Team Malizia fourth in the ocean race’s Aarhus in-port race

Sunday 4th June 2023. Team Malizia crossed the finish line of today’s Aarhus In-Port Race in fourth place, after a race lead from start to finish by Biotherm. Skippered by Boris Herrmann and crewed by Will Harris, Rosalin Kuiper, and Axelle Pillain, with Antoine Auriol as onboard reporter, Team Malizia is still second in the In-Port Race Series and prepares for the upcoming Leg 6 of The Ocean Race.

 

“We had fun fighting out there on the water even though the result wasn’t what we wanted”, said Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann as he jumped off his Malizia – Seaexplorer race yacht after finishing in fourth position in today’s In-Port Race in Aarhus, Denmark. “Today was great practice for the upcoming leg. In-Port Races are an important part of The Ocean Race and they are also really fun, especially with such a crowd like today that gives us so much energy and cheers us on!” The swelling crowd came together this sunny Sunday afternoon to cheer for Team Malizia on the dock and on the water during this European In-Port Race.

 

Racing in a sea breeze of up to 10 knots, Team Malizia’s crew composed of skipper Boris Herrmann (GER), co-skippers Will Harris (GBR), Rosalin Kuiper (NED), Axelle Pillain (FRA), and Antoine Auriol (FRA/GER) as onboard reporter got off to a slow start, crossing the start line last, whilst Biotherm timed their approach perfectly and hit the line first.

 

“We took a bit of a risk at the start”, explained Boris Herrmann after the race. “We wanted to brilliantly slide downwind at the end of the start line but that didn’t quite work out, the others closed and we had to get back in line behind them. Half a boat length further ahead and it could have looked good!”

 

 

Biotherm was first around mark 1, followed by Team Holcim-PRB in second, 11th Hour Racing Team in third and Team Malizia in fourth position. Over the three-lap inshore course, Biotherm managed to extend their lead and although they pushed hard, none of the boats managed to overtake each other. Team Malizia finally crossed the finish line in fourth position, grabbing two points.

 

Although the points of the In-Port Racing Series do not count in the overall race scoreboard, they are still important, especially with such close points at the top of the overall scoreboard, as they work as a tie-breaker mechanism. Even if today’s result isn’t what Team Malizia had aimed for, they are still second in the In-Port Series ranking, only two points behind leader 11th Hour Racing Team, and all is still to play for.

 

“There is still a chance to win this In-Port series”, commented new crew member Axelle Pillain. “We have the capability to beat the leader and are ready for it! Today was also a great warm-up for me to find my place in the crew, practice all the maneuvers together. It was great practice for the upcoming leg that will see a lot of coastal sailing.”

 

Today’s In-Port Race has also marked the return of the VO65 fleet as they resume the VO65 Sprint. After racing from Alicante to Cabo Verde in January, the fleet returns to The Ocean Race for the European events of the race.

 

Team Malizia’s crew will now rest in order to be ready for next Thursday when they will set sail for the shortest leg of The Ocean Race at 800-nautical miles. Leg 6 will see the fleet leave Aarhus, Denmark on 8 June, sail in coastal waters to the Kieler Innenförde for the German Fly-By of the race (9 June), to The Hague, Netherlands. The Leg 6 Start is scheduled for Thursday 8 June 2023 at 18:05 hours local time (16:05 UTC). The fleet is expected to round the mark in the Kieler Innenförde between 15:30 and 16:30 local time on Friday 9 June and to arrive in The Hague on Sunday 11 June.