Biotherm’s Perfect Finish in Cartagena

It was the longest and most punishing stage of the event so far – 1,400 nautical miles from Portsmouth, down the English Channel, past Biscay, through Gibraltar and into the shifting breezes of the Mediterranean – yet Meilhat and his sailors managed the leg with a tactical poise that has now firmly stamped Biotherm as the benchmark team of this race.

The numbers tell their own story: 16 points collected in total on this leg alone. Two points snapped up at the Needles Scoring Gate, another seven bagged at the Matosinhos fly-by stop in Portugal, and a final seven for the win into Cartagena. Add that to their perfect haul from Leg 1, and Biotherm now sit solidly on top of the provisional leaderboard with 25 points, a commanding lead over their rivals.

Dockside, a weary but smiling Meilhat admitted just how brutal the leg had been:

“This one was really hard, a long leg, and we are very tired,” he said. “Most of it was in heavy, downwind conditions which aren’t our strongest point, so the strategy was about damage limitation. But we fought hard, and when the conditions turned in the Med, that was our chance to strike back.”

Biotherm’s trump card came after Gibraltar. One moment the crew were hammering downwind at an average of 30 knots, spray blasting off the foils in flat water – and the next, they were left almost drifting as the Mediterranean breeze collapsed. These vicious transitions, Meilhat explained, were the key moments:

“One minute you feel invincible, the next the wind just vanishes and you’re staring at the sails, desperate for a puff. But our boat loves the light and medium upwind conditions, so once the Med turned soft, we were able to push back.”

Holcim PRB’s Fightback

Behind them, Team Holcim PRB, skippered by Rosalin Kuiper, secured a morale-boosting second place – their best finish of the race so far. For a team that almost didn’t make the start of this leg after hull repairs in Kiel, the turnaround was remarkable.

“A week ago we couldn’t even imagine being on the start line, and now here we are in second place,” Kuiper said, visibly proud of her crew. “It was a very challenging leg, the weather didn’t always match the models, but our spirit was strong. We worked hard, we laughed, we played, and it all came together.”

Her co-skipper Alan Roberts added that the comeback had only made the team tighter:

“Adversity either splits or unites a crew. For us, it united us. The shore team worked night and day to get us back on the water, and that energy carried through offshore.”

Paprec Arkéa: A Harsh Lesson in the Med

For Yoann Richomme’s Paprec Arkéa, third place felt like a disappointment. After leading for long stretches, blasting into the Med with speed and confidence, their gamble to stay offshore turned sour. When the breeze died, Biotherm and Holcim slipped north towards the coast and found enough thermal wind to sneak past.

“Intense racing and very happy with how we sailed,” Richomme reflected. “But one little mistake had a huge cost for us. The Mediterranean can be harsh – it didn’t play our way this time. It’s frustrating, but that’s sailing.”

Still, the podium finish and 18 points overall keeps them in second place on the leaderboard. With a month of racing still to go, Richomme is far from defeated:

“This is a long game. We’re tired, yes, but it’s such high-level racing and such a joy to be part of. We’ll come back stronger on the next leg.”

The Battle Behind

While the podium boats celebrated, the chasers were still grinding their way towards Cartagena. Allagrande Mapei Racing and Team Malizia were neck-and-neck as of Saturday afternoon, separated by just minutes on the water after hammering through the Straits at over 30 knots before falling into the same Mediterranean wind holes that had already bitten Paprec.

Further back, Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive crossed Gibraltar in sixth, with Team Amaala trailing but determined. For these crews, every mile south is still a fight for points and pride, the Mediterranean offering no respite.

The Story So Far

Leg 2 has underlined what makes The Ocean Race Europe such a compelling spectacle: the speed of Biscay, the tactical traps of Gibraltar, and the cruel light-wind puzzles of the Med. For Biotherm, the win is a statement of intent; for Holcim PRB, proof that resilience pays; and for Paprec Arkéa, a reminder that in this game, nothing is safe until the line is crossed.

Provisional Leaderboard after Leg 2 (Cartagena finish):

Biotherm – 25 points

Paprec Arkéa – 18 points

Team Holcim PRB – 11 points

Team Malizia – 10 points (awaiting finish)

Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive – 6 points (awaiting finish)

Team Amaala – 4 points (awaiting finish)

Allagrande Mapei Racing – 3 points (awaiting finish)

The fleet now turns its eyes to the next leg, with the Mediterranean promising more surprises and another chance for the chasing pack to strike back.