Paul Meilhat and his crew aboard Biotherm have wasted no time making their intentions clear in The Ocean Race Europe 2025, storming into Portsmouth to claim a commanding victory in Leg 1 from Kiel. The team led from the gun, never relinquishing their position at the head of the fleet across three days, 19 hours, one minute and 30 seconds of hard offshore racing.
Biotherm crossed the finish line at 09:48:30 UTC, collecting maximum points along the way — two from the scoring gate in Kiel and seven for taking the leg outright — to sit atop the leaderboard with nine points. For Meilhat, it was precisely the kind of start the series demanded.
“It was full-on from the first night,” he said dockside. “We managed to hold our pace, keep the boat in one piece, and stay ahead. That’s all you can ask for.”
The contest for second place, meanwhile, remained anything but settled. Team Malizia executed a well-timed gybe in the closing miles to edge ahead of Paprec Arkéa, with the two boats locked in a tense tactical duel right to the wire. That late slip from the French squad cost them dearly in the points standings, though it pointed to a rivalry that will only sharpen as the series progresses.
Watching Biotherm drive up the Solent under grey skies, Portsmouth spectators were treated to a vivid reminder of what makes The Ocean Race Europe such a compelling fixture. Speed alone will not decide this edition. Consistency, sharp navigation, and the ability to sustain performance across some of Europe's most demanding coastal waters will ultimately separate the contenders from the rest.
With Leg 2 now approaching, Biotherm must shift focus from a perfect opening to defending the advantage they have built. They leave Portsmouth carrying not just the leader's flag, but the particular confidence that comes from proving they can control a leg from start to finish.
