Malizia - Seaexplorer crossing the finish line in the early hours of Monday 15 September 2025 in Boka Bay, Montenegro

Working hard until the very end: the Team Malizia crew moments before the finish of Leg 5

Co-skipper and navigator Will Harris back on land after a gruelling Mediterranean Leg 5

Cole Brauer, filmed by Flore Hartout, celebrating Team Malizia's third-place finish in Leg 5

Italian-American co-skipper Francesca Clapcich finishing third in the Adriatic Sea where she grew up

Skipper Boris Herrmann at the finish of Leg 5

Team Malizia's Leg 5 crew from left to right: Will Harris, Francesca Clapcich, Boris Herrmann, Flore Hartout, and Cole Brauer

Boris Herrmann reunited with his shore crew

After a tight battle for the podium on the fifth and final stage of The Ocean Race Europe 2025, Team Malizia crossed the finish line in Boka Bay, Montenegro, last night to claim third place and five points. Having departed from Genova, Italy, just over seven days ago, the crew navigated a demanding Mediterranean course of coastlines and capes, testing new watch systems and strategies while remaining firmly in the leading pack until the very end. With one Final Coastal Race remaining, fourth place overall is still within reach, leaving Team Malizia determined to fight to the very last mile.

Team Malizia celebrating their Leg 5 third-place finish in Boka Bay

Third in Boka Bay: Team Malizia Clinches Podium Finish in Final Leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

The final leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 is reaching its climax as the fleet enters the Adriatic Sea for the very first time. With just a few miles separating the top five IMOCAs, the battle to Boka Bay, Montenegro, is tighter than ever. Team Malizia, Biotherm, Holcim–PRB, Paprec Arkéa, and Allagrande Mapei are pushing hard in tricky upwind conditions, with everything still to play for in the last 100 nautical miles.

A Tight Battle Until The Very End! - Day 8 of Leg 5 - The Ocean Race Europe

Five IMOCA teams are locked in a straight-line sprint to Boka Bay, separated by just 21 nautical miles as The Ocean Race Europe 2025 enters its final days. With Biotherm in the lead, Team Malizia fights bow-to-bow with Paprec Arkéa, while Flore shares life onboard – from relentless trimming to making sure the crew has enough food until the finish.

Neck and neck on the road to Boka Bay - Day 7 of Leg 5 - The Ocean Race Europe

With just 500 nautical miles to go in The Ocean Race Europe 2025, the fight at the front is tighter than ever. Only seven miles separate the top five IMOCAs as they battle light winds, stormy transitions, and exhaustion on the approach to Montenegro. Team Malizia, Biotherm, Paprec Arkéa, Allagrande Mapei, and Team Holcim-PRB are locked in a drag race across the Mediterranean, where every tactical call could decide the podium.

Neck and Neck: 5 Boats in 7 Miles - Day 6 of Leg 5 - The Ocean Race Europe

Day 4 of Leg 5 in The Ocean Race Europe 2025 has brought brutal conditions in the Mediterranean. With storm cells, unstable winds, and a reshuffling at the front, Team Malizia now leads a tightly packed quartet battling south of Sardinia. The fight for every mile is on, with less than ten miles separating the top four IMOCAs.

Malizia at the Front, Challenges Ahead - Day 4 of Leg 5 - The Ocean Race Europe

Day 3 of Leg 5 in The Ocean Race Europe 2025 saw Team Malizia finally take off after two days of drifting in light Mediterranean winds. Blasting at over 25 knots towards the Santo Stefano scoring gate, Boris Herrmann’s crew stayed locked in the fight with Paprec Arkéa, Allagrande Mapei Racing, and Biotherm. A spectacular broach tested the team’s skills, but Team Malizia remains fully in the game as the fleet powers south towards Boka Bay.

Foiling Conditions Are Back! - Day 3 of Leg 5 - The Ocean Race Europe

Drifting in painfully light Mediterranean winds, Team Malizia and the IMOCA fleet are inching their way from Genova towards Boka Bay on Leg 5 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025. After a sticky night of slow progress along the Italian and French coasts, the teams remain tightly packed, with just a few miles separating first from last. With fresh breeze expected tonight, the race is still wide open and every manoeuvre counts.

Drifting in the Med - Day 2 – Leg 5: The Ocean Race Europe

Co-skipper Francesca Clapcich leaving her home country on Leg 5 of The Ocean Race Europe as she departed Genova

Team Malizia leaving the dock in Genova

Malizia - Seaexplorer and the rest of the fleet on the start line in Genova

Navigator Will Harris onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer at the start of the final leg of The Ocean Race Europe

Co-skipper Cole Brauer onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer moments before the Leg 5 start

The fleet taking the start in sunny and extremely light wind conditions in Genova

Skipper Boris Herrmann

Boris Herrmann and his crew have embarked on the fifth and final leg of The Ocean Race Europe, departing Genova, Italy, this Sunday afternoon. Racing against six other boats to Boka Bay, Montenegro, the team faces approximately 1,600 nautical miles of tricky Mediterranean conditions. With a chance to climb up in the overall scoreboard, Team Malizia is aiming to finish strong and secure as many points as possible in the closing leg of their first Ocean Race Europe participation.

