ocean racing sailboats

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The Ocean Race – Everything you need to know

The crewed around the world race with stopovers has always been one of yachting’s premier ocean races and, after several delays this latest edition is set to start on 15 January 2023.

The race organisers are also running a new event designed to showcase top-flight, fully-crewed, competitive offshore racing based around northern Europe: the Ocean Race Europe.

The Ocean Race is scheduled to run every four years, with the Ocean Race Europe also planned to take place every four years, essentially allowing competition between the teams to take place every two years in one form or another.

It’s unusual for IMOCA 60s to race with more than two crew onboard.

What boats compete in The Ocean Race?

For the first time ever IMOCA 60s will be taking part in a fully crewed round the world race this year, with several teams set to take part.

The IMOCA 60 class has long been at the forefront of ocean racing and is used for the solo non-stop round the world epic, the Vendée Globe as well as a number of other premiere short handed ocean events such as the Route du Rhum and Transat Jaques Vabre .

However, the IMOCA 60s have always been designed and built with single and double handed racing in mind, so teams competing will have had to make significant changes to their semi-foiling 60 footers to make them capable of sailing with a full crew.

The IMOCAs are sailed by a complement of five crew, including an onboard reporter (OBR) that takes no part in the sailing. Each IMOCA 60 team has to include at least one female sailor.

VO65s no longer go for a third lap of the planet. Photo: Robin Christol

What is The Ocean Race Sprint Cup?

Initially the intention was for two fleets to take part in The Ocean Race proper with the second fleet consisting on the one design VO65 boats used in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

However, plans have since changed and while the IMOCA 60s will complete a full lap of the planet, including seven legs to finish in Genoa, Italy, the VO65s will sail just the first and last two legs in what the organisers have called The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup .

A new trophy will be awarded to the VO65 team which accumulates the best score across three legs of the race; Alicante, Spain, to Cape Verde; Aarhus, Denmark, to The Hague, the Netherlands; and The Hague to the overall finish in Genoa, Italy.

What is The Ocean Race course?

The course for The Ocean Race has a new first stopover mid-Atlantic at the Cape Verdes, before an extra long Southern Ocean leg of 12,750 miles from Cape Town, South Africa, to Itajai, Brazil. This new stage passes south of all three Great Capes and is expected to take 34 days.

After this mammoth Southern Ocean leg, the fleet then moves onto a series of much shorter legs. From Brazil they head to Newport, USA. They then cross the Atlantic to Aarhus, DEN. After that a very short hop from Aarhus to The Hague, NED fore a race from The Hague back to Genova, ITA.

The Ocean Race: Was the latest edition a success?

• September 4, 2023

In the sweltering heat of midsummer in the Ligurian Sea, temperatures and tensions were steadily rising on board 11th Hour Racing. Simon ‘Si Fi’ Fisher restlessly tidied lines in the…

11th Hour Racing declared winners of The Ocean Race after redress

• June 29, 2023

Charlie Enright’s 11th Hour Racing Team has won The Ocean Race after a jury awarded them redress of 4 points in the final leg of the round the world race,…

The Ocean Race overall win down to jury decision after huge collision

• June 19, 2023

The overall winner of The Ocean Race is likely to be decided in the protest room after a huge collision between 11th Hour Racing and Guyot-environnement – Team Europe shortly after…

Pro sailors on their Southern Ocean experience

• June 1, 2023

“I’m so happy not to be alone,” an emotional Boris Herrmann said standing at the base of his 29m/95ft mast, a foot-long gash ripped into the carbon above his head…

640.9 miles in 24hrs: Holcim-PRB smashes monohull record

• May 26, 2023

Kevin Escoffier’s IMOCA Holcim-PRB, competing in the The Ocean Race, has annihilated the 24-hour monohull sailing record by covering an incredible 640.9 miles on the fifth leg from Newport to Aarhus. This…

GUYOT environnement – Team Europe dismasted in The Ocean Race

• May 9, 2023

Early this morning, Tuesday 9 May 2023, organisers of The Ocean Race have reported that GUYOT environnement – Team Europe has dismasted as the fleet race towards the finish of…

Crew changes aplenty as teams prepare for The Ocean Race leg 4

• April 21, 2023

Crew rotation is proving to be a big feature in this edition of The Ocean Race and once again the crews are being mixed up on all boats as the…

Team Malizia wins longest ever Ocean Race leg

• April 2, 2023

Boris Herrmann‘s Team Malizia has won Leg 3 of The Ocean Race from Cape Town to Itajai, the longest ever ocean stage in the crewed around the world race. Herrmann,…

The Ocean Race: is racing under autopilot ‘cheating’?

• March 13, 2023

That’s not racing. It’s cheating. If you’re going to use the autopilot to sail around the world you might as well simply control the boat by remote control from home.”…

Fastest IMOCA record: 595 miles in 24 hours for The Ocean Race leaders

• March 12, 2023

Kevin Escoffier’s Holcim-PRB, the dominant leader of The Ocean Race, has set a new 24-hour IMOCA record by covering a breath-taking 595.26 nautical miles (1102 kms) over Saturday 11-Sunday 12…

‘Demolition Derby’ begins in Leg 3 of The Ocean Race

• March 2, 2023

Leg 3 of The Ocean Race was always expected to be an punishing test for the five IMOCAs and their crews, but it’s been a particularly tough start for the teams…

Wild start to leg 3 of The Ocean Race

• February 27, 2023

It was an extraordinary ‘stop-go’ type of start to Leg 3 of The Ocean Race in Table Bay as the five-boat IMOCA 60 fleet set out on their 12,750 nautical…

How to follow The Ocean Race Leg 3 (and why you should)

• February 24, 2023

This weekend five crewed IMOCA 60s will take to the startline for the third leg of The Ocean Race, on a month-long epic which is likely to be the toughest…

Holcim – PRB win nail biting leg 2 in The Ocean Race

• February 13, 2023

Skipper Kevin Escoffier and his Team Holcim – PRB have won Leg 2 of The Ocean Race from Cabo Verde to Cape Town after a tense battle through the final…

The Ocean Race: 11th Hour Racing into the lead

• February 6, 2023

After an extended doldrums crossing and a larger than usual St Helena high forcing the fleet way to the west of the Atlantic The Ocean Race fleet are finally back…

