02
Aug 23
Best Of Ocean Race: Alicante, Build Up To The Start
The Ocean Race came to an end at the beginning of July and the team is taking a well-deserved rest but this doesn’t mean that you have to miss us over the summer! We have prepared a series of photo articles that we will share one by one in the coming weeks - so that you can relive the last 6 months of incredible racing around the world with some of the most memorable images!
by Hélène Katz
Malizia - Seaexplorer's from the sky: The refit in Alicante is short and intense to get the boat ready for the start of The Ocean Race
© Jimmy Horel / Team Malizia
"The foils are broken": The awful news just came in, our foils are damaged and can't be used for The Ocean Race. We are very close to loosing everything only a couple of weeks before the start. Our Head of Composite Clément Caumont and Rebecca Sainson from the Design Office were amongst the many team members actively involved in trying to find a solution.
© Jimmy Horel / Team Malizia
But we were very lucky and had the opportunity to fall back on another pair of new foils - normally it takes half a year to manufacture them. The team pulled off an incredible amount of work, even having to work over Christmas.
© Jimmy Horel / Team Malizia
Moment of truth: The new foils being fitted only days before the start of the race.
© Jimmy Horel / Team Malizia
Foils in, let's race! Thanks to the tremendous work of the team, we managed to pull this off, turn bad news around and be back on the water for the Alicante In-Port Race, the first event of this year's Ocean Race.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
The fleet of five IMOCA boats racing against each other for the first time during the Alicante In-Port Race.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
Back in race mode: A focussed Boris Herrmann onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer during the Alicante In-Port Race. The crew stayed towards the back of the fleet during the first part of the race...
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
... And eventually overtook the competitors to take the win! A fantastic moment of celebration for the team after a stressful month of refit and a last-minute foil replacement. What a great way to kick-off The Ocean Race 2022-2023.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
A happy Team Malizia in Alicante, a few days before the start of Leg 1.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
The Alicante stopover was the opportunity to host our first of many My Ocean Challenge kids event! After a speech by Boris on Ocean protection and solutions to the climate crisis, the children enjoyed a boat tour with team members, discovering the boat that would see their favourite sailors compete around the world..
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
Nico Lunven, Boris Herrmann, Rosalin Kuiper, and Will Harris: The Team Malizia sailors for Leg 1 of The Ocean Race, ready to get going!
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
The IMOCA and VO65 fleets in Alicante
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
The excited crowds gathered by the thousands and came from many countries to see the boats and teams depart from Alicante on 15 January 2023.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
The day has finally come: On 15 January 2023, Malizia - Seaexplorer and her crew docked-off for the start of the round-the-world race.
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
What a start! Malizia - Seaexplorer stealing the show and flying at the start of Leg 1 in Alicante.
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
Whilst Biotherm took the lead early, the four other IMOCA boats were close behind.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
Into the sun: Team Malizia has set sail for its 32,000 nautical mile race around the world. The adventure is only starting...
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia