| The Ocean Race Europe | |
| Image Upright: | 1.3 |
| Start: | Lorient, France (2021) |
| Finish: | Genoa, Italy (2021) |
| Competitors: | 12 |
| Legs: | 4 |
The Ocean Race Europe is an offshore yacht race around Europe created and run by the organisers of The Ocean Race.[1] [2] Its inaugural edition is the 2021 Ocean Race Europe, which began 25 May 2021 as a three-leg course from Lorient, France to Genoa, Italy. A second edition is planned for 2025[3]
The Ocean Race Europe is planned to take place every four years, with a two-year interval between installments of The Ocean Race Europe and The Ocean Race. This would allow teams to take part in an Ocean Race-related competition every two years.[4]
In 2018, The Ocean Race was taken under new ownership by The Ocean Race 1973 SLU,[5] a successor company to Atlant Ocean Racing.[6] This ended the twenty-year-long period of ownership of The Ocean Race by the Volvo Group and Volvo Cars, although Volvo was retained as a sponsor[7] and premier partner. A ten-year plan confirming future editions of The Ocean Race on a four-year cycle was announced in July 2020.[8]
After the 2021 Ocean Race was postponed to 2022-23 because of the COVID-19 pandemic,[9] the event's owners carried out a feasibility study on a potential European race in 2021.[10] The 2021 Ocean Race Europe was announced in October 2020,[11] [12] with entries opening in January 2021.[13] Twelve teams were announced for the 2021 Ocean Race Europe; seven teams competed in Volvo Ocean 65s (VO65s), while five others competed in IMOCA 60s.[14]
See main article: IMOCA 60 and Volvo Ocean 65.
The 2021 Ocean Race Europe used foiling IMOCA 60s and the one-design VO65s. The two classes compete at the same time and along the same route, with separate winners and prizes in each class. All boats are fully-crewed and have female crew members on board.[15] Both the IMOCA 60s and VO65s will contest the 2023 Ocean Race.
| Edition | Class | Legs | In-port races | Entries | Start | Finish | Winning yacht | Winning skipper | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IMOCA 60 | 3 | 2 | 5 |  Lorient | Offshore Team Germany [16] | Robert Stanjek | ||
| Volvo Ocean 65 | 7 | Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team | Yoann Richomme | ||||||
| 2025 | IMOCA 60 | 5 | TBA | TBA | Kiel |  Boka Bay | TBA | TBA |
The 2021 Ocean Race Europe began 25 May 2021 on a three-leg course from Lorient to Genoa, with stops in Cascais, Portugal and Alicante, Spain.
| 01 | Leg 1 | 29 May 2021 | ||
| 02 | In-port race | 5 June 2021 | Cascais "Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy" | |
| 03 | Leg 2 | 6 June 2021 | Cascais → Alicante | |
| 04 | Leg 3 | 13 June 2021 | Alicante →  Genoa | |
| 05 | In-port race | 19 June 2021 | Genoa "Genova Coastal Race" |
The first leg of the 2021 Ocean Race Europe, from Lorient to Cascais, commenced on 29 May 2021. It was won in the IMOCA 60 class by CORUM L'Épargne,[20] and in the VO65 class by The Austrian Ocean Race Project.[21] [22]
The first of two coastal races was held in Cascais on 5 June 2021. It was won in the IMOCA 60 class by Offshore Team Germany,[23] and in the VO65 class by Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team.[24]
The second leg of the 2021 Ocean Rage Europe, from Cascais to Alicante, commenced on 6 June 2021.[25] 11th Hour Racing Team were forced to return to Cascais after a collision that damaged their port foil.[26] The team resumed racing later that same day after their damaged foil was removed.[27]
| Skipper | Leg 1 | In-port race | Leg 2 | Leg 3 | In-port race | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volvo Ocean 65 class | ||||||||
| Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team | Yoann Richomme | 1 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 21 | |
 Sailing Poland | Bouwe Bekking | 4 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 17 | |
| AkzoNobel Ocean Racing | Chris Nicholson | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 17 | |
  Team Childhood I | Simeon Tienpont | 5 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 12 | |
 The Austrian Ocean Race Project | Gerwin Jansen | 7 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | |
 Viva México | Erik Brockmann | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
 Ambersail 2 | Rokas Milevičius | 6 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | |
| IMOCA 60 class | ||||||||
| Offshore Team Germany | Robert Stanjek | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 16 | |
 11th Hour Racing Team | Charlie Enright | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 15 | |
| LinkedOut | Thomas Ruyant | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 14 | |
| CORUM L' Épargne | Nicolas Troussel | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | |
| Bureau Vallée | Louis Burton | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | |
| Source:[28] | ||||||||
A second edition has been announced for 2025. The start is planned to take place 10. August 2025 in Kiel, Germany, with a finish in the Mediterranean sea and up to five intermediate stops to be announced in spring 2024.[29]
| 01 | 10. August 2025 | ||
| 02 | TBA |  Portsmouth to Cartagena | |
| 03 | TBA | Cartagena to TBA | |
| 04 | TBA | TBA to Genova | |
| 05 | TBA | Genova to Boka Bay |
| Boris Herrmann | Malizia-Seaexplorer | |
| Rosalin Kuiper | Holcim-PRB | |
| Yoann Richomme | Paprec Arkéa | |
| Thomas Ruyant | Vulnerable |