All about the doldrums or Inter Tropical Convergence Zone

• January 31, 2023

Doldrums’: a state of stagnation or depression, or an equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms, and light unpredictable winds. Or so my dictionary puts it. For…

The Ocean Race: Leg underway in very light winds

• January 26, 2023

The second leg of The Ocean Race from Cabo Verde to Cape Town started on Wednesday 25 January, with the 5 fully-crewed IMOCA 60s fighting it out in very light…

The Ocean Race: All set for leg two

• January 25, 2023

With the first leg of the much-delayed The Ocean Race now concluded, teams are readying themselves to set off on the second leg of of the race, which starts today,…

The Ocean Race: Holcim-PRB win Leg One

• January 23, 2023

French skipper Kevin Escoffier led his Swiss-flagged Team Holcim-PRB to victory in leg one of The Ocean Race in the early hours of the morning on Saturday 21 January 2023.…

Baptism of fire for The Ocean Race crews as fleet starts from Alicante

• January 15, 2023

The Ocean Race start, the latest iteration of the crewed multi-stage around the world race, set off today from Alicante, Spain. But the 11 crews – five IMOCA teams, six…

July 1, 2023 - 4 PM CET

Genoa In-Port race starts in

IMOCA 60 MĀLAMA

State of the art foiling 60-foot race boat.

We launched the first-ever foiling IMOCA designed specifically for The Ocean Race 2022-23 in August 2021.

IMOCA: A Development class

A 60-foot boat, traditionally designed for single- or double-handed sailing, IMOCA is an open class offering the freedom to design boats to be as light as possible to favor speed, while also being solid enough to withstand the worst possible ocean conditions. With the introduction of foils in 2015, the Class saw a dramatic leap in performance and speed. The foils enable the boat to skim over the surface of the water, reducing resistance and enabling quick acceleration.

For the first time in The Ocean Race’s history, the 2022-23 edition of the round-the-world race saw IMOCAs on the start line, allowing team entries with four sailors and one onboard reporter. After competing in two editions of The Ocean Race on the one-design VO65s, 11th Hour Racing Team co-founders, Charlie Enright and Mark Towill embraced the challenge and built the very first IMOCA specifically commissioned for this fully crewed configuration for the next edition of the race. Mālama, which means ‘to care for and protect’ in Hawaiian, was launched in August of 2021.

SUSTAINABLE Design & Build REPORT

As a part of the design and build process of our new IMOCA 60 racing yacht, Mālama, our Team meticulously tracked and measured the environmental footprints to identify key hotspots and developed recommendations for future builds.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT

features / specs

Boat length, carbon footprint, design & build, height of mast, weight of keel, length of rigging onboard, number of sails, number of foils, the making of mālama.

DOWNLOAD THE MĀLAMA DESIGN INFOGRAPHIC   DOWNLOAD THE MĀLAMA FOILING INFOGRAPHIC

The first IMOCA of its kind, Mālama’s onboard systems, cockpit layout and below-deck configuration have all been designed for crewed sailing in The Ocean Race.

Latest News

December 21, 2023

THE OCEAN RACE 2022-23 LEG BY LEG RECAP

REVISITING THE OCEAN RACE STOPOVERS THROUGH A DIFFERENT LENS

December 15, 2023

WHEN THE DUST SETTLES – By Mark Towill and Charlie Enright

Privacy overview.

One Design racing – The Volvo Ocean 65

The One Design era means that, more than ever, teamwork, skill and sacrifice are the deciding factors when it comes to winning the Volvo Ocean Race.

The Boatyard

The Boatyard concept was introduced for the 2014-15 edition, to take care of the tuning, repair and maintenance of the competing yachts, and was made possible by the one-design concept of the Volvo Ocean 65.

Main technical specifications

• 66.830 ft 20.37 m HULL LENGTH
• 72.63 ft 22.14 m LENGTH OVERALL
• 15.68 ft 4.78 m MAX DRAFT
• 65.61 ft 20.00 m LENGTH WATERLINE
• 18.37 ft 5.60 m HULL BEAM OVERALL
• 27,557 lb 12,500 kg BOAT WEIGHT

Technical equipment

The Volvo Ocean 65 one-design high-performance race boats are designed and equipped with the latest communications and safety technology.

Innovative features

The new Volvo Ocean 65 incorporates a series of innovations that, combined, make a boat that is not only fast through the water - but also cool looking and capable of withstanding the toughest conditions on the planet. Here we look at a selection of the new features.

Reverse bow

The reverse bow is mainly a cosmetic feature, in the most photographed area of the boat, but it will also help keep water off the bow.

Onboard media packaging

There are five fixed camera positions and two uplink points, which will combine to give coverage from all angles. The camera and mic point in the companionway hatch will get right in the faces of the sailors. Cameras can be remote controlled and directed, while new microphone locations and systems will enhance voice recording. Key to the project is that the cameras and microphones now have much better protection from wind and water, enabling interviews in the cockpit.

The new boat has an inclined keel pin axis that will be positive for performance: creating a large vertical force on the keel fin, creating lift and reducing the displacement and the amount of drag.

There are eight bulkheads inside the Volvo Ocean 65 – compared to a typical number of four on a Volvo Open 70. The increase means a stronger and more solid structure.

Water ballasts

In the Volvo Open 70 there was only one water ballast in the stern. The Volvo Ocean 65 has two aft water ballasts and one forward water ballast.

The maximum draft has been increased from 4.5m to 4.7m. This allows an increase in the righting moment while decreasing the keel weight, giving the boat a noticeable performance improvement.

We know what you’re thinking – if this is a sailboat race, then why do the boats need an engine?

The design and build consortium

Why do the Ocean Race sailboats look so different? What to know about IMOCA vessels

The Ocean Race features two fleets of high-performance racing yachts, both capable of speeds high enough to travel 600 nautical miles or more in 24 hours under the right conditions.

For the first time in the history of The Ocean Race, the teams are racing 60-foot IMOCA class vessels in pursuit of the Ocean Race Trophy, crewed by teams of four sailors and one onboard reporter.

The 65-foot VO65 Class is racing for The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup over three legs: Leg 1 from Alicante, Spain to Cabo Verde, Leg 6 from Aarhus, Denmark to The Hague in the Netherlands, and Leg 7 from The Hague to Genova, Italy.

Aboard an IMOCA: Newport Daily News reporter takes the helm of 11th Hour Racing's boat Malāma

How are IMOCA 60 boats sailed?

