Kiel delivered everything a race send-off should. Banners lined the Kiellinie promenade, brass bands filled the air, and spectators crowded the waterfront shoulder to shoulder. Out on the fjord, a flotilla of spectator craft sat close enough to the course that crews could hear the cheering as seven IMOCAs assembled for the start of The Ocean Race Europe 2025's opening leg to Portsmouth.
The city had spent a week putting on a show, with sailor parades, speed runs, and generous summer sunshine. None of it could have predicted the drama that would unfold within a single mile of the starting gun.
The 850-nautical-mile route to Portsmouth threads through wind farms, rocky coastlines, and narrow channels at every stage. The trouble came far earlier than any of that.
In the final seconds before the start, Team Holcim PRB, skippered by Rosalin Kuiper, crossed the line at speed on starboard with rights. Just above her, Allagrande Mapei Racing, helmed by Ambrogio Beccaria, came powering in under a large masthead sail. As the breeze stiffened, Holcim PRB broached and Allagrande Mapei Racing heeled hard into her. The contact tore Allagrande Mapei Racing's headsail and opened a visible gash in the port topsides of Holcim PRB.
Both boats turned back for Kiel. Beccaria summed up the mood after returning to the dock. "I'm sad to be back here now," he said. "We only did one mile of the race. It's super sad for our competitor also… we're not giving up until there's no chance."
Kuiper was equally direct. "We had to retire because of damage to our hull. It's very disappointing for our team, and for Allagrande Mapei and The Ocean Race as well. We'll repair the boat ASAP and aim to be on the starting line in Portsmouth."
Race Director Phil Lawrence confirmed that both teams had suspended racing, and that Holcim PRB had lodged a formal protest against Allagrande Mapei Racing.
The news spread fast. Holcim PRB's social media broke the collision with urgent FLASH NEWS posts before following up with steadier updates and a commitment to fight on. Beccaria's own response was stripped back to a single sad-face emoji alongside a photo. Supporters rallied in the comments, with messages such as "Tonight it gets repaired, tomorrow you set off again," though the thread also drew pointed observations that even experienced professionals can miscalculate the opening moments of a race.
With the two damaged boats headed for the dock, the remaining competitors pressed on, and attention turned to tactics and boat speed.
Paprec Arkéa had elected to start at the left-hand end of the line, accepting lighter breeze in exchange for clean air. Biotherm positioned in the middle, finding clear lanes to build pace from the gun. Once the fleet cleared the start zone, sail selection became the central debate aboard every boat. The core question was familiar: hoist a larger headsail early for immediate power, or keep it stowed a little longer to reduce drag and wait for the right moment. Biotherm opted to keep their bigger sail on deck, prioritising consistent speed in the steady conditions. Paprec Arkéa had theirs ready to deploy but showed no urgency to commit. Timing the hoist is a fine calculation. Commit too soon and the sail creates drag; leave it too long and a wind shift can leave you underpowered at exactly the wrong moment.
Navigators on each boat worked through whether to sit upwind or downwind to catch the next favourable shift, while managing foil trim and apparent wind angles to keep speeds pushing above 20 knots. Looming ahead were the Danish straits, a cluster of wind farms, and the Great Belt Bridge, each one capable of reshuffling the order.
The Kiel Lighthouse scoring gate gave the fleet its first opportunity to bank points. Biotherm converted their strong start position, sharp sail trim, and smart lane management into two bonus points at the gate. Paprec Arkéa crossed next for one point, with Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive taking third through the gate.
As night settled in, Biotherm had built that early advantage into an overall lead. Paprec Arkéa held second, still well within reach. Team Malizia had worked their way into third through a composed opening stint. Be Water Positive sat fourth, Team Amaala fifth. Holcim PRB and Allagrande Mapei Racing remained classified sixth and seventh respectively, both racing against the clock to rejoin the fleet.
Biotherm's decision to hold back on the extra sail early was delivering steady, sustainable pace. Paprec Arkéa's measured readiness kept them close enough to pounce. Team Malizia's rise through the order showed how well-timed gear changes can accumulate into meaningful positions over an opening night. With forecasters predicting lighter winds north of Denmark, adaptability in both sail plan and mindset will only grow in importance as the fleet closes on Portsmouth.
The leg is only hours old, and it has already delivered a sharp reminder of what this race can throw at you. In The Ocean Race Europe, a single mile is enough to change everything.
