The Ocean Race 2022-23 Leg 3 live – Team Malizia savour 'unreal' win in Itajai ahead of Team Holcim-PRB

ByEurosport

Updated 13/04/2023 at 08:16 GMT

Hello and welcome along to Eurosport's live coverage of The Ocean Race 2022-23. Leg 3 - the longest ever in the race's history - certainly lived up to its billing, with the 12,750 nautical-mile extravaganza from Cape Town, South Africa to Itajai, Brazil going down to the wire, with Team Malizia the first to cross the line. Stay here for all the updates as the drama continues.

'It feels unreal' - Team Malizia delight in winning Leg 3 of The Ocean Race

After 35 gruelling and eventful days of racing over some 14,714 nautical miles, Team Malizia took victory ahead of Team Holcim-PRB on a historic Leg 3 of The Ocean Race.

11th Hour Racing Team arrived in Itajai, Brazil in third, with Biotherm fourth.

The Ocean Race

Kiel confirmed as starting point for The 2025 Ocean Race Europe

14/02/2024 at 14:10

---

The Ocean Race Leg 3 – The best drone shots

The Ocean Race Leg 3 – The best drone shots

Thursday 6 April

18:30

Team Malizia and Biotherm have announced changes to their respective crews ahead of the fourth leg, taking the teams from Itajai to Newport.

British sailor Will Harris will be Team Malizia’s new skipper as Boris Herrmann steps away for the fourth stage of the race.

French offshore sailor Christopher Pratt also joins Team Malizia in a scheduled change, as does Nicolas Lunven with Rosalin Kuiper expected to return a week before the start of the leg following a period of recovery from concussion.

Biotherm skipper Paul Meilhat has also announced his new-look crew for the fourth leg, which includes British sailor Alan Roberts and four-time world champion and The Ocean Race 2017-18 winner Marie Riou.

The newcomers will be joined on board by Portuguese Olympian and World Champion Mariana Lobato.

Biotherm are set to become the first team in the race's history to start a leg with an equal split of two male and two female crew.

14:00

With all the boats now over the line let's take a look at some stats from the four boats that finished.

Team Malizia completed the record-breaking leg in 34 days, 17 hours, 10 mins, 28 seconds, doing 14,714 nautical miles along the way.

Second-place Holcim-PRB had a time of 34 days, 22 hours, 46 mins, 20 seconds, doing 15,042 nautical miles.

11th Hour Racing were third after 37 days, 20 hours, 10 minutes, 23 seconds on the water, doing 14,840 nautical miles.

Biotherm were the last of the finishers in fourth with a time of 37 days, 22 hours, 41 minutes, 19 seconds, doing 14,352 nautical miles.

Wednesday 5 April

21:20

The overall standings after the conclusion of Leg 3.

16:00

11th Hour Racing Team earn final podium position for Leg 3 with Biotherm taking fourth place in the longest Leg in race history. Here is the reaction from both teams as they arrived in Itajai...

11:30

Biotherm collect the four points available for fourth place.

10:05

11th Hour Racing Team take third place!

Tuesday 4 April

14:00

Biotherm are now just 20 nautical miles behind 11th Hour Racing, with both teams less than a day away from reaching the finish line in Itajai.

Monday 3 April

18:15

Following Team Malizia's victory and second place going to Team Holcim-PRB in Itajai, the race for third place is starting to heat up.

Biotherm, headed up by skipper Paul Meilhat, are closing in on 11th Hour Racing Team, cutting into their advantage by nearly 100 miles. The two teams are separated east/west by around 80 miles, but are neck-and-neck when it comes to the distance to the finish.

Both teams are battling against damage to their boats over the last five weeks of intense competition.

11th Hour Racing Team skipper Charlie Enright said: "We have had highs and lows, seen joy, frustration, courage, and heartache. We’ve been fast. We’ve been broken. Above all, thus far, we’ve been safe. The magnitude of what we’ve done hasn’t yet set in, nor should it have, it’s never over ‘til it’s over!

"Everyone and every boat has been pushed to the limit and beyond. We need to get to Itajaí as fast as possible, for the points, for the physical and mental rest, and, most importantly, to be preparing Mālama for the next leg, into our hometown of Newport, Rhode Island."

16:00

Hear now from Team Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann, his counterpart Kevin Escoffier from Team Holcim-PRB, and other members of the two teams as they savour their arrival in Itajai, Brazil. Malizia crossed the line first to take Leg 3 victory.

'It feels unreal' - Team Malizia delight in winning Leg 3 of The Ocean Race

Sunday 2 April

21:00

Biotherm collided with an “unidentified floating object” which damaged their port foil on Friday night.

However, the team have made the required on-board adjustments and are now racing at normal speed, and hope to beat 11th Hour Racing Team to the final podium spot on Leg 3.

They are taking an inside route as they try to hunt down the Charlie Enright skippered 11th Hour Racing Team yacht.

18:00

The moment of victory.