The IMOCA Class uses a “development design” rule which allows the designers to experiment with hull and sail shapes within set parameters. However, masts, booms and standing rigging are one-design.

Since 2015, the class rules have also allowed the use of retractable underwater foils which further boost performance by lifting the boat partially out of the water, at times allowing the boat to move faster than the recorded wind speed.

While some teams are using pre-existing vessels for the race, Newport-based 11 th Hour Racing took advantage of the development design condition to build a custom IMOCA designed specifically for a crew of four – a huge departure from rigging and control configurations geared towards solo racers, and one that allows the team to maximize performance and speed.

Their custom-built boat Malama features 22-foot retractable underwater foils, a three-ton canting keel, a 95-foot mast and has eight sails on board. So far, it has reached a top speed of 38 knots, or about 43 miles per hour.

The other four teams crewing IMOCAs are Team Malizia, GUYOT environnement-Team Europe, Biotherm Racing and Holcim PRB.

What it 11th Hour?: How a Google co-founder is tied to the Newport organization leading The Ocean Race

VO65s are racing over three legs for The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup

The V065 fleet is built to a strict one-design rule, meaning the boats are identical in every way and evenly matched in terms of performance capability.

These boats are single-hull carbon construction yachts, raced by mixed-sex crews with a minimum of seven sailors, and are capable of racing up to 600 miles in a single day.

VO65 teams participating in The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup are competing in the VO65 class in the in-port races scheduled in each city in addition to three stages of offshore racing from point to point:  Alicante, Spain to Cabo Verde; Aarhus, Denmark to The Hague, the Netherlands; and The Hague to Genova, Italy.

The Ocean Race is back: How busy will Newport be and what does that mean

The teams competing in the VO65 Sprint Cup are Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, Ambersail 2, Team JAJO, WindWhisper Racing Team, Viva Mexico and Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova.

Types of Racing Sailboats

Last Updated by

Jacob Collier

August 30, 2022

Sailboats come in many different shapes and sizes depending on a variety of factors. This means there are a variety of sailboat racing boat types on the market.

When you look specifically at racing sailboats, you will notice several different aspects that separate them from other sailboats. You might be wondering, what are the types of racing sailboats?

There are many types of racing sailboats that range from one-man dinghies all the way to 100-foot yachts. Some racing sailboats are classified as keel boats, multi-hull, and even a tower ship. These boats are built primarily for speed, so comfort is usually an afterthought depending on the brand.

For racing sailboats, each one is going to fit within a specific race category. So depending on the type of race will dictate the types of sailboats you will see.

According to sailboat data, racing boats have slightly different designs that stand out compared to bluewater sailboats. Looking at the Olympics is another example of what other racing sailboats are out there.

Table of contents

‍ Characteristics of Racing Sailboats

There are quite a few sailboats made today that are geared specifically towards racing. They have one purpose, which is to go as fast as possible.

Some racing sailboats are advanced far more than the average ones, which is completely up to the buyer. For example, America’s Cup race showcases “foiling boats” that run on foils under the hulls. These allow the sailboats to go faster than 50 MPH.

If you are searching for boats that have characteristics to fit within a specific race type, you will find that many boats can enter different races depending on the rules. The most popular sailboat races are:

• Offshore/Oceanic

There are key features that separate racing boats from other sailboats and allow them to enter specific races. These can be narrowed down to the hull design, the type of keel, how many masts it has, and what type of sails are used.

Size of Racing Sailboats

As mentioned, these boats range from smaller dinghies to 100-foot yachts. Depending on the type of race will determine the type of boat that is being used.

The size of certain boats might prevent them from entering races where only smaller ones are allowed. There are exceptions in some races, like a handicapped fleet race, that will adjust the rating to allow their final time to be adjusted. The reason some races are handicapped to a certain extent is so a captain and his crew can determine the outcome and not a boat that is at an advantage.

Overall Design

With racing sailboats, they are subject to racing against the wind about half of the time. The angles of the boats are still similar to cruisers but greatly differ in the size of the sails to allow the sheets to have a better shape.

As racing boats are typically trying to sheet the sails hard, they are trying to keep them within the centerline. This allows the sails to be flatter and change them as needed.

Over time, the sails will typically wear out faster than the ones being used on regular sailboats. Since they are aggressively being used to stretch in the wind, they are subject to more use than regular sailboats.

Similar Looking Sailboats

There are races that only accept sailboats called one-design. These sailboats are built to exact specifications and are nearly identical to one another.

The reason that these boats are designed is to help combat any potential advantages from one boat to the next. It does not really set itself apart from other boats, but it is a good start to get into racing.

Lack of Interior Accommodations

Racing sailboats typically lack anything special on the inside to help save weight and go faster. Since a lot of features are not available, this means it would be nearly impossible to liveaboard full time.

In most scenarios, a true racing sailboat strictly has one purpose: to go fast. This does not mean that all racing sailboats cannot have luxury or comfort, since boat racing has been in existence since boats were first invented for water.

You would need to find boats that have a great balance between using them on weekends and racing. There are plenty of options to consider for what you want to accomplish in racing and comfort.

Types of Sails Being Used

Another characteristic that separates racing boats from cruisers is the types of sails that are being used. Both are designed for performance but are measured a bit differently. Racing sails are meant for speed, as regular sails are meant for cruising.

Depending on the goal of sailing, such as racing, you could look into purchasing sails that are specific to racing. Would you rather take off an extra minute or two of your time with a long upwind leg during a race or have the same durable sail for another five years out?

This opens up the door to endless possibilities of sail-making materials to get the job done. Most cruisers use Dacron or laminates that use a high-stretch fiber. With racing boats, light laminate sails have proven to be more durable and last longer than previous racing sails.

Popular Types of Racing Sailboats

Since the goal is to be around 50 MPH and have the best handling, many options have to be considered for the type of boat to possess both. Since comfort is not a deciding factor, it is somewhat easier to narrow down a racing boat over a bluewater or cruiser boat.

The types of racing sailboats that cater to you will all depend on your budget and your main goal of use. Each series of boats has its main purpose, with some having a little bit of comfort with racing.

Yachts and Super-Sized Sailboats

Yachts that specialize in racing tend to have a solid mix between speed and comfort. With a fiberglass hull and roughly 50 feet or so in length, these boats are not easily handled by just one or two people like others or there.

