The seven-boat fleet of international crews competing in The Ocean Race Europe 2025 has departed Nice, France on Leg 4 of the five-stage race. This leg will see the teams round the French island of Corsica on their way to the finish in Genova, Italy.
Conditions in the Bay of Nice were pleasant for the 1700 CEST start as the yachts, all flying their massive Code Zero headsails, jockeyed for position at the startline before heading upwind in around eight knots of wind towards the first scoring gate situated about eight miles away off Monaco.
Holcim – PRB (SUI), with Nico Lunven as the stand-in skipper for Rosalin Kuiper (NED), made the best start at the pin end of the line, allowing them to stretch away from the pack in the opening moments. Race leader Biotherm (FRA), skippered by Paul Meilhat (FRA), also got away cleanly from the windward end of the line. Team AMAALA (SUI / KSA) started on port, making an early split from the pack as they initially headed offshore.
The course for Leg 4 involves a 550-nautical mile loop around Corsica, with teams needing to navigate the challenging Strait of Bonifacio—an 11 km passage between Corsica and Sardinia known for its swirling currents and shoals—before heading north towards the finish line in Genova, the host city for the Grand Finale of the inaugural Ocean Race Europe in 2021.
Yoann Richomme (FRA), skipper of Team Paprec Arkéa, who returns to lead the team after missing Leg 3, believes that the first 24 hours will be crucial for determining the fleet’s finishing order in Genova. “First of all, we have some wind here in Nice to get us around the scoring gate in Monaco, which is great,” he stated. “Then we will cross over to Corsica, where we expect a light wind patch tonight, before transitioning into new winds tomorrow.”
Corsica is known for its towering mountain ranges, which Richomme noted could significantly affect the crews’ strategies. “Racing around Corsica is always tricky because the mountains create large wind shadows. There will be some exciting racing as we approach Bonifacio and then on the way to Genova—it’s a whole other story,” he added.
Richomme expressed his enthusiasm for returning to the team, acknowledging their strong performance in Leg 3, where they finished fourth, leaving them tied for second overall with Holcim – PRB. “It’s great to be back on board, and I’m highly motivated. The crew did a fantastic job under challenging conditions,” he remarked.
Pip Hare (GBR), sailing for Canada Ocean Racing—Be Water Positive, mentioned that the teams are still trying to understand how the weather will evolve beyond the first 24 hours of the leg. “We’re looking to see how the pattern develops with the next forecast because it remains quite uncertain,” she commented. Hare, who has some experience in Genova, warned of unpredictable weather patterns, including potential waterspouts and thunderstorms, which may complicate the race.
Ambrogio Beccaria (ITA), skipper of Allagrande Mapei Racing, noted their goal is to finish first in Genova, referring to the city as a second home after launching his Class 40 yacht there in 2022. Although the team was unable to compete in Leg 1 due to a collision with Holcim – PRB, they aim to perform well in this leg.
As the fleet approached the Monaco scoring gate 30 minutes after the start, no team had established a clear advantage, with five teams closely contesting within a quarter mile of each other.
For live updates and race tracking, visit www.theoceanrace.com.
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