The Boka Bay Coastal Race was a perfect reflection of this edition of The Ocean Race Europe: spectacular. And as they did over and over again during the past six weeks, it was Paul Meilhat's Biotherm who secured victory, confirming an incredible, dominant run throughout the summer of racing.
By finishing second on Saturday afternoon (20 September), Paprec Arkéa locked up second spot overall while Holcim-PRB completed the final podium.
Team Malizia took fourth ahead of Allagrande Mapei Racing, thanks to a strong performance by Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive, who finished fifth on the day.
It was a fitting finale: a stunning setting in Montenegro and a fierce battle to close out the second edition of The Ocean Race Europe. The Coastal Race unfolded in Boka Bay, where the IMOCA teams have been based since Monday. Under brilliant blue skies, the seven competitors made the final race one to remember.
While Biotherm had already sealed overall victory, the fight for the remaining podium places was wide open. Would Paprec Arkéa (2nd, 34 pts) or Team Holcim-PRB (3rd, 33.5 pts) take second? And who would finish just off the podium between Allagrande Mapei Racing and Team Malizia?
From the very first moments, the battle intensified in breeze slightly stronger than forecast (around 10 knots). Paprec Arkéa seized the advantage at the first and second marks, setting the tempo at the head of the race. Behind them, Holcim-PRB lost ground after a messy manoeuvre and had to work hard to recover. The sight of the fleet making tight turns around the marks was a feast for spectators.
Onboard, focus was absolute. On Paprec Arkéa, Mariana Lobato positioned herself at the bow to ensure maximum precision in the manoeuvres. By the third mark, the leader began to fly, edging ahead of Biotherm. Slightly further back, Allagrande Mapei Racing trailed behind Team Malizia.
On the second lap, Biotherm closed the gap on Paprec Arkéa, eventually overtaking on the inside of a mark. With calm assurance, they seized the lead and never let it go. Behind them, the order continued to shift: Holcim-PRB again lost ground after a tough manoeuvre, forcing them to push even harder to get back in the race.
At the front, Biotherm’s crew savoured the moment. As they crossed the finish line, Paul Meilhat, Amélie Grassi, Benjamin Ferré and Carlos Manera celebrated with pure joy — fists pumping, hugs all around. After four wins in five legs and four scoring gates passed in first place since Kiel, Paul Meilhat’s team once again finished ahead, adding a final prestigious victory to a dominant campaign (55 points).
“We’re so happy. We’ve lived together for two months with this goal in mind,” smiled Paul Meilhat. “This victory is all bonus and pure happiness.”
The IMOCA fleet race in the final Coastal Race during The Ocean Race Europe 2025 in Boka Bay | Credit: Lloyd Images/The Ocean Race Europe
Paprec Arkéa crossed the line shortly after. This second place in Boka Bay, and second overall since the first leg, Yoann Richomme and his crew were rewarded for their consistency (40 pts).
“That was a really great race,” said Yoann Richomme. “It feels so good to show the potential of the boats here. We had a great start on the foils, which I didn’t expect.”
“It was tight with Holcim-PRB from the very beginning, so we had to be focused straight away,” added Corentin Horeau. “We stuck to our game plan and tried to sail the cleanest race possible. It was a fantastic course.”
Richomme even joked about Biotherm’s dominance: “There’s something almost impolite about them, but they’re so strong we can’t blame them! Finishing second behind these guys is not bad at all.”
The head-to-head with Holcim-PRB ultimately lacked suspense. Rosalin Kuiper could not hide her disappointment in the moment but will reflect on an ultimately strong campaign. Her crew completed the Coastal Race podium and finished third overall (38.5 pts) — an impressive achievement given the collision in Kiel at the very start of the race.
“It wasn’t the position we had hoped for, but we worked so hard,” said Kuiper. “Looking back at everything we’ve been through, I’m incredibly proud of my team. I’m happy with how far we’ve come, what we’ve learned and what we’ve achieved.”
Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia secured fourth overall (37 pts), while one of the day’s standout performances came from Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive: Scott Shawyer and his team finished fifth in Boka Bay, a big result that pushed Allagrande Mapei Racing (6th in the race) down to fifth overall, while Team Amaala completed the race in seventh place.
And so, under the blazing sunshine of Boka Bay, with smiles on every sailor’s face, this incredible European adventure came to a close.
But it’s not too early to look ahead. The next race in The Ocean Race portfolio of events is in 2026 with The Ocean Race Atlantic — a transatlantic race with a twist, finishing in the Mediterranean Sea. The event connects two iconic cities, New York and Barcelona, and promises to be an incredible new addition to the fully crewed offshore racing calendar.
Boka Bay Coastal Race results:
- Biotherm
- Paprec Arkéa
- Team Holcim PRB
- Team Malizia
- Be Water Positive
- Allagrande Mapei Racing
- Team Amaala
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 overall leaderboard (provisional):
- Biotherm - 55 points
- Paprec Arkéa - 40 points
- Team Holcim PRB - 38.5 points
- Team Malizia - 27 points
- Allagrande Mapei Racing - 26 points
- Be Water Positive - 18 points
- Team Amaala - 9 points
