The Ocean Race returned to full strength in Aarhus, Denmark on Thursday (8 June) as the VO65 fleet rejoined the race for the European legs.
On a beautiful afternoon with sunny skies, warm temperatures and light sea breeze, racing started with the stakes high for both fleets.
First off were the five VO65s returning to race in the second stage of the VO65 Sprint after a three-month sabbatical. With two legs of racing left, the VO65 leaderboard is wide open and the stage to The Hague is an important opportunity to collect points. The ETA for the finish is Sunday 11 June.
As the afternoon turned to evening it would be the IMOCA fleet on point for an 18:15 start, with the race around the world still wide-open — 11th Hour Racing Team is in pole position, but only one point clear of Team Holcim-PRB. The early evening conditions were extremely light for the IMOCA start, with a new breeze just starting to fill in as the fleet finally left Aarhus behind.
The IMOCA fleet is racing towards the Kiel Fly-By, expected to attract over 100,000 visitors and 1,000 boats to the Kiel Fjord on Friday, with an ETA of mid-afternoon on Friday (9 June) before pushing towards the finish in The Hague.
The stopover in Aarhus has been picture perfect, with the glorious late spring weather drawing big crowds down to Ocean Live Park. The local event organisers estimate between 350,000 and 400,000 fans experience The Ocean Race stopover in Aarhus, including over 7,000 school children who took part in the learning programmes on the Sustainability Island activation site.
The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint - start report
Having dominated both previous in-port races, the pressure was on Pablo Arrarte’s WindWhisper Racing Team (POL) to deliver a repeat performance for Stage 2 of the VO65 Sprint.
In contrast to the very light conditions earlier in the week when they last raced, the breeze was 10 knots across the course at start time.
At the start, WindWhisper Racing Team jumped the gun and were forced to return back to restart. Gerwin Jansen’s Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova (AUT/ITA) were penalised for an infringement at the start and had to take a penalty, sliding back behind the fleet.
This left Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team (DEN) and Team JAJO (NED) to lead the field along the first leg with Viva México (MEX) in third.
At the first mark it was Team JAJO that rounded ahead with Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team close on their stern.
After the second lap and as the fleet headed off to the northeast on the start of the offshore leg, it was Team JAJO that had not only held onto their lead but extended it to more than 400m.
Behind them the competition was close with Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team in second, Viva México in third with WindWhisper Racing Team nipping at their heels in fourth and Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova in fifth as the fleet passed through the final inshore gate.
From there it was north into the late afternoon sun.
The Ocean Race IMOCA leg 6 - start report
Two hours after the VO65s had left Aarhus the 10-knot breeze died to just two to four knots as the southeasterly sea breeze fought against the northwesterly gradient.
This was frustrating and stressful for the IMOCA fleet for their start to a leg that already promises to be extremely challenging, especially during the next 24 hours through the Fly-By in Kiel.
With such light conditions, all five teams were aiming to minimise manoeuvres which led to a slow drag race into the line, but there was plenty of excitement.
Start of Stage 2 of The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint Cup in Aarhus on Thursday 8 June | Credit: Sailing Energy/The Ocean Race
At the committee boat end, Team Malizia (GER) were playing an aggressive tactical game with Team Holcim-PRB (SUI) that resulted in Holcim-PRB diving behind the German boat before pushing Malizia over the starting line early, forcing them to restart behind the fleet.
Meanwhile, it was 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm that made the best starts with Team Holcim PRB close behind.
By the first mark 11th Hour Racing Team had extended their lead over Biotherm with Team Holcim-PRB in third. Further back Malizia had overtaken GUYOT environnement - Team Europe.
On the third leg of this square configuration course, what wind there was swung through 40 degrees turning the reach into an upwind leg.
Halfway down this leg the breeze dropped even further, switching in direction before then dying altogether. As all five boats struggled to make any progress the stress only increased among the teams. All teams knew that in these conditions the first to get the breeze are often able to take a jump on the fleet. The waiting game was nerve-racking.
Slowly, the gradient breeze came in off the land from the northwest and when it did the leader board changed as GUYOT environnement - Team Europe overtook Team Malizia.
So, as the fleet cleared the leaving gate and headed out on the leg towards Kiel, it was 11th Hour Racing Team that led the field, Biotherm second, Team Holcim-PRB third with GUYOT fourth and Malizia just behind in fifth.
The ETA in Kiel is mid-afternoon on Friday, with a finish in The Hague expected on Sunday 11 June.
Rankings at 1825 UTC, 8 June
IMOCA:
- Biotherm, 782.9 miles to finish
- 11th Hour Racing Team, 0.3 miles to leader
- GUYOT environnement - Team Europe, 0.6 miles to leader
- Team Malizia, 0.8 miles to leader
- Team Holcim-PRB, 3 miles to finish
VO65 :
- Team JAJO, 781.7 miles to finish
- WindWhisper Racing, 0.1 miles to leader
- Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team, 1.1 miles to leader
- Viva México, 2.9 miles to leader
- Austrian Ocean Race - Team Genova, 3.5 miles to leader
Follow both fleets’ progress via the race tracker at theoceanrace.com.