With that being said, they are also the most expensive out of the group. Even with exceptionally older models, you are still easily looking at $100,000.

You can expect to see racing yacht sailboats to reach about 17 MPH. Depending on the size, they can go faster or slower.

High-Performance Cruisers

Some boats can do it all when it comes to all-around performance . If you are looking for a boat that you can race for fun but still want to take it out offshore and live on, then you need to look at high-performance cruisers that can do both.

These boats generally range between 25 to 40 feet and are similar to yachts. However, they do not have as much luxury in comparison but the price tag is not nearly as heavy.

Trailerable Sailboats

Trailerable sailboats fall into similar categories like the dinghy and small racing boats. These boats can range in length up to 27 feet but are limited in their height and weight.

These serve a purpose for just about anything to do with sailing, but the racing ones are strictly for racing. Their design is meant for speed, not the comfort of heavy-duty performance offshore.

Small Racing Sailboats

Smaller racing sailboats are built to be lighter and have practically nothing on board compared to cruisers or dinghies. Due to their smaller size, they often get mistaken for larger dinghies even though they typically range between 20 and 70 feet.

These smaller racing sailboats are related to cruising sailboats but are a bit smaller. They are cousins to sailing dinghy boats that are used for racing. They also have fin keels and utilize laminate sails.

Sailing Dinghies

Dinghies are a category of small boats that have a wide variety of uses. If you are new to boating, it is a great place to start learning due to its size and simplicity.

These typically only need one or two people at most and are no longer than 15 feet in length at max. Many of these boats are competitively raced and will also result in a wet ride no matter what you do. You will see these types of boats used in certain Olympic events.

Racing Cruising Sailboats

Cruisers have a wide range in size and length, as they range between 16 and 50 feet or more. They feature cabins for extended cruising and have standing headroom below deck if over 26 feet.

Popular brands on the market have introduced models that are fit for racing. These are great for fleet races or for boats that are associated with cruising. With that being said, it is a great compromise for boaters that enjoy racing but also want to cruise whenever they want.

The cutter features a single mast and mainsail, which is very similar to common sailboats like a sloop. A cutter sailboat has the mast further aft which allows the attachment of the jib and staysail.

In high winds, a smaller staysail can still be flown from the inner stay. This used to be a traditional racing design back in the day.

Cutters are great for both offshore and coastal cruising. In addition, they can still be utilized as a racing boat depending on the conditions.

Fractional Rig Sloop

Fractional rig sloop sailboats were popular in the 60s and 70s, but have steadily made a comeback in today's market. This sloop’s forestay will not cross at the highest point of the mast, meaning it attaches at a lower position.

On fairly windy days when you do not have to utilize full power, the fractional rig allows the crew to slightly bend the tops of the mast and flatten out sails. This greatly affects performance and is a great option for cruising, one-design races, and even handicap sailing.

Schooner Sailboats

These particular sailboats have multiple sails which are protected by two masts. These are known as the mainmast and foremast, with the foremast being close to the ship’s foredeck and a lot shorter than the mainmast.

Depending on the size of the schooner, additional masts can be added to allow more sails. These are great for offshore cruising and sailing but can be an effective racing boat.

Trimarans and Catamarans

Trimarans have three of their hulls side by side and “cats” only have two. In comparison, they both share very similar characteristics for racing and overall performance.

Trimarans are quicker and easier to build than catamarans, so, therefore, they are more common. They both have similar restrictions on space and can be used for day sailing.

In addition, they are not as stable as compared to other sailboats out there. There are still various ways to use them and they make for great racing boats since they can reach up to 10 MPH.

How Can These Boats Go Faster?

Each person will select a racing boat that fits their needs accordingly. If you enjoy racing, but continue to lose against boats that are the same, you might want to consider either your team, the technique behind it all, or the boat itself. Routine maintenance is going to be the best thing you can do when checking to see if your racing sailboat can go any faster.

The hull has to be in top shape and needs to be able to hold tension. The sails also need to be checked to make sure they are not overly stretched or worn out.

The masts also need to be of the right stiffness, as they are bending with tension from the rigging. This one might have to be professionally calibrated if you do not know how to do it, especially since every boat with its mast is going to measure differently based on size and shape.

Finally, the weight of the boat could be the determining factor in winning or losing. Make sure the weight is appropriate and the maximum amount for the boat is not exceeded.

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Born into a family of sailing enthusiasts, words like “ballast” and “jibing” were often a part of dinner conversations. These days Jacob sails a Hallberg-Rassy 44, having covered almost 6000 NM. While he’s made several voyages, his favorite one is the trip from California to Hawaii as it was his first fully independent voyage.

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Practical Boat Owner

• Digital edition

Practical ideas from the Ocean Globe Race yacht Galiana WithSecure

• Katy Stickland
• August 14, 2024

Katy Stickland finds clever design features which can be adapted for cruising yachts while sailing the Swan 55, Galiana WithSecure

Galiana WithSecure was built in 1969, making the yacht the oldest taking part in the 2023 Ocean Globe Race. Credit: Don McIntyre/Ocean Globe Race 2023 Credit: Don McIntyre/Ocean Globe Race 2023

Most cruising boats are unlikely to sail the miles or through the conditions the Sparkman & Stephens-designed Galiana WithSecure has just experienced.

The Swan 55 and her Finnish crew have just raced 30,000 miles around the world, through the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans, around Cape Horn and faced tailwinds with 60-knot gusts and 10m seas while taking part in the retro 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race , held to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread Round the World Race.

The owner and skipper of Galiana WithSecure , Tapio Lehtinen, was an amateur sailor who, at the age of 23, was given the opportunity to crew on the 1981 Finnish Whitbread entry, Skopbank of Finland .

It planted a seed that eventually blossomed into his Ocean Globe Race project.

Rather than offer paid-for-berth places, Lehtinen put together a team of young Finnish sailors to launch a new generation of ocean-racing Finns.

Galiana WithSecure’s crew sailed 10,000 miles on the yacht before the race start. Credit: Aida Valceanu/Ocean Globe Race 2023

Ville Norra is Galiana WithSecure’s first mate (Lehtinen calls him the yacht’s co-skipper) and was pivotal in making this dream a reality.

The creative director and advertising entrepreneur has been involved with Tapio Lehtinen Sailing since October 2019 and was responsible for taking Lehtinen’s ideas for the boat and making them work.