WATCH - Team Malizia celebrate Leg 3 triumph by lifting Brazilian flag

16:00

Kevin Escoffier was in reflective mood after Team Holcim-PRB finished second on Leg 3 of the Ocean Race. The Holcim-PRB skipper said that his crew were perfect during the race.

‘The crew was perfect’ – Escoffier after Team Holcim-PRB arrival in Itajai

12:00

Team Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann says he is energised after Leg 3 of the Ocean Race.

'Energised I would say!' - Team Malizia skipper Herrmann relishes in Leg 3 triumph

09:00

Team Malizia have won Leg 3 of The Ocean Race after crossing the finish line first in Itajai.

After 35 gruelling and eventful days of racing over some 14,714 nautical miles, the team sealed the win at approximately 05:20:28 UTC (02:20:28 local time in Brazil).

Team Holcim-PRB came in second, meaning they sit on top of the overall leaderboard on 19 points with Team Malizia on 14. 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm are yet to finish.

Watch the arrivals of Team Malizia and Team Holcim-PRB on the below stream.

Premium

Sailing

The Ocean Race

09:58:59

Replay

Kevin Escoffier’s Holcim-PRB had collected maximum points on the first and second legs, and also at the scoring gate on Leg 3, meaning the four points they picked up at the end of Leg 3 leaves them on 19 points and atop of the leaderboard. Team Malizia are on 14.

With 11th Hour Racing Team, Biotherm and GUYOT environnement - Team Europe sat on 10, 8 and two respectively, that means - with only three and two points available for the two boats, 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm, left at sea - the table is set ahead of Leg 4.

GUYOT environnement - Team Europe had to suspend racing and turn back to Cape Town on leg three of The Ocean Race. They arrived in Itajai on March 30 ahead of Leg 4.

See how the remaining boats are faring on our race tracker.

08:30

"The reward came and it was very energising" - Skipper Boris Hermann expresses his delight with Team Malizia's win.

'Energised I would say!' - Team Malizia skipper Herrmann relishes in Leg 3 triumph

08:00

Will Harris admits Team Malizia "breathed a sigh of relief" despite pulling away at the end of the leg.

07:00

Team Malizia cross the line first!

Saturday 1 April

22:00

Malizia's skipper Boris Herrmann expects his team to emerge victorious from the leg.

"The only way we can lose is by doing a big mistake," he told his team as the boat made its way to Itajaí.

20:00

Leg 3 – the longest in history of The Ocean Race – is edging towards its conclusion. However, there is no clear favourite to win the drama-filled leg. Here is the latest update from the boats after another day of intense racing.

An epic finale in store on longest leg in Ocean Race history – Daily Recap

18:00

As the longest leg in the history of the 2022-23 Ocean Race - 12,750 nautical miles of racing - nears its end, the boats have only a few hours left. Team Malizia remains in the lead and has just 165 nautical miles to go before reaching the finish line in Itajai.

Boris Herrmann and his team are now ahead by approximately 64 nautical miles, surpassing the Swiss team Holcim-PRB.

13:00

Malizia have stretched their lead a little to 40 nautical miles over Holcim-PRB and skipper Boris Herrmann is trying to remain composed.

"This is the final push - push, push, push!!!" he said. "I'm trying to keep the boat upright and balanced under the sails.

“I have to confess, I'm a bit tense. You don't want to make a mistake now, here."

The expected time of arrival for the winning boat is between 04:00 and 07:00 UK time tomorrow morning.

12:00

Malizia's lead over Holcim-PRB has stabilised at just over 30 nautical miles. This promises to be a thrilling finish.

Further behind, it looks like third and fourth places are set due to the damage for Biotherm.

10:00

Biotherm are now set to finish last as they have hit an unidentified floating object” which has damaged their port foil.

Race control announced the incident on Friday night as Biotherm continued to lose pace and will now slowly sail to Itajai.

Find out more here.

Friday 31 March

20:00

Team Malizia and Team Holcim-PRB face a nail-biting race to the finish line in Itajai, which is now less than 500 miles away.

A gruelling, record-breaking Leg 3 has seen the teams fight it out for 14,000 miles already, but the two leaders are still in sight of each other as the final destination in Brazil approaches.

"It's close, dogfight racing," says Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier.

"It's not finished. We still have a low pressure to deal with, and strong winds."

10:00

Another lead change! Holcim-PRB are back in front as we approach the closing stages of this record-breaking Leg 3. Just a few nautical miles split themselves ant Malizia.

11th Hour Racing and Biotherm have a massive task to get back into this as they are over 300 and 400 nautical miles behind respectively.

Thursday 30 March

18:30

The crews have been battling “crazy conditions” as the race to Itajia hots up.

Team Holcim-PRB have been dominant so far in The Ocean Race, but they face are facing a serious challenge from Team Malizia.

The boats are separated by under five nautical miles after a tough night.

"We've had crazy conditions all night," said Will Harris from Team Malizia. "Everything from zero to 52 knots of wind from every direction. It's been pretty tough... But we're going good. Strong now."