Team Malizia set sail in Leg 5 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 in Genova

Mediterranean Showdown: Team Malizia Sets Sail on Final Leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Genova Pro-Ams & Leg 5 Start Map

Team Malizia at the arrival of Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 in Genova

Leg 5 race course from Genova to Boka Bay

Leg 5 finish line in Boka Bay, Montenegro

 On Sunday 7 September, Team Malizia and their six competitors will take the start of Leg 5 of The Ocean Race Europe. Racing from Genova, Italy, to Boka Bay, Montenegro, the fleet will round Italy in another 100% Mediterranean leg. With the ranking still far from decided, Team Malizia is more determined than ever to fight for every mile and point until the finish in the Adriatic.

Boris Herrmann onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer during Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

How To Follow The Leg 5 Start Of The Ocean Race Europe In Genova

230 students ages 11-18 joined Team Malizia for an hour of Ocean education!

Students from the International School of Genova join for a tour of the Malizia - Seaexplorer racing yacht.

Team Malizia's My Ocean Challenge hosted an educational event in the city of Genova to inspire Ocean and climate action! 230 children aged 11-18 from the International School of Genova joined this event.

The Race On Land - My Ocean Challenge Kids Event in Genova

Malizia - Seaexplorer flying along the Italian coast near Genova

Skipper Boris Herrmann on arrival in Genova, Italy

The Team Malizia crew shortly after the Leg 4 finish line in Genova during The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Team Malizia's Italian co-skipper Francesca Clapcich is back in Genova

From left to right: Boris Herrmann, Cole Brauer, Loïs Berrehar, Francesca Clapcich, and Flore Hartout

Malizia Explorer in front of the coast of Genova, Italy

“Not the result we wanted, but more determined than ever” - Team Malizia has crossed the finish line of Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 in sixth place after an intense Mediterranean race from Nice, France, to Genova, Italy. Despite the result, the crew remained focused and spirited, fighting for every mile until the finish. Skipper Boris Herrmann and his team are now taking a short break in Italy before regrouping and setting their sights on the next leg, more motivated than ever to deliver a strong result.

Team Malizia Completes Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 In Sixth Place

Team Malizia Finishes Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 In Sixth Place

After a tricky first night at sea, Team Malizia is feeling the sting of a risky strategy that didn’t pay off. Cole Brauer summed it up candidly: the team gambled on a shorter route to slip south of a low-pressure system, but when the breeze filled in from the west, their rivals took off while Malizia sat stalled in light airs.

Our Strategy Didn't Pay Off - Day 2 - Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 

 Disappointing Day At Sea - Day 2 - Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 

Leg 4 Start line in Nice, France

Team Malizia's sailors for Leg 4 from Nice to Genova

Malizia - Seaexplorer arriving in Nice on 29 August 2025

On Tuesday 26 August, the fleet lines up once again in Cartagena, Spain, for the 650-nautical-mile sprint to Nice, France. With a zig-zag route through the Mediterranean and key strategic decisions to make as they approach the Balearic Islands, Team Malizia is ready to fight for crucial points and give it their all.

Parade of the Imoca followed by Pointus (Regional fishing boat) before the Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 in Nice, France on August 30, 2025

How To Follow The Leg 4 Start Of The Ocean Race Europe In Nice

Malizia - Seaexplorer at the Leg 3 arrival in Nice, France

Malizia - Seaexplorer docking-in in Nice, France

Cole Brauer, Francesca Clapcich, Loïs Berrehar, and Boris Herrmann

Boris Herrmann

Team Malizia in Nice

Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia completed Leg 3 of The Ocean Race Europe on Friday morning, finishing in fifth place after a 650-nautical-mile sprint from Cartagena, Spain, to Nice, France. The team faced shifting winds, sweltering heat, and intense tactical duels with their rivals, arriving two and a half hours behind leg winner Biotherm. They are now focusing on recovering during a short stopover before the Leg 4 start to Genova.

Team Malizia at the Leg 3 arrival in Nice this Friday morning

Team Malizia Finishes Fifth in Leg 3 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Leg 3 is heating up in every sense. While Biotherm and Team Holcim-PRB have edged slightly ahead, Team Malizia remains locked in a fierce three-boat battle with Allagrande Mapei Racing and Paprec Arkéa. After rounding Ibiza and Mallorca, the IMOCA fleet is now pushing towards “Waypoint Charlie” off Porquerolles, where unstable upwind conditions could shake up the rankings once more. With less than 24 hours to the finish in Nice, the game is still wide open.

