credit: Race tracker / PredictWind

Weather: The fleet is roughly halfway across the Atlantic, with the front four needing to track north over the coming day to stay in the breeze and avoid a developing light patch to the south.

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Chris Woodhams
Chris Woodhams
Adventurer. Explorer. Sailor. Web Editors of Boating NZ

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