Abby Ehler on Team Holcim-PRB said the windy conditions meant they would not be taking undue risks.

"We've seen quite a quick increase in breeze," Ehler said. "More that we were expecting, between 48 and 50 knots of wind... The seaway is not too bad so we're not slamming too bad, but we're going to play it safe."

14:30

Here is the daily recap video for March 30.

'A beautiful day!' - Teams enter the final 1,000 nautical miles of Leg 3: The Ocean Race Daily Recap

10:30

Holcim-PRB are closing in on Malizia with less than 10 nautical miles splitting the leading boats.

11th Hour Racing and Biotherm have a lot of ground to make up, so at the moment it looks like a two-horse race.

Wednesday 29 March

19:00

Check out the latest developments from Leg 3 in today's The Ocean Race Show as the fleet passes Cape Horn to push north towards Itajai.

14:30

The journey around Cape Horn and into the Atlantic has not been without its problems with Biotherm suffering electronics issues and losing their wind instruments.

For Team Malizia, Rosalin Kuiper is seemingly recovering well from her head injury.

Rounding Cape Horn and entering the Atlantic - The Ocean Race Daily Recap: March 29

Tuesday 28 March

18:40

Team Malizia remain top of the leaderboard in leg three of the Ocean Race after becoming the first team to pass Cape Horn.

They were followed by the 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm in going around the Horn. With the fleet now split in two, Malizia are aiming to fight off the challenge from Holcim-PRB and 11th Hour Racing Team, but both sides are still a day behind.

"It is nice to still be fighting against Biotherm," said Justine Mettraux of 11th Hour Racing Team, as she rounded Cape Horn for the first time.

Read the full article here.

11:30

It's increasingly looking like a two-horse race as Team Malizia and Holcim-PRB increase their advantage over 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm, who are set to sail round Cape Horn and begin the chase up the South American coast imminently.

Race Report: 'I have no words' - Malizia and Holcim-PRB cross Cape Horn

Monday 27 March

17:00

Cape Horn? Completed it mate.

Team Malizia have overcome the odds to become the first team to pass Cape Horn on this epic third leg of Ocean Race 2023.

Team Malizia were contemplating a return to Cape Town early in the 12,750-nautical mile leg following mast damage. They are also currently nursing an injured crew member after Rosalin Kuiper suffered a head injury after she fell from her bunk.

Despite the difficulties, Team Malizia beat Holcim-PRB to the Cape to Cape title in 27 days, 17 hours and 31 minutes.

"It's a huge achievement for the whole team to be here," said Malizia's Will Harris.

"And especially to be here in the lead. If we think back to the start of the leg - the issues with the mast, and then the big winds the last few days, I think we've done an amazing job to be here. So we are proud of the full team to make it this far and also grateful to everyone back on land who has made this possible.

14:30

Cape Horn is in our sights...

...but it's sad news for fans of the "incredible four-way battle". With Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing flagging, we've been forced to change approach and brand it a "dramatic duel" between leaders Malizia from Holcim-PRB.

Just 27 nautical miles separates the front two, as of 14:00 BST.

08:30

Team Malizia have confirmed that Rosalin Kuiper has suffered a concussion after being thrown from her bank.

Kuiper will stay in the boat and under observation rather than return to shore.

Kuiper said "I will get over it, I look like Pirate Rosie now. The slamming (in the boat) is quite bad though and goes through my head but I think I will be OK.

"I am sleeping alot and the boys are looking after me really well.”

Sunday 26 March

22:00

Team Malizia still lead as the fleet heads for Cape Horn.

However, lighter winds are expected as the fleet edges towards the most iconic of landmarks to offshore sailors, and Team Holcim-PRB have started to make inroads into the Boris Herrmann skippered IMOCA's lead, who had led by 43 nautical miles earlier on Sunday. The lead now stands at 34 nautical miles.

14:50

'An iconic milestone for each of The Ocean Race sailors' is how Cape Horn is described and the fleet are edging ever closer with the boats expected to make the passage on Monday.

After 48 hours of building wind and seas, with gusts over 40 knots and huge waves approaching 7 metres, conditions are said to be starting to moderate.

"For the last 48 hours we have been surrounded by towering waves and wind-blown seas far more typical of the Furious Fifties, and visually at least it finally looks like the place we all came here to see," says Amory Ross of 11th Hour Racing Team.

"As grueling as constant 35-45 knots of wind and the minefield of giant holes in the ocean around us can be, it’s part of what makes the Horn meaningful: you have to have earned it."

12:30

No chance of a lazy Sunday morning for the Ocean Race field as they continue to battle the remote, inhospitable waters of the Southern Ocean.

As revealed by their co-skipper Will Harris, Team Malizia are now under 200 miles off the South American coast and under 700 miles from Cape Horn as they lead the race by 34 nautical miles from Team Holcim - PRB.

Check out today's race report here.

Saturday 25 March

10:15

The Southern Ocean is offering up one final challenge for the fleet, with huge waves and strong winds making life tricky for those at sea.

