Start day in Nice

1830 local time in Nice - Ranking at Monaco Scoring Gate:
Biotherm +2 points
Holcim-PRB +1 point
Paprec - Arkéa
Team Malizia
Allagrande Mapei
Be Water Positive
Team Amaala 

1745 local time in Nice - the start highlights:

1715 local time in Nice:

Holcim - PRB (SUI) with Nico Lunven standing in as skipper for Rosalin Kuiper (NED) made the best start at the pin end of the line and were able to use the resulting clear air to stretch away from the pack in the opening few minutes. Race leader Biotherm (FRA) skippered by Paul Meilhat (FRA) also got away cleanly at the windward end of the line. Team AMAALA (SUI / KSA) were the only team to start on port, making an early split from the pack as they initially headed offshore.

1705 local time in Nice:

A great start for Leg 4 of The Ocean Race Europe with Paul Meilhat's Biotherm starting clear to windward, and Holcim-PRB bow forward at the other end of the line, with Team Amaala starting on port tack, behind the fleet and shooting offshore. Wind is in the 6-8 knot range as the fleet pushes towards Monaco.

1640 local time Nice:

The wind in the start area is easing - about 7-8 knots now, southeast.

1545 local time Nice:

Yoann Richomme, returning on board as skipper of Paprec Arkéa, after sitting out Leg 3, says: “The first 24 hours are going to be quite key for this leg. First of all we have some wind here in Nice to get us around the scoring gate in Monaco. So that should be really nice. Then we are off across to Corsica where we have a very light wind patch to cross tonight, before a transition into the new wind tomorrow.

Racing around Corsica is always very tricky because the mountains on the island are big and their wind shadows are huge. So very interesting racing to be had on the way to Bonafacio and then on the way back [to Genova] – phew, that’s a whole other story.”

1500 local time Nice:

The teams are docking out now, heading out to the start area where there is more wind - near 10 knots - than originally forecast. 

Paul Meilhat, the overall race leader says the first hours of the race will be good, before the wind dies overnight: "We should have sea breeze, wind to the scoring gate at Monaco. It will be upwind, many tacks, so an intense first couple of hours. But then the wind drops and there is no wind for some of the night. The first to catch the wind before Corsica will get a good advantage so we will see in the morning what the ranking is, but the night will be slow."

1130 local time Nice:

Crew lists are in and among the significant changes is Rosalin Kuiper is taking this leg off from Holcim PRB, in a scheduled crew rotation, with Nico Lunven designated as skipper in her place.

1100 local time in Nice:

It's start day in Nice, with Leg 4 scheduled to start at 1700 local time, with a race course that takes the fleet out through a scoring gate about 8 miles away in Monaco, before the teams head out towards Corsica, en route to Genova.

Light conditions - about 6-8 knots - are expected at start time.