© Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE

The effort involved major tasks, including closing a large hole in the port-side hull and repairing damage to the rig, all under intense time pressure. But through it all, we never stopped believing.

Thanks to the remarkable commitment and resilience of the entire crew, and the invaluable support of many partners, especially through close cooperation with Knierim Yachtbau shipyard in Kiel, the team achieved an outstanding result. Today, at 22h30 local time, the boat departed Kiel for Portsmouth, the starting city of the second leg.

Via the Kiel Canal, the IMOCA will make its way to England with two members of our sailing crew, two members of the technical team, and an onboard reporter (Carolijn Brouwer, Alan Roberts, Clément Samon, Giulina Bayat, Henry Mc Cann Adrien Nivet) on board. Seeing the boat set sail was a very special moment, bringing both relief and emotion to the team, as this was a true testament to their resilience. Every member worked toward one single goal: ensuring the sailors could resume racing with a 100% safe and reliable boat for the start of the second leg, the longest leg of the 2025 edition of The Ocean Race Europe.

Rosalin Kuiper, the only female skipper in the race, is particularly proud of the work accomplished: “We have an amazing team that went above and beyond. Each team member demonstrated exceptional resilience, teamwork and deep commitment. This is truly inspiring. I am truly grateful to my teammates and all external partners who supported us with safe and efficient repairs. Our return to the water would not have been possible without their skill and dedication.”

After the initial disappointment, excitement has taken over as the team looks ahead to returning to the race and competing at the highest level. Nicolas Lunven explains the positive mindset among the sailors: “We are extremely excited to return to the race. While we may have missed the first leg, our readiness is as strong as it was in Kiel, and we cannot wait to rejoin the fleet and compete.”

The boat is expected to arrive in Portsmouth late Saturday or Sunday, just in time for the start, scheduled for 17:00. The Holcim-PRB team and partners Holcim and PRB warmly thank everyone who spontaneously offered their help – including other teams – and those whose intervention made it possible for the team to take on this challenge: the Knierim Yachtbau shipyard, the architects, and all the specialists who contributed.

Source: Team Holcim-PRB