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Boris Herrmann

We compete on the highest level in the toughest races, inspire action & create awareness and highlight solutions to the climate crisis.

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Team Malizia's sailing crew for Leg 4 (from left to right): Antoine Auriol, Nico Lunven, Will Harris, Rosalin Kuiper, and Christopher Pratt

Team Malizia's sailing crew for Leg 4 (from left to right): Antoine Auriol, Nico Lunven, Will Harris, Rosalin Kuiper, and Christopher Pratt © Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia

skipper Will Harris (GBR), co-skippers Rosalin Kuiper (NED), Nico Lunven (FRA) and Christopher Pratt (FRA), 

 onboard reporter Antoine Auriol (FRA/GER)

 set sail on the fourth leg of the iconic round-the-world race. Aboard their 

race yacht, the international team crossed the start line in Itajaí, Brazil, at 13:15 local time (1615 UTC, 1815 CEST). 

, the fleet of five IMOCA boats sailed through the leaving gate and started their 

, Rhode Island, USA. About 60% of the points are still up for grabs at the start of Leg 4 of The Ocean Race and Team Malizia is currently second on the overall scoreboard. 

“We are feeling very ready”, commented 

 on the morning of the start. “This stopover has been amazing, the team has done a great job in preparing the boat, especially after the long Southern Ocean leg. The Brazilians were very welcoming too, which was great to experience. I am confident in the team, in the boat and in our preparation. Now, what’s left to do is to step on our 

 and perform at our best on the water.”

, whom Will Harris is replacing as skipper for the second time in this round-the-world race, he wrote: “Thanks for your encouragement, Boris. We are going to sail a clean race, the shore team has done a great job with the boat. We will miss having you onboard but Chris is bringing a nice fresh view on things too, see you in Newport.”

 added that she is even more ready to give it her all and to perform at the top of her game. 

 said: “I’m excited to sail on this boat with this crew, but unfortunately that also means that the ten days of getting to know the whole Malizia team on shore is coming to an end. I felt very welcomed and am now even more motivated to sail fast towards the USA.” Feeling energised by the very large cheering crowd, the team stepped onboard 

, ready to score points in their new crew configuration.

Alternating between sunny and cloudy weather, Leg 4 started in about 10 knots of wind and flat seas. All boats were very close on the start line, but 11th Hour Racing Team and Guyot Environnement - Team Europe crossed it early by the slightest margin, meaning that they had to return and 

 for most of the first lap behind Biotherm and in front of Team Holcim-PRB. Holding on to that position until just before mark 5, the crew got 

 by Team Holcim-PRB, whilst Biotherm extended their lead throughout most of the second lap. With the boats sailing between 11 to 13 knots, 

Biotherm led the fleet through the leaving gate

, with Team Malizia in third, with Guyot Environnement - Team Europe in fourth and 11th Hour Racing Team in fifth position. 

The next section of the race towards the Northern Hemisphere will see the crew face 

 already a few hours after the start. They could either go offshore or stay along the Brazilian coast, facing upwind sailing in both cases. Either way, all routing options rejoin near Recife, with a good chance of a 

. Once the boats are around the corner of Brazil, they will 

 face very light winds, have to avoid getting entangled in 

. In the North Hemisphere, the fleet will face the 

. Even the last two days before reaching Newport could be tricky, with potentially 

. Leg 4 of The Ocean Race is expected to last between 

A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!

 mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its seven main partners, many of whom were welcomed by the team in Brazil: Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, and EFG International. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.

Malizia - Seaexplorer and her onboard reporter Antoine Auriol in front of Itajaí, Brazil, at the start of Leg 4

Team Malizia racing at the start of Leg 4 in Itajaí, Brazil

Skipper Will Harris and co-skipper Christopher Pratt in the cockpit of Malizia - Seaexplorer

Skipper Will Harris and co-skipper Christopher Pratt in the cockpit of 

The fleet of five IMOCA at the start of Leg 4 of The Ocean Race

Co-skipper Rosalin Kuiper is ready to give her all in Leg 4 of The Ocean Race

Team Malizia crossed the start line of Leg 4 of The Ocean Race in Itajaí, Brazil, at 13:15 hours local time (1615 UTC, 1815 CEST) this Sunday 23 April 2023. After two laps of an inshore race course led by Biotherm, Malizia - Seaexplorer went through the leaving gate in third position, and set sail for a 5,500 nautical mile journey from Itajaí, Brazil to Newport, USA.