Impressive final decides winners of The Ocean Race Europe

In the inshore finale Offshore Team Germany and Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team raised with the victory of The Ocean Race Europe. 

After three weeks of intense offshore and inshore racing that has seen The Ocean Race Europe’s fleet race over 2,000 nautical miles from France to Italy, the inaugural edition of this event came to an end on Saturday. The leaderboard was so tight both the IMOCA and VO65 divisions had to battle it out during the coastal race.

The winner takes it all

The Coastal Race, disputed in Genova, Italy, became the decisive moment for both divisions of The Ocean Race Europe. The top three finishers would receive important bonus points (three points for the first, two for the second and one for the third) with the podium positions unclear. 

The leaders of each class, Offshore Team Germany (GER) and Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team (POR) confirmed the first position as the IMOCA 60 and design vo65s winners of this first edition of the race after an exciting final day in Genova. 

The VO65 class

All boats wanted to perform perfectly during the coastal race, but the aggressive start forced two boats - Sailing Team Poland and The Austrian Ocean Race Project - to tack around after being forced outside the committee boat end of the start line. 

Staying clear of all this trouble, the Mirpuri Ocean Racing Team under their racing for the planet slogan sailed off the line and into a clear lead. They held on to this early advantage to take the coastal race win and seal their victory in The Ocean Race Europe. Sailing Team Poland came in second in the inshore race as they were tied on points with the AkzoNobel Ocean Racing team led by Chris Nicholson. 

The IMOCA 60 division

Meanwhile, in the foiling IMOCA 60 class the race between Robert Stanjek’s Offshore Team Germany and Thomas Ruyant’s LinkedOut for the second place would decide the overall top spot in the competition. 

Offshore Team Germany led the first two legs of the course but dropped on the final leg behind the American team 11th Hour Racing Team. The advancing LinkedOut became a threat for the German boat who kept holding on to win the race by a small margin. 

“I’m super happy. I’ve prepared this team for four or five years and I’m so happy we managed to do so well,” Stanjek, Offshore Team Germany skipper. 

The Ocean Race Europe leaderboards

IMOCA

1. Offshore Team Germany -- 16 points
2. 11th Hour Racing Team -- 15 points
3. LinkedOut -- 14 points
4. CORUM L' Epargne -- 7 points
5. Bureau Vallée -- 5 points

VO65

1. Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team -- 21 points
2. Sailing Poland -- 17 points
3. AkzoNobel Ocean Racing -- 17 points
4. Team Childhood I -- 12 points
5. The Austrian Ocean Race Project -- 10 points
6. Viva México -- 9 points
7. AmberSail-2 -- 9 points