Team Malizia continue to lead the way as Cape Horn looms, with Holcim-PRB 22.7 nautical miles adrift in second as of 10:00 GMT.

Friday 24 March

22:30

Cape Horn, the most iconic of landmarks to offshore sailors, is just 1000 nautical miles away. Gale force wins are expected though before the boats get there, so it really is the calm before the storm.

"We're attacking the last long downwind leg towards Cape Horn, with the last low pressure system that will take us as far as the Horn," said Team Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier.

"We're going to gradually climb into conditions that are more like the South, with about 30-35 knots of wind and seas that will reach seven meters. Solid conditions, as you would expect from coming this far. The important thing now is to take care of the boat, take care of the crew and stay in touch with the competitors. Fast, but not furious."

16:30

Malizia are flying along and are 12 nautical miles ahead of Holcim-PRB. The quartet are split into two, as Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing are together, but have lost ground to the leaders, at over 60 nautical miles behind.

11:00

Cape Horn is fast approaching.

Thus that means southern conditions - deep low pressure systems, unimpeded by land whipping up gale force winds, with ice bergs lurking to the south - are coming to an end.

Cape Horn has been described as "symbolic" by 11th Hour Racing Team skipper Simon Fisher and "an emergency exit door" by Samantha Davies of Biotherm, while Malizia crew member Yann Elies has spoken of the sadness of passing the headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile.

'You are a little sad, it’s strange' - Elies on leaving the Southern Ocean

Thursday 23 March

20:00

Here's a recap of the day!

'Slightly terrifying' prospect as the teams head for Cape Horn: The Ocean Race daily report 23 March

15:30

It is day 25 of racing as the fleet edge towards Itajaí.

And yet, the toughest days are ahead. That is according to race director Phil Lawrence.

"The fleet is probably going into the toughest days of the race so far, with very aggressive weather between now and Cape Horn at the end of the weekend," said Lawrence.

The Ocean Race's meteorologist Christian Dumard explained the conditions awaiting the teams.

"The wind is going to increase above 30 knots, gusting 40 knots, and we can expect six to seven metre waves on Friday and Saturday," said Christian Dumard, the meteorologist for The Ocean Race.

"I think we can expect the fleet will stay a little bit north of the ice exclusion zone to avoid the worst sea state as the wind gets even stronger," he added.

08:00

Biotherm – sat fourth in the overall standings – have surged into the lead.

The Paul Meilhat-skippered team lead from Holcim-PRB by 15.4 nautical miles. The whole fleet is separated by just 36 nautical miles with Team Malizia in third and 11th Hour Racing in fourth.

Wednesday 22 March

20:00

Here's the daily recap from another exciting day of racing....

The battle continues as the teams approach Cape Horn - The Ocean Race daily recap: 22 March

15:30

Holcim-PRB are back in front, but only by five nautical miles form Biotherm, with 11th Hour Racing a further three nautical miles behind and Malizia another eight nautical miles.

Tuesday 21 March

19:00

The fleet have been racing for almost a month and just TWENTY-THREE minutes separate the top four. Madness.

14:30

One of the biggest factors in the race are the sometimes treacherous weather conditions which send even the best laid plans array.

Monday 20 March

21:15

It’s still very, very tight between the four IMOCA boats.

Just five nautical miles separate first-placed Holcim-PRB and fourth-placed Biotherm as they continue to head east through the southern latitudes of the Pacific Ocean.

"We are quite fast," said Kevin Escoffier on Holcim-PRB. "I think when we are close to the other boats we are ok with the speed...But each time we get fast and away from the others, they come back with wind from behind."

There are two weeks of racing left to Itajai, Brazil.

16:45

After a weekend of slow winds, that allowed teams to keep working on their boats, the speeds are back up again.

Monday race report: 11th Hour Racing’s 'Mr Fix It' at work as Holcim-PRB lead

10:15

We all know that 11th Hour Racing Team has had a number of issues during the third leg and often the whole crew has had to be involved in running repairs.

Check out these videos below to get an incredible on-board view of some of those repairs.

Sunday 19 March

22:00

Holcim-PRB - fourth at the start of the day - have re-taken the lead as the compressed fleet continue to battle it out for supremacy. They lead by one nautical mile from 11th Hour Racing Team.

11:00

Found yourself wondering "what's going on with GUYOT environnement - Team Europe"? Look no further than this update as the team cruises from Cape Town to Itajai.

08:30

Morning sailing fans!

What a crazy leg this is! It's ridiculously close at the front, with new leaders 11th Hour Racing Team separated by just one nautical mile from Biotherm and Team Malizia.

Holcim-PRB, who once held a 500-plus mile lead, are somehow in fourth, 6.3nm back.

Saturday 18 March

22:00

After 20 days of racing the four IMOCAs are separated by just 10 nautical miles.

Holcim-PRB once again lead. However, their advantage over Team Malizia remains slender at 22:00 GMT.

