A major sailing competition
The Ocean Race Europe will return in 2025, promising a world-class offshore sailing competition. This six-week race, demanding in terms of challenges and strategy, will take place from 10 August to 21 September 2025This second edition builds on the foundations laid by the inaugural event in 2021.
It will be held under the banner ‘Connecting Europe’, aiming to link various regions of the continent through ocean sailing. Participants will compete aboard IMOCA monohulls, vessels representing the pinnacle of offshore racing technology. For enthusiasts around the world, Virtual Regatta Offshore offers an immersive platform that allows you to participate in this prestigious event and compete with a global community of players.
The Grand Tour: Iconic stops and breathtaking landscapes
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 offers an ambitious journey across Europe, including a series of iconic stops and a unique fly-by. Each leg presents distinct challenges and varied cultural experiences. The itinerary has been designed to highlight the diversity of the continent's maritime heritage and natural beauty.
| Leg | Location | Dates | Approx distance (NM) |
| Leg 1 | Kiel to Portsmouth | 10th of August | 850 |
| Leg 2 | Portsmouth to Cartagena (via fly-by Matosinhos) | 16th/17th August | 1 400 |
| Leg 3 | Cartagena to Nice | 26th of August | 650 |
| Leg 4 | Nice to Genoa | 31st August | 600 |
| Leg 5 | Genoa to Boka Bay | Sept. 7 | 1 000 |
Here is a brief overview of the key points for each leg:
- Kiel, Germany (Departure: 10 August): The race begins in Kiel.Sailing.City, a German maritime centre with a rich sailing history, having hosted Olympic regattas and previous editions of The Ocean Race.
- Portsmouth, United Kingdom: This historic city served as the start and finish port for the very first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973, the precursor to The Ocean Race, and has a deep heritage in offshore sailing.
- Matosinhos, Portugal: A unique fly-by along Portugal's Atlantic coast, showcasing Matosinhos as a city where the sea is both heritage and horizon, and including a stop at Porto's impressive cruise terminal.
- Cartagena, Spain: This ancient Mediterranean port city, with over 3,000 years of history, will host the Spanish stopover, highlighting its commitment to ocean health and marine conservation.
- Nice, France : Marking the first time The Ocean Race has visited the French Mediterranean coast, this stopover follows the United Nations Ocean Conference, reinforcing the race's ‘Racing with Purpose’ message.
- Genoa, Italy: Following its success as host of the 2023 Grand Final, Genoa, Italy's leading maritime city, returns as a key stopover, continuing its strong partnership with The Ocean Race.
- Boka Bay, Monténégro : The race concludes in the stunning Boka Bay, also known as Kotor Bay, marking the first time The Ocean Race will compete on the Adriatic Sea, providing a spectacular backdrop for the finish.
The Professional Fleet
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 will be contested by seven elite professional teams, all competing on IMOCA boats. These vessels represent the pinnacle of offshore racing technology, requiring exceptional skills and a keen strategic sense from their crews.
The confirmed teams and their skippers include:
- ALLAGRANDE MAPEI RACING (Skipper : Ambrogio Beccaria)
- BIOTHERM (Skipper : Paul Meilhat)
- TEAM AMAALA (Skipper : Alan Roura)
- Team Holcim PRB (Skipper : Rosalin Kuiper)
- Team Paprec Arkéa (Skipper : Yoann Richomme)
- Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive Sailing Team (Skipper : Scott Shawyer)
- Team Malizia (Skipper : Boris Herrmann)
Sur Virtual Regatta Offshore, vous aurez l’occasion unique de défier directement ces équipes professionnelles et leurs skippers, en naviguant sur les mêmes IMOCA, sur le même parcours de course.
Your Challenge: Participate and Win!
Virtual Regatta Offshore offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the thrill of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 from the comfort of your own home. Players can test their strategic skills against thousands of others on the same course as professional sailors. The virtual experience mirrors the high-performance challenge of the real race, as players will sail virtual IMOCA 60s, managing the same weather systems and making the same tactical decisions.
Virtual Regatta Offshore Prize – The Ocean Race Europe 2025
For the virtual skippers who make it onto the overall race podium, their effort, strategy and perseverance will be rewarded with prizes worthy of their achievement. The best among you will receive iconic pieces designed for adventure on the high seas.
The winner will be awarded the prestigious Helly Hansen Skagen Offshore Sailing Jacket , state-of-the-art equipment combining technology and durability, designed with input from professional sailors. Second and third place on the podium will be honoured with the The Ocean Race Helly Hansen Backpack and a T-shirt The Ocean Race Helly Hansen.
In addition, in-game rewards are planned for the best players and some randomly selected finishers.
| Category | Ranking/Condition | Prizes |
| Overall Ranking | 1st Place | 1 Full Pack for the 4 classes of the Transat Café L’OR |
| Overall Ranking | 2nd Place | 1 Full Pack for the two IMOCA and ULTIM classes in the Transat Café L’OR |
| Overall Ranking | 3rd Place | 1 Full Pack for the IMOCA class of the Transat Café L’OR |
| Leg Winner | Winner of each leg | A full pack for the next leg |
| Finisher by Leg | A Finisher drawn at random for each leg | A full pack for the next leg |
The starting gun is about to go off. Will you be at the starting line? Register now for the virtual race and get ready for the start on 10 August, joining a global community of passionate sailors.
Contest Rules
Join the virtual regatta
Register now on Virtual Regatta Offshore
Start of leg 1: 10 August 2025
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