En route from Gosport to the Kiel Canal in Germany, Norra explained how he worked through the design process for many of these ideas, which can be adapted for cruising yachts.

“Tapio is the idea generator and came up with many ideas. It takes a lot of time, effort and work to make those dreams come true; he always wants it to be perfect, which I understand. I like to spend a lot of time thinking about the idea, drawing it out on paper and on the computer, doing 3D modelling so I can really think through each idea to get them right.”

The crew spent two seasons sailing Galiana WithSecure 10,000 miles ahead of the race; this allowed them to explore any planned changes, and make sure it was right for the boat and the crew.

The subsequent refit was also carried out in two stages; the first in 2021 saw alterations to the basic structure of the boat, including building bulkheads, refitting the deck, and removing the companionway from the aft cabin as the boat’s low freeboard meant it was prone to being pooped making the aft cabin wet.

Galiana WithSecure was then sailed from Helsinki to France for the start of the 2022 Golden Globe Race; Tapio Lehtinen, who had come fifth in the 2018 edition, was racing again in his Gaia 36, Asteria .

The voyage to France allowed the team “to gain even more experience and help us decide what should be changed on the boat”, and the French mast manufacturer, Marechal to finalise details of the new, stronger rig.

“No boat is ever perfect. When sailing, you just make notes of those things that aren’t perfect,” explained Norra. “There will be some obvious things, but other necessary modifications will only become obvious over time. Where we fitted the handholds on Galiana WithSecure is one example of that. Whenever one of the crew put their hand out for a hold and it wasn’t there, we marked the spot. When the boat is heeling and slamming in the waves, and you find yourself repeatedly grabbing for a handhold at the same spot, you know that is where it should go.”

Other changes were more evident. The boat’s original saloon was remodelled; the huge dining table, U-shaped sofa and TV cupboard were removed in favour of necessary bunks; Galiana WithSecure was one of the few Ocean Globe Race boats where the crew were assigned their own bunks, each with lee cloths.

The table has stainless steel extensions for support. Credit: Katy Stickland

The bunks are only 60cm wide or the wider ones can be made that width with an extra leecloth – you need to sleep snugly when the boat is rolling when sailing downwind.

“The saloon is in the middle of the boat and is the most stable place when you’re out at sea so it is the best place to sleep. Then the other change was we modified all of the bunks so they are aligned with the keel and not the sides of the boat so it doesn’t matter which tack you’re on – port or starboard – you will never be sleeping with your feet above your head. This was another of Tapio’s ideas,” said Norra.

A lip prevents the stainless steel extensions for the table from falling out. Credit: Katy Stickland

The original dining table was replaced with the table from Asteria , but this needed reinforcing.

“I got really frustrated with the wooden supports of the folding table and whenever one of the 100kg guys would lean on the table, it was ‘crack’ and then, ‘Ville, can you repair the table again!’; so I decided to make changes,” said Norra.

Stainless steel extensions were fabricated to support the table when in use. Each has a lip to prevent the rod from sliding out when the boat is heeled.

Holes were drilled into the extensions so that when not in use, they can be screwed securely underneath the table.

The table’s stainless steel extensions are secured by a bolt and wingnut when not in use. Credit: Katy Stickland

Vertical steel bars were installed through the table and bolted to the structure below the cabin sole and the deck above.

Useful grab rails, these bars also stored head torches. Four holes were drilled into the tabletop for a vice, and extra bolts were fitted to the drawers storing heavy tools.

The boat’s batteries are below the port settee and when fitted, there was a spare 10cm space above them in the locker.

Rather than let this go to waste, this space became storage for the tools used daily.

Tools used daily are stored above the batteries; the foam prevents them from moving. Credit: Katy Stickland

“We decided that by putting foam at the bottom of this space and foam on the top of the lid, we’d be left with an 8cm space protected by foam which is where we stored the tools we regularly needed. You can just throw them in there and they stay in place and do not make any noise,” said Norra.

As part of the boat’s refit, the original chart table was moved into the aft cabin and the now vacant area became the ‘boiler room’, where the crew stored their wet kit.

It is directly opposite the companionway and the galley, which together became the boat’s ‘wet area’.

For extra protection, all of the electronics and electrics were moved from the side of the boat and two Safire diesel heaters and a diesel generator were installed behind the boiler room bulkhead; one blowing hot air forward, the other blowing hot air aft.

Steel pipes were fitted in the boiler room and air from the heaters was diverted to allow gloves, hats and boots to be dried.

No soggy boots and gloves thanks to the bespoke drying system in the boiler room. Credit: Katy Stickland

“This drying system is based on Tapio’s original idea. We fitted longer ‘organ’ pipes so boots could be put on them upside down, and then smaller ones were attached to the boiler room wall for gloves and hats. They were very effective, even drying out the boots,” explained Norra.

Electric ventilation was also added.

The aft cabin had a sliding door to keep it dry. A canvas door, which could be rolled away, was also fitted to close the bulkhead opening in the saloon.

The canvas door, which can be rolled away, kept the main saloon dry. Credit: Katy Stickland

An extra door was installed in the aft heads so it could be used by the crew on watch and prevent the living quarters of the boat from getting wet.

As anyone sailing in cooler climes will tell you, condensation is an ongoing battle.

To combat this, 10-30mm of closed-cell insulation foam was glued under the lower surface of the deck and inside the freeboards/sides of the boat.

This also made the boat warmer and quieter in heavy weather.

Ville Norra fits the Plexiglass hatch covers which helped prevent condensation from dripping into the living quarters. Credit: Katy Stickland

Plexiglass panels were fashioned for each of the hatches. These were fixed in place using Velcro to help prevent condensation from dripping into the living quarters.

An “astiankuivauskaappi” is found in most Finnish kitchens. This is a dish-drying cabinet above the sink which has an open bottom and wire rack or dowling rod shelving and is used to store washed-up dishes, crockery and cutlery.

A carpenter built and installed one with wire shelving above the sink on Galiana WithSecure , with an extra safety catch to prevent the contents from falling out.

The drying cupboard allows plates and cups to be securely stowed while they dry. Credit: Katy Stickland

The yacht also has two fridges; when closed, these provide a 1m-long countertop for food preparation.

But, having so much space meant mugs, plates and food could easily slide around when the boat heeled. To counter this, Norra fashioned a piece of 4x2in teak which could be slotted between the two fridges, making the countertop useable without losing space.

