Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia unveils full crew for The Ocean Race Europe 2025
by Team Malizia 13 May 2025 17:07 BST
Team Malizia's crew for The Ocean Race Europe 2025 © Marie Lefloch / Team Malizia
Team Malizia announces their full line-up for the upcoming Ocean Race Europe 2025. Building on their successful round-the-world experience in 2023, the team led by German skipper Boris Herrmann has gathered a talented group of sailors and onboard reporters to take on the short-format, crewed race starting in Kiel this summer.
With their Malizia - Seaexplorer relaunched last week, Team Malizia is gearing up for the next big challenge: The Ocean Race Europe 2025. The team had already announced part of their crew earlier this year, with Boris Herrmann as skipper, joined by British sailor Will Harris as co-skipper (and stepping into the skipper role when Boris is not onboard), and American offshore racer Cole Brauer as co-skipper. Today, the team is proud to reveal its full roster with Francesca Clapcich, Justine Mettraux, and Loïs Berrehar joining as co-skippers, and onboard reporters Flore Hartout and Antoine Auriol completing the line-up.
Starting from Kiel, Germany, on 10 August 2025 and ending six weeks later in Boka Bay, Montenegro, the event will be a short and intense sprint-format race with four sailors and one onboard reporter in each leg. "I'm really looking forward to The Ocean Race Europe 2025. While I do love the challenge of sailing solo, being part of a crew is something truly special," says Boris Herrmann. "I'm excited to be back on board Malizia - Seaexplorer having gathered a crew of fantastic sailors. Each member brings their own strengths, and together we push each other to perform at our best."
Embarking on her IMOCA campaign, Italian-American sailor Francesca Clapcich begins a four-year journey to qualify for the Vendée Globe, where she aims to become the first sailor to compete in all four major sailing events: the Olympics, the Puig Women's America's Cup, The Ocean Race, and the Vendée Globe. This summer, she joins Team Malizia as co-skipper for The Ocean Race Europe, before Malizia - Seaexplorer is handed over to her team, backed by title sponsor 11th Hour Racing. "I'm very excited to join the Team Malizia crew, and this will actually be my first Ocean Race Europe," says Francesca Clapcich. "I'm looking forward to the high-intensity format and to racing with a high-performing team made up of genuinely kind and inspiring people. On top of that, as I'm purchasing the boat, it's an incredible opportunity to race with the very team who built her and knows all her secrets." Boris Herrmann adds: "Francesca is not only an incredibly skilled sailor and an Ocean Race winner, she also brings great energy and values around sustainability that perfectly align with our team. She'll no doubt learn a lot about this boat, but I'm equally, if not more, excited to learn from her experience and to compete together at the highest level."
Multi-talented Swiss sailor Justine Mettraux also joins Team Malizia as co-skipper for the race. "Justine is another great addition to the team," says Boris Herrmann. "She is simply one of the best sailors out there. I've raced neck and neck with her on several occasions and I can say from experience, she gave me a real run for my money." Finishing the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 in eighth place as the first woman, she is also a winner of The Ocean Race and no stranger to short, high-intensity racing. Justine Mettraux comments: "I'm really happy to be returning to The Ocean Race Europe. I took part in the first edition in 2021 and have great memories of it. It's a kind of event I love, with varied courses raced with a crew all across Europe, in setups that let you get 100% out of these boats." She adds: "I'm looking forward to sailing with Boris. We spent a fair amount of time sailing close to each other in the last Vendée Globe and in other races too. It'll be great to join a new team and experience a new dynamic. I also raced against Will in the Figaro, back in 2016, we were both rookies, so it will be nice to finally sail together instead of against each other."
French sailor Loïs Berrehar also joins Team Malizia's crew as co-skipper, bringing solid offshore experience along the way. After several successful years on the Figaro circuit, he is starting his IMOCA career and looking at competing in the Vendée Globe 2028 with Banque Populaire. This year, he joins Malizia for the crewed race around Europe, where he will be able to showcase his close-contact racing skills. "My connection with Team Malizia is quite recent, but it's a team I have closely followed and I'm excited to be part of such a performing crew", says Loïs Berrehar. Boris Herrmann comments: "Although it will be his debut with the team, Loïs and I have known each other for many years, since he was just a kid. In 2008, he christened my Beluga Racer, the Class40 I then raced to second place in the Artemis Transat and later won the Portimão Global Ocean Race with." Loïs Berrahar adds: "We haven't sailed together much, but we know each other well. I have an emotional connection with Boris, so I'm really happy to have the chance to spend time at sea with him, especially on such a thrilling race."
