Final Push to Montenegro: A Grand Mediterranean Showdown

This isn’t just another leg. This is the decider — a course so sprawling, so unpredictable, and so packed with Mediterranean quirks that it promises to shake every ounce of stamina and strategy out of these sailors.

A Grand Tour of the Mediterranean

On Friday morning Race Control revealed the course. And it’s a beauty. The fleet leaves Genoa, traces the jagged outlines of Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, then bends south toward Greece before the final charge north into the Adriatic.

“This is a proper Mediterranean lap,” said Alan Roberts of Holcim-PRB. “Every condition, every corner of the playbook. It’s going to be full of surprises.”

Race Control’s Max Gallais explained why the course has so many waypoints — four lighthouses, four islands, and an 11-mile gate southeast of Sicily. “The Med is notorious for unpredictability. We’ve built in flexibility with movable marks, so the race adapts to the weather. Crews will have to stay on their toes.”

Among the islands on the itinerary are Ustica, Pantelleria, and Gozo, each with its own tactical traps of currents, shadows, and fickle breezes. A squeeze through the gate southeast of Sicily could see the fleet compress, turning the leg into a restart. Then comes the open run to Greece and the decisive turn north into the Adriatic Sea.

The Med: A Trickster’s Playground

If there’s one thing every skipper agrees on, it’s that the Mediterranean is never straightforward. “Sometimes it’s a lottery,” said Gautier Levisse of Paprec Arkéa. “The models tell you one thing, then the clouds do another. You need to keep your eyes on the sky.”

The Strait of Bonifacio, notorious for funnelling winds between Corsica and Sardinia, could deliver a full gale to one boat while leaving another becalmed a few miles away. Thunderstorms and waterspouts are on the cards. And the Adriatic, known for its sudden squalls, is unlikely to let anyone relax on the final approach to Montenegro.

And then there’s fatigue. Crews are already worn down from weeks of racing. “It’s not a three-day sprint,” warned Biotherm’s Amélie Grassi. “We’ll need to manage ourselves like an ocean leg. Recovery will be key.”

Biotherm in the Driving Seat

On paper, the title is theirs to lose. Paul Meilhat’s Biotherm tops the leaderboard with 41 points, twelve clear of Paprec Arkéa. Having swept up maximum scores in earlier stages, their consistency has been nothing short of clinical.

“The key now is not to make mistakes,” Grassi said. “We don’t need heroics, just steady sailing. The boat is fast, the team is sharp. If we avoid errors, we’ll be fine.”

But their rivals aren’t conceding. Levisse of Paprec Arkéa knows a big swing is still possible. “With a few lucky breaks we could catch them. Biotherm have been impressive, but this is the Med. Nothing is guaranteed.”

Battles Everywhere You Look

If Biotherm has the title in their grasp, the real dogfight lies just behind. Paprec Arkéa (29 points) and Holcim-PRB (27.3) are locked in a duel for second place. “Our goal is clear: win the stage and claim second overall,” said Roberts with trademark grit.

Levisse countered: “It’s going to come down to strengths. We’re better upwind in light conditions. They’re quicker downwind. The fleet could easily split.”

Allagrande Mapei Racing (19 pts) and Team Malizia (18 pts) are separated by a single point in the fight for fourth. For Ambrogio Beccaria, fresh from his emotional Leg 4 victory into Genoa, the stakes are doubled — a home podium finish would be the icing on the cake. “We’ve shown we can win. Now we want to finish strong,” he said.

Further down, Canada Ocean Racing (13 pts) are battling Alan Roura’s Team Amaala (7 pts) for sixth. Every mile matters, every tactical call could swing final bragging rights.

Crew Changes for the Last Push

Fresh legs will matter. Holcim-PRB welcomes skipper Rosalin Kuiper back to the deck. Team Malizia has Will Harris returning to the fold, alongside Francesca Clapcich. Biotherm adds young Spanish rising star Carlos Manera, runner-up in the 2023 Mini Transat.

Paprec Arkéa’s line-up gets Levisse himself aboard for the first time this race, while Hugo Feydit joins Allagrande Mapei. Team Amaala bolsters its Swiss-KSA alliance with Jessica Berthoud and Yann Burkhalter linking up with Roura and Conrad Colman.

These changes won’t just refresh the crews physically — they’ll change onboard chemistry, tactics, and perhaps even the finishing order.

The Stakes in Montenegro

The leg itself carries 16 points: two at the scoring gate, seven for the stage win, and seven for the In-Port Race in Boka Bay on 20 September. With so many points still on the line, everything is still up for grabs.

“This race isn’t over,” warned Roberts. “Biotherm are ahead, but we’re here to fight. And we’ll keep fighting all the way into Boka Bay.”

Curtain Call in the Adriatic

For the people of Montenegro, hosting the finish is a milestone moment. Boka Bay, with its dramatic fjord-like cliffs and deep waters, is set to provide one of the most spectacular backdrops in offshore racing.

The fleet is expected on Monday, 15 September, after around eight days at sea. If the forecasts are right, the final sprint up the Adriatic will be just as unpredictable as everything that’s come before.

As Grassi put it: “This race has been about consistency. But in the Med, the game is always wide open. You don’t win until you cross that line.”

For Biotherm, it’s about sealing a championship. For the rest, it’s about glory, redemption, and proving a point. Either way, the final leg promises to be a Mediterranean epic.