A piece of teak 4×2 helps make the fridge countertop space more useable. Credit: Katy Stickland

Safety is paramount on any boat, especially when sailing offshore or solo, and many of the ideas aboard Galiana WithSecure reflected this.

Steel poles were installed parallel to the upper bunks, making it easier for crew to climb up into their bunks, especially for those sleeping on the windward side.

Safety belts were also fitted to bunks.

Safety belts on the bunks

With the closing of the aft companionway, the design of the main companionway was changed to make it as safe as possible and a doghouse was added over the original hatch, which remained, to make it as watertight as possible.

This was modelled on two of Olin Stephen’s classic yawls from the 1930s – Comet and Manitou .

A doghouse kept the hatch watertight. Credit: Katy Stickland

“The companionway steps from the cabin top used to be almost vertical,” said Norra. “We changed it so the angle was as big as possible but safe so we could utilise every inch of the boat. Initially, we thought it would be super heavy but it has turned out to be very practical. It’s something you can rely on and lean on in all weathers. It is not just a staircase but acts as two ‘walls’ – one for the boiler room and one for the galley. There are very sturdy handrails too.”

I can vouch for the usefulness of these ‘walls’, especially when putting on gear during watch changes in tailwinds that were gusting 50 knots.

The companionway steps, which also served as a useful ‘wall’ for the crew when they were changing out of their wet kit. Credit: Katy Stickland

Norra also bolted a teak rod to the floor at the boiler room entrance which can be used as a support while changing.

“Before the wood was there, we would slip and slide all over the place,” noted Norra.

A teak rod was an excellent foot brace. Credit: Katy Stickland

Grab bags were stored next to the boat’s exit by the companionway stairs and secured with a carabiner to make them easy to release.

Chafe is the bane of any sailor’s life, even more so if the boat is being pushed hard while racing.

On Galiana WithSecure , leather chafe protectors were made for the running backstays.

For running rigging , it’s important to route all the lines so chafe will be avoided.

The leather chafe protectors did an excellent job. Credit: Katy Stickland

Where this wasn’t possible, the team’s sailmaker, Alex von Flittner, sewed extra Dyneema covers on lines where they touch shrouds etc to try and protect them as much as possible.

The engine throttle in the cockpit was replaced with a Spinlock winch handle, which could be removed when racing to prevent lines from becoming caught.

The sail plan was also changed, with three furling headsails in front of the mast, a fully battened main and a mizzen.

This was the same as Asteria ’s rig set-up, which Lehtinen believes is safer and helps the boat shift gears more quickly; rather than changing from one genoa to another, the crew just used the furling headsails.

It also minimised risk, as crew spent less time on deck at the front of the mast.

“To be honest, some of the team wondered if we really needed the three furling headsails as we were not sailing solo and had enough crew on board to change sails,” said Norra.

“But while racing, we understood just how practical they were as we could change the sails in three minutes, changing from genoa to double-header and back and forth as the weather changed. If we had to keep taking the sails down and up, then it would have taken half an hour every time, so we were fast to react to the changing winds.”

The Dyneema preventer. Credit: Katy Stickland

A preventer was also rigged for safety.

Made from Dyneema, the length of the boom, it could be used on either side and hung under the boom when not in use.

The foreguys are run to the cockpit and the leeward line can be used as the preventer when attached to the forward end of the Dyneema line.

The preventer rigged; it can be used on either side. Credit: Katy Stickland

“This set-up gave a good angle for the preventer and allowed us to get it really tensioned. We also used the preventer in lighter winds or when there was no wind. Often in little wind, with your mainsail up, the boom is swinging and slamming and this actually throws the wind off the sail. Using the preventer allowed us to keep the boom very rigid and tight, as well as secure; it could also be controlled from the cockpit,” said Norra.

No decision has yet been made as to whether Galiana WithSecure will be on the start line of the 2027 Ocean Globe Race, but if this classic yawl is, you can be sure that more clever ideas will be realised to make her as practical as possible.

Tabarly’s chart table

The gimballed chart table. Credit: Katy Stickland

Perhaps a bit extreme for an every day cruising boat, the gimballed chart table on Galiana WithSecure does deserve a mention for its clever design.

It was built and installed as a nod to one of Lehtinen’s heroes, French sailor Éric Tabarly, who had full-size gimballed chart tables on all of his Pen Duick yachts; Pen Duick VI has a Harley-Davidson seat.

The chart table on Galiana WithSecure can be adjusted, depending on the heel of the boat. A Harley Davidson seat can also be moved and has five different positions for comfort.

“The chart table can be adjusted to heeling angles of 12.5° and 25° to make it level but we realised that the 25° is slightly too much, so maybe 20° would have been better,” explained Norra.

The Harley Davidson seat. Credit: Katy Stickland

To change the angle of the chart table, there is a screw underneath that locks into the desired position.

“We have been discussing if we would modify this, so rather than a screw, we would use a pressure mechanism so it is easier to change, especially in heavy weather,” added Norra

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Want to See America’s Cup Racing Up Close? These 9 Yacht Charters Let You Watch From the Water

Options range from 200-foot-plus superyachts with side trips to ibiza to intimate sailing vessels catered by michelin-starred chefs. let the races begin., jemima sissons, jemima sissons's most recent stories.

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Next week, when the 37 th Louis Vuitton America’s Cup kicks off in Barcelona with its opening ceremony, the contest that began in 1851 with a race around the Isle of Wight between the fastest British and American sloops (the yacht America won handily) will come back to Europe for the first time in 14 years.

The move to the Catalan capital from the 2021 event in New Zealand will make it more accessible to sailing fans in Europe, and even North Americans who want to view the fast, technical AC75 foiling boats in person. Barcelona has been preparing itself for a surge of spectators for the “return” of the Cup, which was held twice in Valencia, Spain, in the aughts.

The America’s Cup may be billed as “the race with no second place,” but it takes three months of racing and four events for one of five Challenger teams to win the Louis Vuitton Cup, and that winner will race Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup final. The racing runs from August through October, and this year includes a first-time all-women’s America’s Cup as well as an event for the world’s best youth sailors.

Having Barcelona as a venue was a smart move, partly for the gorgeous beaches fronting the race course on the Med. But there is also the city’s magnificent architecture and sense of history as well as vibrant arts, culture and, of course, no shortage of Michelin-starred restaurants.

