The Ocean Race Europe Leg 1 Day 3: Biotherm still setting the pace in moderate conditions
by The Ocean Race 12 Aug 2025 16:34 BST
12 August 2025
After an intense start to Leg One, with all-out racing through the Baltic and a bruising first 24 hours along the Danish coast, the IMOCA fleet has enjoyed a much-needed chance to recharge.
Overnight, the breeze dropped away to single digits, turning the North Sea into a quiet stretch where crews could catch up on sleep after the relentless early stages.
"The first night wasn't a great night for sleeping because there was something to do every half an hour, with manoeuvres or changing direction," said Biotherm's Jack Bouttell. "When the boat's going fast and flying, it's quite a violent motion. Even if you get to go in the bunk for a bit, it's pretty hard to sleep because the boat moves around so much."
"After the tacks along Denmark, this section isn't brutal but it's enough to shake everyone," said Christopher Pratt of Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive. "The upside of low speeds and calm seas is that you can take good naps after a hard-fought battle in the light airs!"
Conditions began to change again this morning. The wind has filled in from the southeast, and speeds are climbing towards 20 knots, a signal for the fleet to shift gears and push hard to reach the English coast in the next 12-24 hours.
From here, the tactical game narrows. The wind direction and exclusion zones in the southern North Sea have left just one fast lane towards the British coast, and Biotherm have seized control of it. The chasing pack - Paprec Arkéa and Team Malizia - have little choice but to follow, turning the next phase into a straight-line speed contest.
Reflecting on the past 24 hours, Boutell said: "Last night the wind dropped, but we got through a little quicker than the routing predicted." He added that the French team are in good spirits: "Everyone gets along well, we joke and laugh. It's really nice. We even had a beautiful sunset with dolphins yesterday."
Of the three boats tipped before the start to be strongest in light airs - Biotherm, Holcim PRB, and Allagrande MAPEI - only Biotherm remain in the race after collisions sidelined the other two. Their boat has already proven quick in the light airs, and earlier in the leg showed no weakness in heavier upwind conditions either, suggesting an all-round speed edge that bodes well for the varied conditions ahead.
As of 12:00 UTC, Biotherm continues to lead the fleet, holding an 18-mile advantage over Team Paprec Arkéa in second place, with Team Malizia a further 16 miles back in third. Canada's Be Water Positive trail the leaders by 60 miles, while Team Amaala are 94 miles off the pace.
But looking ahead, the race is far from decided. As the fleet fast approaches the first of the Traffic Separation Schemes, which act like virtual coastlines, the teams will be further funnelled together, with strategic options restricted. "Depending on the models, we'll have to choose sails carefully - some angles are more reaching, others more downwind VMG," said Bouttell. "In about 100 miles we'll reach the first Traffic Separation Schemes, where course options will be more limited."
If the current pace holds, the leaders could reach the south coast of England before the planned Thursday daylight finish, raising the possibility of race management extending the course. For now, the focus is on squeezing every fraction of speed from the boats, and keeping energy levels high for what's next.
As Bouttell put it: "There's still a lot of miles to go - and plenty can happen before the finish."
Track the fleet at www.theoceanrace.com