After more than 4,500 nautical miles, five legs and six weeks of intense racing, The Ocean Race Europe 2025 ended on Saturday in Boka Bay, Montenegro. The crew on Malizia-Seaexplorer led by Boris Herrmann from Yacht Club de Monaco delivered a strong performance on the Final Coastal Race to rise up the ranks and secure 4th place overall.
The Montenegro leg served up a spectacular backdrop to a thrilling finale, with four IMOCA teams still battling for their positions. For Boris Herrmann and co-skippers Will Harris, Francesca Clapcich and Cole Brauer, this final race was the last opportunity to chase down and overtake Allagrande MAPEI Racing. A mission accomplished thanks to an impeccable start, clean sailing and resisting the pressure, to secure their place in the European top four.
“This was the best result we could have achieved today and we gained our fourth place overall,” said a visibly satisfied skipper on arrival. “These six weeks have been incredibly intense and a real adventure for us all. The wonderful part is the way the team has progressed. We’ve grown a lot together and I am just so proud of everyone”.
Under sunny skies and 10-15 knots of wind, Malizia moved quickly into the top three behind Paprec Arkéa and Holcim-PRB. While the Swiss eventually regained the advantage, the German-British-Italian-American quartet kept their cool and managed the battle for the overall rankings, staying ahead of Allagrande MAPEI Racing who finished 6th.
The final leg in the Adriatic was particularly symbolic as it was the last race for Malizia-Seaexplorer under Boris Herrmann’s leadership. With two round-the-worlds and more than 100,000 miles on the clock, the boat is being handed over to Francesca Clapcich for her Vendée Globe 2028 campaign. An emotional passing of the baton.
For Team Malizia, the page is already turning to 2026 and launch of a new IMOCA with sights set on The Ocean Race Atlantic and other major events on the circuit. Between satisfaction for a good result, collective pride and sadness at leaving a travelling companion, another chapter begins and the story continues.