The Kevin Escoffier skippered boat leads Team Malizia by just over four nautical miles.

Holcim-PRB had a lead of over 500 nautical miles a little under two weeks ago, so with another two weeks of racing left, it is anyone’s race.

15:00

The Ocean Race is having a restart almost three weeks into Leg 3 as competition remains incredibly close, according to Team Malizia’s Will Harris. Read the article here.

Friday 17 March

22:00

Holcim-PRB re-take the lead but are neck and neck with Malizia. Escoffier's team now lead by just 0.4 of a nautical mile, with just 11 nautical miles separating the whole fleet.

20:00

This week, the boats crossed the antimeridian - meaning the teams went back in time. Confused? Well, Biotherm are here to explain all.

17:00

Malizia have taken the lead from Holcim-PRB as the catch is finally made. The four crews are separated by less than 30 nautical miles as the third leg has now got very, very exciting.

Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier says his crew have "not been as focused and accurate" in their sailing recently. Not often you hear words like that! Find out more in our latest story.

13:00

The Daily Update is here!

Let's have a watch shall we? We can catch up with everything that is going on.

Still a tense battle! - The Ocean Race 2023 Daily Recap for March 17th

09:00

Look at this, the four boats are within 40 nautical miles of each other. This is the closest the pack have been since the opening day of this leg. Team Malizia's more northerly route is paying off as they are just 16nm behind.

Biotherm are following the same strategy as leaders Holcim-PRB whilst 11th Hour Racing's decision to position their boat further south has brought them right into the mix.

Thursday 16 March

20:00

It's been a tricky period for Charlie Enright's 11th Hour Racing Team, with technical problems during Leg 3 hindering the progress they have been able to make - but they are remaining optimistic.

"Certainly you don’t come out here for boat-building - you do it for the sailing," Enright said. "It gets a little annoying. Sometimes it sucks the joy out, but it doesn’t end the motivation.”

Read the full story here.

16:30

Team Holcim-PRB continue to set to pace, but the chasing pack is eating into the advantage - with the lead currently at 35.8 nautical miles.

"We knew that everyone would close up on us from behind so the only solution for us has been to keep pressing forward as fast as possible," Holcim skipper Kevin Escoffier said. "That's why we chose to stay south. I think if we are still a little bit ahead of the other boats, it is because we made that choice, so I'm happy with what we have done.

"The next day we will be in a light spot and after that we will be reaching along the ice exclusion zone limit, but further ahead, the weather models are not clear."

Team Malizia is keeping pace in second, with Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing Team also in the hunt as the boats approach the halfway point of Leg 3.

Thursday 16 March

12:30

The gap between leaders Holcim-PRB and Team Malizia has been under three nautical miles over the last few days but it's now up to 42 nautical miles.

Holcim-PRB are still on a more southern course than the other three teams, although Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing Team are now following a similar path.

The latest report from Ocean Race says the IMOCA fleet are heading east in "strong but manageable winds".

Holcim-PRB's Kevin Escoffier said: "We've maybe been a bit too south, but what's done is done. Now we have to deal with it.

"We made a small bet and I think we bet a bit too much, we put a bit too much money on the table."

Wednesday 15 March

15:00

Fascinating tactics playing out here as Holcim-PRB are further south which should be the better route because this part of the route arcs gently towards the south.

Meanwhile, Malizia are only 16 nautical miles behind and have done a stunning job since the scoring gate to close the gap.

Race organisers say he fleet are now racing in 25 knot northwesterlies, directly south of New Zealand, and another big speed bump lies ahead, with a ridge of high pressure and light winds that the boats will push against.

That will be an advantage for Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing Team as the fleet is forecast to compress and the lighter conditions towards the end of the week allow for much needed repairs.

09:00

Malizia have caught Holcim-PRB and the fight is really on now. It has taken over a week to make the catch but it has finally happened.

Tuesday 14 March

The third leg of The Ocean Race has been a bruising one - not necessarily for the crews but for the actual boats with several incidents of damage and the need for repairs being reported over the last few weeks.

The teams passed through the scoring gate on Sunday, with Team Holcim-PRB collecting maximum points with Team Malizia in second and 11th Hour Racing Team third, while Biotherm came through fourth.

However, as the boats maintain their course to the finish line in Itajai, Brazil, the task to keep their vessel in ship-shape is a challenging one.

Monday 13 March

15:00

Whilst Team Holcim-PRB recorded a record-breaking distance for nautical miles covered by an IMOCA boat in a 24-hour period in their way to going first through the scoring gate on Leg 3, Team Malizia and 11th Hour Racing Team were involved in a huge fight for second.

Malizia came out on top and co-skipper Will Harris has been reflecting on the leg so far, which has not even reached the halfway mark. Find out more here from Harris and the other crews.

08:30

All four boats have now crossed the scoring gate and it was Malizia that took second place, when they reached the scoring marker at 23:44:08 UTC, an hour ahead of 11th Hour Racing Team.

