The 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe could hardly have started more dramatically. Moments after the Leg One start in Kiel, Team Holcim-PRB and Allagrande Mapei Racing came together in a high-speed collision that sent both IMOCAs limping back to the dock.
For Rosalin Kuiper, Holcim-PRB’s 30-year-old skipper and the only female skipper in the race, the sight of her damaged hull was crushing. “We had to suspend racing. It is very disappointing for our entire team, and for Allagrande Mapei and The Ocean Race as well,” she said dockside.
The incident left a sizeable hole in Holcim-PRB’s carbon hull and damage to rigging – enough to end their race unless repairs could be completed in record time.
The Ocean Race Europe 2025: From festival to fallout in the first mile
The challenge of repairs
What followed was a textbook display of teamwork, resilience, and sheer determination. Within hours of docking, Holcim-PRB’s shore crew had mobilised alongside specialists from Knierim Yachtbau in Kiel. Naval architects Guillaume Verdier and Hervé Penfornis worked closely with the team to design and mould a replacement carbon section.
By 13 August, the team had successfully closed the hull breach and begun rigging repairs, including the replacement of an outrigger stay. Every step was taken under the pressure of a looming deadline: the Leg Two restart in Portsmouth.
“Each team member demonstrated exceptional resilience, teamwork, and deep commitment,” said Kuiper. “Our return to the water would not have been possible without their skill and dedication.”
Emotional departure from Kiel
Late on 14 August, the repaired Holcim-PRB slipped lines and began the delivery passage through the Kiel Canal towards Portsmouth. On board were sailors Carolijn Brouwer and Alan Roberts, supported by technical crew and an onboard reporter.
The departure was emotional. Crew member Nicolas Lunven summed up the mood: “While we may have missed the first leg, our readiness is as strong as it was in Kiel. We cannot wait to rejoin the fleet.”
Back in the game
Just 48 hours before the restart, Holcim-PRB sailed into Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. Kuiper, watching her boat arrive, admitted she was overwhelmed: “It’s very special and hard to describe all the emotions. I’m super happy and proud. There she is, back with us, and ready to go.”
For Holcim-PRB, the comeback meant more than repairs – it meant proving the spirit of ocean racing itself. Kuiper put it plainly: “I can’t wait to get off the dock and show the world what we can do.”
What lies ahead
While the collision protests will not be heard until the Cartagena stopover, both Holcim-PRB and Allagrande Mapei Racing are now back on the line. The restart off Cowes will mark not only the beginning of Leg Two but a second chance for Kuiper’s crew to stake their claim in this fast-moving race.
Holcim-PRB’s story is already one of grit and determination. What happens from Portsmouth to Cartagena will decide whether their comeback can be turned into a podium run.
