Alan Roberts: “This is what we love, this constant confrontation, this need to push ourselves”

Departing from Portsmouth, the fleet set course for Cartagena, Spain, with a brief stop in Matosinhos, Portugal, for a three-hour “fly-by”. Paul Meilhat’s Biotherm posted the best time there, just ahead of Yoann Richomme’s Paprec Arkéa. Close behind, Team Holcim-PRB, led by Franck Cammas, Nico Lunven, Alan Roberts and Rosalin Kuiper, claimed provisional third place.

It was a lightning-fast return to the race for a boat forced to retire as early as the first leg, between Kiel and Portsmouth, after a collision in the opening minutes. With its hull badly damaged, the team had to work day and night to repair and make it to the start of this leg. Now, Team Holcim-PRB is sailing alongside the frontrunners and fully embracing its status as a contender for victory.

“It was in adversity that the group pulled together,” said Alan Roberts, who took part in the repair work. “We now have a boat at 100%, the atmosphere on board is excellent and I’m really enjoying racing,” the Briton said as the Swiss monohull closed in on the Strait of Gibraltar.

At 35, Alan Roberts knows well the intensity of this kind of fight. Nine participations in the Solitaire du Figaro forge a sailor. “This leg clearly reminds me of a Figaro race,” he explained. “Everyone is close, every decision matters, and here I meet many of my former rivals: Sam Goodchild, Paul Meilhat, Will Harris, Justine Mettraux… This is what we love, this constant confrontation, this need to push ourselves. Even the stopovers are reminiscent of the Figaro: short, intense, where you have to manage recovery and crew.”

Alan Roberts also knows that Holcim-PRB may struggle in strong downwind conditions, particularly against the two sisterships Paprec Arkéa and Allagrande MAPEI Racing, but also against Team Malizia. The crew is counting on a more unpredictable, lighter Mediterranean finish to create opportunities. “The Mediterranean will be tricky,” warned Alan Roberts. “Conditions are unpredictable, the wind can drop. But we have excellent weather experts on board and we’ll do everything to make the most of it.”

On board Paprec Arkéa, Portuguese sailor Mariana Lobato enjoyed her stopover at home, with her crew holding second place at the time. “The night was very tough, but we never gave up,” said the former Match Racing world champion and winner of The Ocean Race Europe 2021 in VO65. “We kept pushing the boat to the maximum and were happy to reclaim that second place at the finish.”

The 37-year-old also highlighted the intensity of this leg, the longest of the course, with double points at stake. “The level is very high. Every team is capable of taking the lead. We had some great phases and others more challenging, but we remained patient and focused, seizing every opportunity.” Fatigue is mounting, and the Portuguese sailor notes the growing tension within the crew of Yoann Richomme, Corentin Horeau and Pascal Bidégorry. “Honestly, it’s a pleasure to sail with them.”

Like Alan Roberts, she expects a Mediterranean full of surprises and twists, with the added bonus of a new intermediate sprint offering seven valuable points to the first boat across the mark. “Gibraltar is always unpredictable,” she concluded. “The wind can change everything, so we’ll have to stay fully focused.”

Behind the leading trio, Team Malizia, skippered by Will Harris, holds fourth place, less than 60 miles behind Paprec Arkéa. Ambrogio Beccaria’s Allagrande MAPEI Racing is fifth, a further 58 miles back. In sixth position, Pip Hare’s Canada Ocean Racing - Be Water Positive trails the leader by 166 miles. Finally, Team Amaala, skippered by Swiss sailor Alan Roura, set sail again this morning from Matosinhos.


Credits: Ed Gorman / IMOCA.