Biotherm added two points to their tally as they continued to fall behind the others and crossed the line at 04:10:06 UTC on Monday morning. However, they have made a small charge since then and are back within 12 nautical miles of the top three. Read more here.

Team Holcim-PRB - 5 points
Team Malizia - 4 points
11th Hour Racing Team - 3 points
Biotherm - 2 points
GUYOT environnement - Team Europe - DNF

With the fleet having crossed the latest scoring gate on Leg 3, you can enjoy a special show with live chats with the skippers on discovery+

Sunday 12 March

19:00

Team Holcim-PRB were the first boat at the scoring gate! The Swiss boat crossed the line at 17h 45m 38s UTC in an elapsed time of 14 days, five hours, 25 minutes and 38 seconds.

The team, skippered by Kevin Escoffier, scored the maximum five points in the process of coming out on top once again.

It means it has been a successful 24 hours for Escoffier's team as Sunday morning saw them set an IMOCA distance record of 595.26 nautical miles.

"The rhythm of these last hours of racing has been set by a big push to the scoring gate and this first set of points for leg 3," Escoffier said.

"We built a big lead early this leg, but the others caught a favourable weather front and there was nearly a re-start a few days ago. But we managed to hold on to a bit of a lead through it all, which we really wanted to keep for the scoring gate.

"Yesterday (Saturday) the sea state was manageable enough that the IMOCA speed records kept falling. For us, we are very happy to get the record even if that wasn't the goal, but an objective towards the goal of leading at the scoring gate.

"We keep learning about this boat and finding ways to go faster and faster."

12:00

It's all eyes on the scoring gate which is just hours away. Holcim-PRB look set to take the five maximum points available as their lead remains at 160 nautcial miles.

09:00

Big day today because the crews are expected to arrive at the scoring gate this evening and Holcim-PRB have increased their lead overnight to over 160 nautical miles.

Biotherm were second this time yesterday, but they have lost ground and are now in fourth place at nearly 190nm behind the leaders. Malizia are second, one nautical mile ahead of 11th Hour Racing as the pair are 164nm adrift of Holcim-PRB.

Saturday 11 March

19:30

Conditions allowed the teams to make good progress with the long hours of sunlight coupled with helpful wind.

Indeed, it has been a record-breaking day as the four IMOCAs racing through the south continued to race hard to push.

Before the leg got underway the longest 24-hour travel distance was 539.71 and this was beaten by all four teams.

The longest distance was set by current leaders Holcim-PRB on 588.71 nautical miles, who now hold a 130 mile lead over Biotherm, though they face pressure from Team Malizia.

"We've been kind of short on speed over the last few position reports so we've been doing our best to find the next gear and match the other boats," said Abby Ehler from a loud and fast Holcim-PRB boat.

"Now we just had a really good report and we're almost two-to-three knots faster over the last hour so that's good miles gained there."

08:00

The crews have been flying along overnight and interestingly Holcim-PRB have stabilised their gap to the rest of the field.

They have a lead of 131 nautical miles to Biotherm, with 11th Hour Racing a further nine nautical miles behind and Malizia another five nautical miles further adrift.

Friday 10 March

19:00

All four remaining boats – Holcim-PRB, Biotherm, Team Malizia and 11th Hour Racing Team – are clicking down the miles in fast conditions as the race moves east.

The water is flat-ish and the wind is up. Holcim-PRB remain in the lead but – having led by circa 600 nautical miles just a week ago – the gap to the pack is now just 116 nautical miles. Biotherm are second, 11th Hour Racing Team are in third with Team Malizia fourth.

"We are just at the end of the Indian Ocean, sailing below Cape Leeuwin in a little bit," said Paul Meilhat on Biotherm. "We are reaching just ahead of a front, with Team Malizia and 11th Hour Racing Team just behind us and Holcim-PRB about 100 miles in front of us.

"It depends on our speed, but when we are faster we are more in sunny conditions, and if we are slower we are in the rain and grey. It seems like we have a few days of this."

Holcim-PRB has seen their lead cut by a further 60 nautical miles over the last 24 hours, and with light winds to the east continuing to favour the trailing pack, their lead could be cut further in the coming days.

Thursday 9 March

2000

Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann has admitted that he had worried that his crew may have to abandon The Ocean Race after suffering a broken mast.

“We take it for granted now that we have a mast which is reliable and that was a huge shock," he told Eurosport.

"I really questioned if we could continue the race or if we had to go back.

“I was not actually sure if a repair was possible and none of us were sure on board and we were really pleased."

Full story here

13:00

Calmer conditions have compressed the fleet. It has also allowed for teams to inspect for any damage and make repairs in calmer waters.

Catch up with the latest from The Ocean Race with the race report.

10:00

Remember Holcim-PRB's 500-plus mile advantage? The Ocean Race boffins are expecting that to be slashed to less than 100 nautical miles by Friday. Madness.

As of 09:00 GMT, Biotherm are 226.1nm adfrift in second, with Team Mailiza at 234.8nm in third.