There are many five-star hotels in the area, but the smartest and most thrilling way to see racing is by water. The vessel options are wide-ranging—from weeklong superyacht charters to luxury suites on a cruise ships to day trips on sailboats with Michelin-starred cuisine. Many can be combined with on-land stays and even cruises to other parts of Spain as part of the itineraries.

One important note: Four zones adjoining the race course allow spectator boats. Before chartering a vessel, be sure to find out which zone the boat will operate in, because that impacts how close you are to the racing.

Here are 9 options to suit the most avid Cup aficionados or those visiting Barcelona who want to sip champagne and watch the AC75 foiling boats battle it out.

Superyacht ‘Resilience’

Edmiston is offering charters aboard the 212-foot Resilience during the America’s Cup. The ISA-built superyacht, designed by Enrico Gobbi, features a mosaic-tiled pool, circular fire pit and a BBQ for a ringside lunch. Post-race pampering comes via the steam room, sundeck jacuzzi and gym, and there’s even a self-playing Edelweiss piano and projector for evening entertainment. The vessel sleeps 12 across seven cabins. From September 16, weekly charters start at about $645,000 (€600,000).

Explora Journeys

The soon-to-be-launched Explora II looks very much like its sistership, the Explora I : onyx finishes, self-playing Steinways, on-deck Technogym bikes, a spa with a Himalayan salt room, Dunhill cigar den and a wine cellar boasting decades-old Chateau Latour. With 461 luxury suites, how was the Explora II chosen to become an America’s Cup viewing platform? The idea came from the top down. 

“I love sailing and believe the Med is the most beautiful sea on earth,” Pierfrancesco Vago, executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group, told Robb Report during a visit aboard Explora I in Barcelona. “We thought if only our customers could also experience [the America’s Cup], we can call it the ocean state of mind.” 

Explora II launches in mid-September, with itineraries planned to coincide with the different Cup events. On October 6, the vessel will be in port for the Louis Vuitton Cup Final and Puig Women’s Races. Guests can take a walk to the official race village and experience its excitement before watching the races from their suites. A 10-night journey starts from $5,210 per guest.

The Almanac Sailing Experience

Barcelona’s Almanac hotel has a romantic-gastronomic experience that offers guests front-row seats on a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45 sailboat with a capacity for 10 guests. Besides the racing, the package includes two nights at the hotel. The boat comes with the hotel’s branded slippers and Jimmy Boyd bespoke amenities. Enjoy a selection of customized Cava Bellinis from the pop-up bar. Chefs from the hotels’ restaurant will also serve up shrimp salad and fennel ceviche paired with organic Spanish wines. The boat can be chartered every Saturday from August 31 to October 26. The Louis Vuitton Cup round-robin starts on August 29 and lasts through Sept. 8. There’s also the Puig Women’s Race (first all-female America’s Cup in its 171-year history) and, of course, the America’s Cup finals in October. Prices start at $2,940 per couple. 

Superyacht ‘C’

For a majestic week-long cruise that incorporates America’s Cup summer races and possible side itineraries in Costa Dorada, Sitges and Formentera, Camper & Nicholsons’ expansive 177-ft C is the flashy option, defined by Minotti furniture, lacquered panels and a hamman. It also sleeps 12 in six cabins that feature a master and two VIP suites. Its chase boat also offers a great opportunity for side trips. Weekly charters from Sept. 18-October 31 run from about $513,000 or €400,000.

Sailing Yacht ‘Imagine’

UK adventure specialists Pelorus offer a private seat on an elegant sailing boat seeped in America’s Cup history. Built in New Zealand by Alloy Yachts, Imagine is a 110-footer that served as an official viewing platform for the America’s Cup in Auckland, but it has also completed three global circumnavigations. Beyond its sailing chops, it’s a beautiful vessel, with a blonde, teak-lined deck, large salon and dining area, and three cabins for sleeping seven guests. It will be available from October 12 for the America’s Cup final. Pelorus is also offering to bookend the week with trips to Majorca and Ibiza. About $101,000 (£79,121)

Superyacht ‘Diane’

Also available from Edmiston, the 141-ft Diane can accommodate 10 guests in five staterooms for the week. The interior is all about soft hues, featuring cream leather and white marble, boasting a bar and plenty of outdoor seating for watching the races. For the non-race legs, guests can take to the water via the large beach club, complete with seabobs and wakeboards. It has a Balearics license, making a hop to Ibiza or Majorca a possibility. Weekly charter rates from September 23 run about $150,000 per week (€140,000)

Black Tomato Cup Package

Incorporating a city-stay, Black Tomato’s America’s Cup getaway includes a day’s private day charter to view the race, plus five nights at the Mandarin Oriental as well as visiting the regatta course and different bases of the America’s Cup teams for an insider’s look at the operations and technology. As a dayboat, its Bali Yacht Saxador 400 GTO can accommodate 11 guests. It sets sail from Port Olympic, giving guests a sweeping view of the city on one side and the regatta course on the other. The boat has access to the blue area (for preferred charter boats) on the front line. From $12,750 per person, based on two people.

Superyacht ‘Quasar’

Camper & Nicholsons recently introduced the 153-foot Quasar to the charter market and what a great way to end the Med season than by viewing the America’s Cup. It has six cabins (including two master suites) that can accommodate 12 guests, along excellent outdoor seating, an upper salon that joins the aft deck area for viewing the races or dining al-fresco. The beach club has a large selection of water toys. Visits to scenic Med ports around Barcelona are also possible on the week’s charter, which start at about $232,000 (€210,000).  

Superyacht ‘Kiawah’

For front row seats on day charters in the blue zone (the third-closest area to the races), official charter partner ac37 Sailcharters offers different types of vessels and packages. The 110-foot Kiawah features a cocktail lunch on board, a specialized lecture from an expert sailor, and an AV system to follow the race in real time. From August 22 through October 11, daily rates are about $34,000 (€30,800) and during the America’s Cup finals October 12-27, rates move to about $41,000 (€37,400).

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Spot the difference

The five IMOCAs in The Ocean Race may represent different design expressions, but the result has been remarkably close racing

To the untrained observer, the five 60-foot high-tech foiling IMOCA yachts competing in the current edition of The Ocean Race may look highly similar in terms of their general design strategies.

