Things are getting tricky after Corsica

While the fleet was tightly packed yesterday morning, 24 hours later everything has changed as they rounded Corsica and began the climb back towards Italy.

The fleet racing in The Ocean Race Europe has now split in two, with a leading quartet pulling clear. Alongside the regular front-runners — Biotherm, Holcim-PRB and Paprec Arkéa — it’s Allagrande Mapei Racing who have taken a slight edge.

With the Italian team pushing hard to lead the fleet on the final sprint to Genoa, where the leading boats are expected overnight, the next hours promise to be intense!

The current leg has provided a spectacular escape from the back to school grind and postcard-worthy scenery. In just 24 hours, the teams have sailed off Propriano, crossed the Strait of Bonifacio, passed close to the Maddalena archipelago, rounded Elba and are now racing up the Italian coast.

This morning, the leading pack was positioned between La Spezia and Sestri Levante, in Liguria — the kind of route that makes you want to grab sunscreen and a beach towel while following the tracker from an Italian shoreline.

A dramatic shake-up

On board, however, there’s little time to relax. The course may look like a Mediterranean cruise, but it’s been a flat-out sprint with non-stop action and opportunities.

“It’s been super intense,” said Manon Peyre (Allagrande Mapei Racing). For Nicolas Lunven (Holcim-PRB), it was “a full-on day,” especially during the Bonifacio passage. “We were on deck for a long time with no sleep and built up a big sleep deficit,” added Peyre. “It was really physical and exhausting with all the tacks and sail changes,” said Biotherm skipper Paul Meilhat.

That intensity was reflected in the standings. On Monday morning, the fleet was still grouped within 20 miles off Propriano. By Tuesday morning, everything had changed: a breakaway of four — Allagrande Mapei Racing, Biotherm, Holcim-PRB and Paprec Arkéa — had escaped, while Team Malizia, Canada Ocean Racing Be Water Positive and Team Amaala fell behind south of Corsica, the gap widening overnight.

Allagrande Mapei Racing makes a statement

For much of the race it was Team Holcim-PRB who led the front pack and by early afternoon, between Corsica and Sardinia, Nico Lunven and his crew had seized control and extended their advantage on the long stretch towards Italy. “There was less wind shadow than expected under Corsica, and that allowed Holcim-PRB to make a bold but rewarding choice,” explained Biotherm’s Paul Meilhat.

From there, it was “a long downwind run in strong breeze along the Italian coast,” Meilhat continued. As the fleet approached Elba, tactics came into play. Biotherm passed to the east of the island, while Holcim-PRB had to gybe to round it to the west. Already positioned to the west, Allagrande Mapei Racing held their line, saving a manoeuvre and closing in on the leaders before taking the advantage off Livorno.

“We managed to get back in front after that downwind stretch,” reported onboard reporter Pierre Bourras from the Italian team. “We were pretty surprised because we had an energy issue on board that forced us to conserve power while we fixed it.” The consequence? Ambrogio Beccaria was steering “with no data and no instruments” for over an hour. “When we finally powered everything back up, we were surprised by both our trajectory and our speed,” Bourras added.

“The wind is doing whatever it wants”

Though Allagrande Mapei Racing edged ahead, the four leaders were separated by less than three miles at 07:00 this morning. The final run will be decisive. Before finishing in Genoa, the crews must first round a mark off Gallinera Island (near Alassio), head back towards Livorno, then push on to the Ligurian capital.

“Since we’ve entered the Gulf of Genoa, there have been thunderstorms and the wind is all over the place,” said Nicolas Lunven. “Tactically, it’s going to be tough — lots of clouds and very little breeze,” added Bourras. “Our OBR has the perfect phrase: it’s like a fairground in a washing bowl!”

The leading four are locked in a tight battle. “We’re still side by side,” smiled Paul Meilhat. “We’re going to spend the day and night weaving our way around the Gulf of Genoa, and we’ll need to stay glued to the competition.”

A breathless sprint awaits — and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With this being the penultimate stage, every point will be crucial heading into the final showdown. “With tricky conditions and plenty of twists still to come, it’s far from over,” concluded Lunven. “We just have to grab every opportunity!”