Wednesday 8 March

18:00

A look at the Ocean Race tracker shows one team taking a different course to the rest right now. That team is leaders Holcim-PRB, who have made a dive to become the boat furthest to the south.

This is because the team are trying to defend their lead from Biotherm, who have caught up by nearly 100 miles over the past three days.

As Holcim-PRB look for ways to stay ahead, the mood is positive among the Biotherm crew.

"The wind has shifted to the north and we've gybed overnight and now we're running just ahead of a front and the wind is going to build,” said

"We've been checking the boat and doing the little jobs that are impossible to do in stronger winds. We're making the most of the smooth running conditions, where life on board is much easier to sleep and eat and make sure all the systems are working for the next week, because we're going to be sending it on port all the way to Tasmania.

“The mood on board is as good as ever - I'm using my headphones to cancel out the sound of laughter from the cockpit!”

13:30

After noticing cracks on their rudders, 11th Hour Racing are doing some repairs at sea. It means they have dropped back from the front three, with the team hoping to get back underway after travelling at reduced speed.

At the front, Holcim-PRB remain out in front, but their lead has been cut to 367 nautical miles by Biotherm as of 13:00 GMT. Remember: it was once over 500 miles...

12:00

Biotherm are hot on the heels of Holcim-PRB, that lead keeps coming down!

Tuesday 7 March

18:00

A big day for Biotherm! Paul Meilhat and his team have gained over 30 miles on Team Holcim-PRB as the weather works in their favour. Catch up with the latest here:

10:00

Less than 10,000 nautical miles to go!

Holcim-PRB's lead continues to be eroded - albeit slowly - by the three-pronged chase. Can they catch the weather system in front?

Monday 6 March

22:00

"In what other sport can you get such a big lead and lose everything in a few days and have to start all over again?!"

Those are the fears of Holcim-PRB skipper Kevin Escoffier, who has seen his crew's enormous lead slowly chiselled away after their record-breaking Saturday. Holcim-PRB once enjoyed an advantage of over 500 miles, but amid hugely contrasting weather systems between them and their rivals, that has dropped into the 400s.

And Escoffier knows that if he can't catch up with a weather system up ahead, their rivals will be pulled back to them sooner rather than later.

"If we don't manage to catch the system ahead we'll have to wait for the next one, which they will be coming with and we'll have a restart," he said.

13:00

It's the second Monday of the third leg and Holcim-PRB have a lead of 470 nautical miles from Biotherm. 11th Hour Racing are a further 50nm behind with Malizia just 5nm adrift of them in fourth.

Sunday 5 March

15:30

Team Holcim-PRB continue to hold a 500-plus mile lead on Leg 3 of The Ocean Race - although the three-strong pursuit fleet has made small gains.

It's not completely rosy for Kevin Escoffier's team, who have been working to fix a tear in their J2 headsail, applying a patch over the damaged material.

"This morning we also noticed some damage to the leech line on the mainsail so we dropped the sail to fix that and now we are going to take advantage of the relatively flat sea state to work on the J2," said Abby Ehler.

"It's a really hard fix to do - Sam is trying to hold on, but it's not ideal. Hopefully we get something on there that will at least stop the tear from getting bigger and then we'll be back on our way."

08:15

Some interesting news from Race Control with confirmation that 11th Hour Racing Team have beaten their own race record for distance covered in a 24-hour window, with the new record standing at 544.63 nautical miles.

There was also confirmation that GUYOT envrionnement - Team Europe is safely back in port in Cape Town and will begin repairs on their mast and the hull structure.

Saturday 4 March

10:00

A very interesting episode of The Ocean Race show for you here on YouTube.

This is what the Race is all about - the intersection of human adventure, teamwork and technology and all in the most remote parts of the planet!

Friday 3 March

21:00

Biotherm, 11th Hour Racing Team and Team Malizia have emerged from a frustrating period of unusually light, warm and calm conditions as they seek to chase down leg-leading Team Holcim-PRB.

The chasing pack - who were travelling at speeds as slow as 1.6 kts on Thursday - could only watch on as Team Holcim-PRB, one full weather system ahead, opened up a lead of approximately 550 nautical miles over the field by 10:00 on Friday morning.

Team Malizia, however, used the lack of wind to their advantage – with Will Harris completing a gruelling mast repair over the course of Thursday that may not have been possible in windier conditions.

And, now, with the mast repaired, Boris Herrmann’s Malizia, alongside Paul Meilhat’s Biotherm and Charlie Enright’s 11th Hour Racing Team can set about attempting to eat into the lead of Kevin Escoffier’s Team Holcim-PRB.

"We are moving again, after 24 hours in the high pressure system," said Biotherm skipper Meilhat.

"Now, it's 'let's go'. It's still not very windy, but much better than before. We are happy to be going faster with the boat and not listening to the flapping of the sails. It's good!!"

Thursday 2 March

23:00

Team Malizia were on the verge of having to turn back to Cape Town on another dramatic day at The Ocean Race but crew member Will Harris completed an incredible repair of the boat’s mast on Thursday night.

