18
Aug 23
Best of The Ocean Race: Itajaí & Leg 4, Dramatic Atlantic
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
Welcome to the Ocean Live Park in Itajaí, Brazil!
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
2 April 2023, it had been less than 24 hours and the news hadn’t fully sunk in in our minds just yet: Our team won Leg 3 of The Ocean Race, and we turned our Southern Ocean dream into reality. Whilst the communication team pulled an all-nighter to share the news and amazing photos and videos of the arrival, the technical team went back to the team house to get a few precious hours of sleep before a busy day ahead. Once back at the base, they emptied and cleaned the boat, and started the dismasting procedure. They then lifted our beloved Malizia - Seaexplorer out of the water and on her high cradle, marking the first steps in a two-week long refit period.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
One of the first things to check: The mast repair. Our Head of Composite Clément was very happy and impressed by the job the crew had done out on the water.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
Another city, another My Ocean Challenge kids event. This time in Portuguese, thanks to Stella & Danny who helped our team for the occasion. Even though it was a rainy day, the children really enjoyed meeting the team, hearing about ocean and climate protection, and getting to see the boat. Highlight of the day: Wearing team members’ jackets to be protected from the rain! A very cute group of mini-Malizians!
© Helene Katz / Team Malizia
Soon after, Communication Manager Helene and Content Creator Jimmy went to the Instituto Terra founded by Sebastiao Salgado and sponsored amongst others by Zurich, one of Team Malizia's main partners, to learn about forest restoration. The famous Brazilian photographer and his wife Lélia created Instituto Terra to save a part of the Atlantic Forest and where already more than 2.5 million trees have been planted to restore the rainforest and bring back a thriving ecosystem.
© Jimmy Horel / Team Malizia
At every stopover, the race organised Pro-Am events, giving guests the unique opportunity to sail onboard the IMOCA race yachts during short speed run sessions.
© Sailing Energy / The Ocean Race
Team Malizia's sailing crew for Leg 4 to Newport, USA. As planned from the beginning, Boris wouldn't be onboard for this leg, with Will becoming the skipper and taking over the role for the second time in the race. New addition to the team: Christopher Pratt (right). Rosalin, Nico and Auriol complete the crew.
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
21 April 2023: Team Malizia and Biotherm are racing against each other in the Itajaí In-Port Race.
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
It was a last-minute podium finish for Team Malizia: The crew composed of Will, Rosalin, Nico, Christopher, and Antoine got off to a tricky start but fought their way back and finished on the podium after two laps of a rectangular inshore course of the In-Port Race in Itajaí. Team Malizia was now in second place in the In-Port Series ranking.
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
The Sailors Parade in Itajaí was one of the best ones, with a huge crowd cheering, music, and a fantastic atmosphere to send off the sailors!
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
Back to racing! The IMOCAs crossed the start line of Leg 4 on 23 April 2023 for a 5,500 nautical mile journey up the Atlantic. 11th Hour Racing Team and GUYOT environnement - Team Europe crossed the line early and had to restart the race.
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
Rosalin in the wind: Leg 4 was expected to last between 17 to 19 days; At this stage of The Ocean Race, about 60% of the points were still up for grabs.
© Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia
French sailor Chris hand steering Malizia - Seaexplorer shortly after the start.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
The man in charge: Will was now the skipper and looking at routings during the first night of Leg 4.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
About six hours into Leg 4, Nico was hit in the face with the J2 sheet when it slipped off the winch. Although able to continue the race, this resulted in him having a large cut to his nose and damage to his eye. This was not the first time the sailor had suffered a similar injury but this is not what you expected or wanted on your first night at sea. Nico has continued to receive medical advice for his eye which is where he still had pain and kept it covered for a few days.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Day 3, sailing along the Brazilian coast. A few commercial team members who were working from Buzios, Brazil, spotted Malizia - Seaexplorer from the shore! A very lucky and unexpected surprise.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Rosie and Chris on day 4 of the fourth leg of The Ocean Race. The crew was happy and relieved that everything was fine onboard. Which wasn't the case for all the boats: Scoreboard leader Team Holcim-PRB had dismasted the day before.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Showertime! Chris enjoying a bit of luxury onboard: An outside saltwater shower with the famous blue multipurpose bucket!
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Will and Rosie in the cockpit on day 7 of Leg 4. Rosie was wearing a headband to prevent sweat to come in contact with a scar from Cape Horn.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Having left Itajaí just over a week before, the fleet of IMOCA boats had been sailing in moderate trade winds. Speeding north, they rounded the corner of northeastern Brazil and reached fairly benign doldrums soon after. Team Malizia had been racing neck and neck with 11th Hour Racing Team, alternating between first and second place. Finally, Team Malizia was the first team to cross the Equator on 1 May after 8 days 3 hours 24 minutes and 57 seconds of competition in the South Atlantic.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Chris hand steering the boat, feeling the wind, and racing neck and neck with 11th Hour Racing Team as the fleet re-entered the Northern Hemisphere.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Small spaces: While Nico was trying to sleep in the heat, Will sat in front of the computer to work on the weather files and routing.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Incredible drone shot of Malizia - Seaexplorer flying in the Atlantic Ocean.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Nico and Rosalin on deck as they were sailing in a storm on day 15 of The Ocean Race. The crew made it safely through the difficult weather conditions. GUYOT environnement - Team Europe however, lost their mast and was the second boat to dismast in Leg 4.
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia
Mast check after the storm: All looked good at 29 meters height! Newport wasn't far away, but would Team Malizia manage to cross the line in front of 11th Hour Racing Team?
© Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia