YC Monaco

Member's area access
logo
logo

Thrilling 2nd for Malizia-Seaexplorer

  • 14 August 2025
WhatsApp
LinkedIn
Facebook
X
 It was a great start for Boris Herrmann and crew on Malizia-Seaexplorer. After a tense, often challenging 1,060 nautical miles from Kiel (Germany) to Portsmouth (England), the crew snatched 2nd place in the first leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 after a thrilling 3 days 21 hours 54 minutes and 50 seconds of racing.
Founded by Yacht Club de Monaco vice-president Pierre Casiraghi, Team Malizia embodies the Club’s commitment to offshore racing as evidenced by Pierre Casiraghi’s recent victory in the Admiral’s Cup which he won alongside Will Harris and Cole Brauer, two pillars of the Malizia project.

Down to the wire

Having left Kiel in a brisk 15-20 knot breeze, Malizia-Seaexplorer had lost ground at the start. For a long time they were lying third behind Biotherm and Paprec Arkéa, but Team Malizia’s IMOCA did not give up.
The fleet crossed the Baltic and North Sea before tackling the tricky final leg in the Solent, extended by 60nm by adding a two-lap loop off Bembridge Ledge to ensure they arrived in daylight. That was the moment the boat found an opening, gaining ground after a bold decision to hug the coast, and hoist the spinnaker to sail deeper at a better angle than its French rival, and turn the tables on those final miles.
As a result they arrived in Portsmouth after 3 days 21 hours and 54 minutes, just two hours behind the winner Biotherm. Seven minutes adrift came Paprec Arkéa earning Malizia-Seaexplorer the runner-up spot and six precious points towards the overall ranking.

Confident crew

Supporting Boris Herrmann is an international quartet of experienced sailors, the English Will Harris, American Cole Brauer, Swiss Justine Mettraux and French-Dutch onboard reporter Flore Hartout. A tight-knit crew, together they showed strength and teamwork to claw their way back up the ranking in an IMOCA fleet where every manoeuvre counts.
“It was an intense race with everything thrown at us: strong winds, calms, currents. We held on to the very end and this second place is the best reward,” said Boris on arrival.

Next leg: onwards to Spain

With no downtime, the fleet departs Sunday 17 August on the second leg (1,400nm) from Portsmouth to Cartagena in Spain via the legendary Cape of Gibraltar and oligatory passage in Porto. Will Harris, the only British skipper this year, will take control on Malizia-Seaexplorer for this next challenge.
en savoir plus