Team Malizia delivered one of the most compelling performances of the opening leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2025, surging past Paprec Arkéa in the closing hours to claim second place on the 1,000-plus nautical mile run from Kiel to Portsmouth. The German-flagged IMOCA crossed the finish line at Ocean Live Park at 11:45pm local time on 14 August, arriving just under two hours after winners Biotherm and a narrow ten minutes clear of third-placed Paprec Arkéa.
The decisive moment came at sunrise on the final morning, when Malizia and Paprec Arkéa found themselves locked in what amounted to a private match race along the English coast. Easing breeze and shifting tidal currents made for demanding conditions, yet skipper Boris Herrmann and his crew timed their move to perfection, overhauling the French boat and holding the advantage through to the finish. The kind of high-pressure, split-second decision-making that separates podium finishers from the rest of the fleet.
Throughout the leg, Malizia had kept company with the fastest boats on the water, matching pace consistently across a course that threw up a range of conditions. The route from Kiel blended quick reaching legs through the Baltic with the more intricate, tide-sensitive sailing of the English Channel. Adapting to those changes, optimising sail selection through each phase, and staying in contention all the way to the coast of southern England were all part of what made this result possible.
Biotherm, skippered by Paul Meilhat, had commanded the race from the outset, never conceding the lead after departing Kiel and ultimately claiming a deserved win. Malizia's late charge made no dent in that advantage, but it ensured the podium battle stayed alive to the final miles. Paprec Arkéa will feel the sting of losing a point so close to Portsmouth, having raced strongly and consistently only to be overhauled in the final stretch.
Six points from Leg 1 places Malizia second on the overall standings of the three-leg European tour. It is an early signal of intent from the squad, who demonstrated not only speed but the tactical discipline and composure to convert a racing opportunity when it presented itself.
With Leg 2 still to come, the team will carry genuine momentum into the next stage. Their Kiel-to-Portsmouth result shows that when the fleet compresses and the margins shrink, Malizia will be in the conversation. In a race built on endurance, strategy, and nerve, they have already shown they possess all three.