Another exciting addition to Team Malizia is Flore Hartout (French-Dutch), who recently joined as full-time content creator and one of the team's onboard reporters for The Ocean Race Europe. No stranger to the world of sailing, Flore Hartout has worked for The Ocean Race, sailed 26,000 nautical miles with the Clipper Round the World Race, and the Défi Azimut in 2024 with Samantha Davies on Initiatives Coeur, and is already well-versed in the Malizia story. "It feels as though things have come full circle being a part of Team Malizia now", comments Flore Hartout. "As a trained oceanographer, editor, documentary filmmaker, and now onboard reporter, this role is allowing me to bring together all my passions and commitment towards the Ocean. I am looking forward to sharing those stories with the Malizia fans."
Antoine Auriol (French-German) is back as onboard reporter. Alternating legs with Flore Hartout, he will once again bring the action to fans through his unique storytelling, focusing on Ocean and climate stories. He comments: "It's funny how time is often viewed negatively, when in fact experience is life itself. I've never felt as ready to film aboard Malizia - Seaexplorer! When I started three years ago, I was scared, even though I didn't show it. The Ocean Race gave me strength, just like the whole Malizia team who believed in me and gave me the freedom to tell the story aboard in the most natural way possible." He adds: "This year, I'm excited to be paired with Flore, who has everything it takes to do amazing things. I'm thrilled to share this OBR role with her, and see how she captures life onboard these flying monohulls. The Ocean Race Europe, here we come!"
Although he will remain on shore during The Ocean Race Europe, Julien Villion is also a new addition to Team Malizia. With extensive experience across several projects, including Team Gitana and Actual, the talented French navigator will support the team on land in their preparations for the race and sail aboard Malizia - Seaexplorer on several occasions this year. He comments: "I'm looking forward to getting to know the team and discovering the boat. My role will certainly focus on navigation and weather, particularly when onboard, although in this type of crewed sailing, we are never really restricted to just one position."
With four sailors and one onboard reporter taking part in each leg, Team Malizia has assembled a larger roster than the minimum required, including more women and nationalities than the rules demand. This reflects the team's values and long-term vision, and while the future remains open, the strategy is clear: build a strong, cohesive squad that can grow together over time." Boris Herrmann explains: "Just like we did for The Ocean Race 2022-2023, our goal is to create a team of sailors who get to know each other and can evolve together over time. Even if they return to their own projects in between, the idea is to have a tight-knit crew that knows how to work together, with everyone bringing their own skills to the table. With this approach, we lay a strong foundation for the future."
Under the banner of "Connecting Europe", The Ocean Race Europe 2025 will take the fleet from Kiel into Portsmouth, United Kingdom; Matosinhos-Porto, Portugal (Fly-By); Cartagena, Spain; Nice, France, and Genova, Italy, before the Finale in Montenegro.
Team Malizia will continue its key role in science and education, using their onboard laboratory to collect vital data on Ocean CO2, oxygen, temperature, and salinity levels. Alongside the racing, they will host three My Ocean Challenge events (in Kiel, Portsmouth, and Genova) to inspire young people with knowledge and solutions for the climate crisis. Their programme has already reached over 80,000 children in 11 languages, using the excitement of sailing to get them interested in the environment. Driven by their A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now! mission, Team Malizia will once again ramp up outreach efforts, sharing real-time stories, and educational content to connect a broad audience with the beauty of the Ocean and the urgency of protecting it.
Team Malizia's 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: 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.
Team Malizia's crew for The Ocean Race Europe 2025:
- Boris Herrmann (GER) - Skipper
- Will Harris (ENG) - Co-skipper and replacement skipper
- Cole Brauer (USA) - Co-skipper
- Francesca Clapcich (ITA/USA) - Co-skipper
- Justine Mettraux (SUI) - Co-skipper
- Loïs Berrehar (FRA) - Co-skipper
- Flore Hartout (FRA/NED) - Onboard reporter
- Antoine Auriol (FRA/GER) - Onboard reporter