In Portsmouth, the air smelled of victory: Biotherm takes the win in Leg 1 of The Ocean Race Europe. For Sam Goodchild and Jack Bouttell, the finish carried a special flavor: that of their home waters, but also the memories of their early days at the Offshore Artemis Academy, the school that shaped a generation of British sailors.

From that same academy emerged Will Harris (Team Malizia) and Alan Roberts (Team Holcim-PRB), who have also reached the top level of offshore racing. A remarkably effective talent pipeline, it has propelled British skippers onto the forefront of the IMOCA scene.

As the fleet already sets course for Leg 2, heading first to Matosinhos and then Cartagena, the stakes are rising: consolidation for some, catch-up for others. The story of the race has only just begun.