Paul Meilhat’s Biotherm (FRA) has won the third leg of The Ocean Race Europe in Nice, France, after an intense battle against Rosalin Kuiper’s Holcim – PRB (SUI). Despite severe Mediterranean storms with winds reaching 70 knots, Biotherm crossed the finish line first at 05:12:14 UTC (07:12:14 CEST), completing the leg from Cartagena, Spain in two days, 16 hours, 12 minutes, and 14 seconds. This victory marks Biotherm’s third consecutive win, earning them a total of seven points and maintaining their perfect score in the race, having secured maximum points in all legs and scoring gates.
Holcim – PRB finished 27 minutes behind, having applied constant pressure on the leaders throughout the night. The two yachts were separated by less than three miles as they rounded the final mark, a virtual waypoint near Ile De La Giraglia, with winds averaging 20 knots. The race saw both teams pushing their limits as Holcim – PRB attempted to close the gap, reducing Biotherm’s lead to just over half a mile before the finish.
Meilhat described the leg as the hardest yet, citing tricky wind conditions and extreme temperature fluctuations. He noted the significant challenges posed by thunderstorms and variable wind patterns that made navigation difficult.
Sam Goodchild of Biotherm echoed these sentiments, stating Leg 3 was particularly intense. He explained that the unpredictable weather made it challenging to maintain confidence throughout the race. “The only moment we felt ‘we have got this’ was about half a mile from the finish line,” he said, reflecting on the pressure they faced as Holcim – PRB gained on them.
In contrast, Holcim – PRB’s skipper Rosalin Kuiper celebrated their second-place finish, especially after missing the first leg due to a collision. “It’s a solid second place; now it’s time to improve and step up in the next leg,” she said, highlighting the demanding conditions and the need for adaptability during the race.
Ambrogio Beccaria’s Allagrande Mapei finished third, marking a successful recovery after their struggles in previous legs. Beccaria expressed pride in his team’s performance under challenging circumstances, stating, “We enjoyed every moment of the race, even if it was very, very tough.” Team Paprec Arkéa and Team Malizia followed closely behind, finishing fourth and fifth respectively, both facing their own challenges during the leg.
Overall, Biotherm continues to lead the leaderboard with 32 points, followed by Holcim – PRB and Team Paprec Arkéa, both tied at 23 points. The competition remains fierce as the teams prepare for the next leg of the race.
For live updates and race tracking, visit www.theoceanrace.com.
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Provisional Leaderboard:
- Biotherm — 34 points
- Team Holcim PRB – 23 points
- Team Paprec Arkéa – 23 points
- Team Malizia – 16 points
- Allagrande Mapei Racing – 12 points
- Be Water Positive – 10 points
- Team Amaala – 6 points
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