But there are subtle differences in how each team has approached the design question posed in creating a boat that will race around the world quickly, safely and reliably. 

The rules of the IMOCA class prescribe a set of maximum dimensions – hull length 60 feet / 18.28 metres, length overall (including bowsprit) 66 ft / 20.12 m, draught (depth) 14.76 ft / 4.5 m, and air draft (mast height) 95.14 ft / 29 metres – that create a virtual box within which the designers must make their yachts fit. 

IMOCA rules also specify a number of standardised one-design components, such as the wing mast, the outrigger poles and the rigging used to support the mast, the mainsail boom, the fin and the control system of the canting keel – and also specify what hull appendages are allowed: two rudders, one keel, two foils.

No more than eight sails are allowed on board while racing. Other than a ban on the use of carbon and a compulsory requirement to carry a storm jib constructed from heavyweight cloth and coated in a highly visible colour, there are no other limitations on the individual teams’ sail inventories. 

According to IMOCA Class measurer Noémie Provost, though, there are few significant sail plan differences across the fleet.

“Given that the mast is a standardised element, the sail plans don’t vary much between teams. Which sails they use and when is more about the strategic routing choices the crews make while racing.

“As an example of that, we saw during the in-port race in Alicante that the 11th Hour Racing Team chose to sail with the J1, while the other boats used the larger JO headsail. This helped the American team to foil a bit earlier than the others in the light wind conditions, because they were less loaded at the bow.” 

“We can also see that they tend to use their spinnakers less, because of how quickly the newer generation boats can create apparent wind. 

“On the flip side, in the lighter winds of the opening days of Leg 2 GUYOT environnement – Team Europe performed better in downwind VMG mode with their spinnaker.” 

As a development class, the IMOCA rule gives designers plenty of scope for innovation and creativity – as evidenced by the hull designs of the five participating yachts in The Ocean Race 2022-23.

France’s three best known yacht designers – either working alone, or in collaboration with each other – are responsible for all five of these yachts. 

The legendary Guillaume Verdier worked exclusively with 11th Hour Racing Team, Holcim - PRB, and Biotherm – having previously partnered with Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost French design house VPLP on GUYOT environnement – Team Europe’s 2015 boat (originally Alex Thompson’s Hugo Boss and then 11th Hour Racing Team’s training and development boat ALAKA'I). Meanwhile, VPLP was chosen by Team Malizia for the design of Malizia – Seaexplorer.

According to Provost the key differences in design thinking across The Ocean Race fleet centre on two aspects: the shape of the bow, and the design of the cockpit area.

It is worth noting here that the only boat that was designed from scratch specifically for fully-crewed racing in The Ocean Race was 11th Hour Racing Team’s Mālama. The other four teams are also planning to race their boats single-handed in the 2024-25 edition of the nonstop round the world race, the Vendée Globe.  

As the original fully-crewed IMOCA creation, Mālama’s design process incorporated significant input from the sailing team, who spent copious hours in a wooden mock-up created to simulate the  ergonomics of the final boat.

Launched back in 2021, it is important to note the American boat was designed for The Ocean Race’s original pre-pandemic timing and a route around the world that would have featured two additional equator crossings with a stop in Asia. 

Back then, Verdier commented that to win The Ocean Race it was very important to have a boat that could perform well across the full range of expected weather conditions. 

“It is quite easy to make a boat which is extremely good in one corner of the picture, but we want to be homogenous,” he said. “I don’t really care about being the best boat upwind or downwind – I want the full picture.”

Likewise, GUYOT environnement – Team Europe’s 2015-generation boat also featured a lower narrower bow entry than 2022-gen higher, fuller bow profiles of the Holcim - PRB, Team Malizia and Biotherm IMOCAs.

Team Malizia describe their boat as having a ‘spoon bow’ rather than a true ‘scow bow’ – with what they believe to have better all-round performance characteristics.

Nevertheless, IMOCA’s Provost believes there will be times during the current edition of The Ocean Race when the conditions will favour both 11th Hour Racing Team and GUYOT environnement – Team Europe.

“Mālama still has a lot of volume at the bow even if we don’t recognize a scow bow shape,” she says. 

“There could be an advantage for both these teams when there is less wind. When these boats are not foiling – i.e. in Archimedean mode – they still keep a long waterline length and that is directly linked to boat speed – even if this needs to be balanced with the slowing effect of additional wetted surface area.”

The breakneck speeds at which the foiling IMOCAs can now cross open oceans precludes the sailors spending extended periods of time on deck. Instead they race their boats from down below, protected from the elements by a solid coach roof.

According to Provost, as the oldest boat in the fleet, GUYOT environnement – Team Europe stands out as having the most open cockpit – a contrast to the other three, which are almost completely enclosed.  

“There are two philosophies on display regarding the configuration of this cockpit area. Team Malizia has opted to have a lot of space, with plenty of headroom, and, unusually, they put the cockpit forward of the crew living space. Meanwhile, Holcim – PRB and Biotherm have kept the cockpit at the back of the boat with a much lower ceiling.” 

When it comes to the design of the gigantic protruding foils that enable the IMOCAs to skim, and at times fly above the ocean surface, all five have have opted for the latest generation of so-called ‘Dalí’ foils (named after Salvador Dalí, with a nod to the famous Spanish artist’s iconic moustache). 

However, although the foil shapes may look similar at first glance, it is clear that there are subtle differences between them that reflect the individual teams’ interpretation of what is optimal for an around-the-world racecourse.

“It looks like the designs have tended to converge – even if in reality we are still at the beginning of the evolution of ocean racing foil design,” Provost explains. 

“The foils that The Ocean Race teams have chosen are a small snapshot compared to the entire range of existing boats and numerous foil configurations.”

Although race rules mandate that teams can only use one set of foils for the entire race around the world, dispensation was granted to 11th Hour Racing Team to swap to a pair of old generation foils after serious damage was discovered at the end of the second leg from Cabo Verde to Cape Town.

Despite all these design differences the relative performance of all five boats over open ocean legs has proved to be surprisingly similar. 

Accordingly, die-hard fans of The Ocean Race will have been delighted to discover that the racing has been tantalisingly closely fought on the opening three Legs of the 2022-23 edition with the boats often racing within sight of each other after weeks at sea.

With more than half of the scoring opportunities yet to be contested, the second half of The Ocean Race has potential for surprises and close racing.