Three days into Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe, the Bay of Biscay has delivered on its promise: tension, exhaustion, and a fleet locked in a dead heat. Less than five miles separate the top five boats as they approach Cape Finisterre, with Team Malizia holding their ground in the thick of the fight. Since yesterday’s reset off Ushant, when the leaders were swallowed by light winds and tide, compressing the entire fleet into a handful of miles, the race has become a pure test of speed and stamina. Flat seas and a light to medium breeze have offered no escape routes, just relentless hours of trimming, hand steering, and racing within sight of their rivals. At the sharp end, Holcim-PRB and Biotherm have traded the lead repeatedly, while Malizia, Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive, and Paprec Arkéa remain poised to strike. Let’s take a closer look at what has unfolded over the last 24 hours since yesterday’s start…

by Marie Lefloch