Seven IMOCAs are all set to take on The Ocean Race Europe, a 4,500 nautical mile loop across the Old Continent. Team Malizia, founded by Yacht Club de Monaco vice-president Pierre Casiraghi, will be on the start with Boris Herrmann at the helm of the team’s boat, Malizia-Seaexplorer. After two days of high-speed races on 8 and 9 August, the starting gun for the main event will be fired on 10 August. With Boris Herrmann’s experience and a competitive crew driving the boat, the goal is a podium finish
At 43, Boris Herrmann is at the top of his game. With six round the world races under his belt, including 5th in the Vendée Globe 2019-20, 10th in the Vendée Globe 2024-25, and 3rd in The Ocean Race 2022-23 with two stage wins, the German sailor knows the format, pitfalls and pace set by this type of race. Onboard Malizia-Seaexplorer, experience combines with the new generation:
– British sailor Will Harris, who competed in the Figaro class, joined the team in 2019. He has competed double-handed in major events (Fastnet, Transat Jacques Vabre) and in The Ocean Race 2022‑23 on this IMOCA.
– Italian-American Olympic and offshore sailor Francesca Clapcicht made history by becoming the first Italian woman to win The Ocean Race (2022‑23).
– Swiss sailor Justine Mettraux came to prominence in the Mini Transat, she has notched up two round the world victories (2017‑18 and 2022‑23) and 8th place in the Vendée Globe 2024 as the first woman.
– The American Cole Brauer excelled in the 2023 Global Solo Challenge, finishing 2nd after 130 days at sea on a Class40, while also breaking the round the world speed record for this category.
– Finally, Frenchman Loïs Berrehar has made a name for himself since his début on the Figaro: best rookie in the France Elite Championship in 2018 and 2nd in the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2024, confirming his status as a rising star in French ocean racing.
“I’m really looking forward to The Ocean Race Europe 2025,” says Boris. “While I do love the challenge of sailing solo, being part of a team is really special. I’m excited to be back on board Malizia-Seaexplorer having gathered a team of fantastic sailors. Each member brings their own strengths and together we push each other to perform at our best”.
From Kiel to Boka Bay in Montenegro via Portsmouth, Porto, Cartagena, Nice and Genova, the route alternates between coastal navigation, ocean strategy and complex weather transitions. The final leg takes the fleet into the dramatic landscapes of the Adriatic, It will be a first in over 50 years, as The Ocean Race has never ventured onto this body of water. The Final Scoring Race, scheduled for 20 September, determines the overall ranking. Each stage counts but the last could be a game changer.
Malizia-Seaexplorer is built for just this type of challenge, with its planing hull, foils, continuous ongoing optimisation, plus sensors for measuring CO2, salinity, temperature and microplastics in the water. This IMOCA is not just a thoroughbred raceboat but a mobile laboratory working with several European scientific institutes.
Committed to responsible sailing from the start, Team Malizia is spearheading a campaign based on two key pillars: competition at the highest level and making a tangible contribution to science. Data collected will be shared with researchers and partner institutions, the focus being on transparency and impact.
With an experienced quick-thinking skipper, fully prepared crew and proven raceboat, Malizia-Seaexplorer has its sights set on winning this European edition. With a strong fleet of contenders involving 11 Vendée Globe skippers and six past winners of The Ocean Race, the battle promises to be intense.