Still A Lot To Play!  - Day 3 - Leg 3 of The Ocean Race Europe

Team Malizia and the rest of the fleet are off to Nice, France, in Leg 3 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

After a spectacular and sweltering start from Cartagena, the IMOCA fleet wasted no time trading blows as Leg 3 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 got underway. With temperatures soaring above 30°C, sticky humidity, and relentless manoeuvring, the first 24 hours have tested both boat and crew. Team Malizia is thriving in the close fight, with navigator Loïs Berrehar guiding the crew through thunderstorms and shifty clouds to stay on the right side of each shift. Now, all eyes turn to the next big challenge: a low-pressure system tracking north from Algeria towards the Balearics, a weather twist that could reshape the entire leg and decide who reaches Nice ahead.

Hot Weather: Sweating Over Strategy - Day 2 - Leg 3 of The Ocean Race Europe

Team Malizia's final weather briefing this morning before the Leg 3

Boris Herrmann taking a team selfie moments before docking-off in Cartagena, Spain

Leg 3 co-skippers Loïs Berrehar and Francesca Clapcich in Cartagena

Boris Herrmann is back as Malizia - Seaexplorer skipper for the rest of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Team Malizia at the start of Leg 3 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

After completing the longest leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025, the fleet of seven IMOCA boats has set off on Leg 3, a fast and tactical sprint through the heart of the Mediterranean towards Nice, France. With a varied condition course ahead, Team Malizia led by skipper Boris Herrmann, and a fresh crew of Loïs Berrehar, Cole Brauer, Francesca Clapcich, and onboard reporter Flore Hartout, is aiming to make the most of every mile on their way to the only French stopover of the race.

 Leg 3’s Sprint In The Mediterranean: Team Malizia Off To Nice In The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Leg 3 Start Line in Cartagena

The Ocean Live Park in Cartagena, Spain

Guest sailing in Cartagena during the Spanish stopover of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

The finish line of Leg 3 in Nice, France

Boris Herrmann onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer

How To Follow The Leg 3 Start Of The Ocean Race Europe In Cartagena

The Mediterranean, as tricky as it gets

Team Malizia encountered lots of marine wildlife during Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Malizia - Seaexplorer during Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Skipper Will Harris and co-skipper Francesca Clapcich during Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Team Malizia's Francesca Clapcich, Will Harris and Justine Mettraux at the Leg 2 arrival in Cartagena, Spain

Malizia - Seaexplorer off the coast of Cartagena in Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Allagrande MAPEI Racing's Thomas Ruyant congratulating Team Malizia's Loïs Berrerar after a neck and neck battle in Leg 2

Led by skipper Will Harris, the crew onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer fought tooth and nail from Portsmouth, UK, to Cartagena, Spain. After an intense 1,400 nautical mile race through the English Channel, the Bay of Biscay, a Fly-By in Portugal and the final push in the Mediterranean, Team Malizia secured valuable points with 5th place finish to see them 3rd on the overall ranking. With three more stages to go and Leg 3 starting in three days’ time, everything is still to play for.

Team Malizia flying to the Leg 2 finish in Cartagena in The Ocean Race Europe 2025

Team Malizia Battles Through Longest Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe, Secures Points and Eyes Comeback

Mediterranean shake-up: the race is wide open. All to play for on the final miles to Cartagena. The Strait of Gibraltar gave us one of those unforgettable moments at sea, spinnaker up, Africa on one side and Europe on the other. But as quickly as the breeze carried us in, it disappeared in the Alboran Sea. Leads vanished, gaps closed, and suddenly the race was reset once again. For Team Malizia, the night was far from easy. Tangled in a fishing net and drifting in a windless patch, the crew had to fight tooth and nail just to keep the boat moving. Tired but determined, they refused to give in and by morning, Allagrande Mapei Racing and Malizia were back on the hunt, closing the gap on the leaders.

Fishing Nets And No Wind Areas - Day 6 - Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe

As we near the end of Leg 2, the longest of this edition of The Ocean Race Europe, fatigue is beginning to show, and the frustration of the night before the Porto fly-by still lingers in the minds of Malizia’s sailors. As Will put it, “a small mistake can cost you so much” and it has. The crew now finds themselves struggling to close the gap to the podium, with the wind playing hide and seek and shifts favouring the boats ahead. Each missed puff makes it harder to reel in the competition.  Let’s have a look at the past 24 hours while our boat is approaching Gibraltar…

Tiredness Is Setting - Day 5 - Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe

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