Following GUYOT environnement-Team Europe’s decision to suspend racing, Malizia nearly followed in their footsteps when a 30cm crack was noticed at the top of the mast.

However, Harris has saved the team after a mighty effort. Find out more here.

16:00

Team Holcim-PRB have a lead of over 300 nautical miles and are currently travelling around 10 knots quicker than everyone else, amazing stuff!

Despite building a nice advantage, skipper Kevin Escoffier says it hasn't been easy.

"The sea state has been horrible," he said. "It is not easy to find the right balance between speed and not breaking the boat.

"Now we still have to deal with this huge low pressure system in front of us. So far we have been pretty good, first at the start, and with our position after and we have been able to gain and gain a bit more."

12:30

We have an update from Team Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann.

"Small update from the sea:

"A very strong metal part holding a sail up broke the evening before yesterday at nightfall. (Code zero lock)

"When the sail fell down its halyard ripped a 26 cms long hole in the face of the mast at the top (ripping through the carbon fibre structure).

"The sail fell in the water and got pierced on the foil. We managed to pull it back on board.

"With reefed sails we can now continue to sail. And once we have managed to put carbon over the crack we can sail almost back at 100%.

"Right now we are so slow because a high pressure caught us and we are with no wind in massive big waves. It’s a bit horrible being thrown around and seeing the sails suffer from slamming from side to side.

"We hope to be able to do the repair soon and resume proper sailing. Hopefully tomorrow.

"All in all we had quite a bit of bad luck in this leg:

"We started well and then lost out due to bad information on the aghulas current. (Not sure better info exists-tbc) This put us a bit behind holcim. Losing the sail made us loose more. Valuable miles. This added lead to us being caught up by the high pressure which holcim managed to escape.

"The team is amazingly positive. And has a strong morale.

"Myself I feel a bit shattered. Emotionally. Disappointed. But the great people around me show me the right attitude. Keep face and remain strong to achieve the dream of this round the world race. We thought about going back to Cape Town. This would be an easy reaction. The race could be continued from Itajai.

"But we now all agree to try and continue. It takes of course even more mental strength then such an endeavor takes anyhow. The day we stand on the dock in itajai I will be super proud. These long races are incredibly challenging. I send u some photos. Send us some good luck, 10 knots of wind and flat seas."

09:45 - GUYOT Team Europe return to Cape Town

Bad news to report: GUYOT environnement - Team Europe have suspended racing and begun the sad trudge back to Cape Town.

After hearing two consecutive noises, the team discovered abnormal movements in the hull bottom in the living area. Their conclusion? A hull sandwich failure.

The crew are safe and believe they can guide the boat back to Cape Town - just over 600 nautical miles to the northwest - safely.

“Given the current position of the boat and the distance to the arrival in Itajai, unfortunately it is better for the crew and the integrity of the boat to turn back to Cape Town.” said Thomas Cardrin, the technical director from GUYOT environnement - Team Europe.

Read the full story here.

09:00

Morning sailing fans and welcome to day four!

The fleet are taking advantage of strong winds as they steam across the Southern Ocean, with Holcim-PRB extending their advantage through the night. As of 08:00 GMT, they hold a lead of 34.6 nautical miles over GUYOT environnement – Team Europe.

Tuesday 28 February

22:00

Guess who’s leading as we approach the end of day three? It’s Holcim-PRB of course with GUYOT environnement – Team Europe just seven nautical miles behind.

Team Malizia are 58.6nm adrift, with 11th Hour Racing Team in fourth and Biotherm in fifth. All to play for of course.

17:00

The wind has arrived for leg 3 of The Ocean Race as the five IMOCA teams settle into higher latitudes and begin to criss-cross to the east, hooking into the first big weather system of the leg.

After a day of light winds and adverse current on Monday, the winds will be welcome. But they come with a punishing sea state with seas forecast as high as six metres the further south one dares to venture.

"The wind has picked up a lot," is how Robert Stanjek described the conditions on board GUYOT environnement - Team Europe on Tuesday.

"We have seen up to 32 knots of wind. We are sailing downwind with the FRO (fractional code zero headsail) and one reef in the mainsail in a little less wind but bigger waves. It is not so easy to drive."

12:00

It's day 3 of leg three and after a slightly delayed start for Biotherm who were forced to temporarily suspend racing, skipper Paul Melilhat has confidently stated that his team are 'Back in the game'.

Full story here

Monday 27 February

21:05

There's not much between the teams at the moment as they start to get away from the light wind and pick up speed.

Holcim-PRB are in the lead at the moment ahead of GUYOT environnement Team Europe, who are 19 nautical miles behind.

Things could get shaken up in challenging conditions tomorrow as the wind is forecast to be near 40 knots, with waves of up to six metres.

12:00

After all the drama at the start of the leg, in which Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing Team suspended racing for repairs, both teams have rejoined the race.

08:30

Good morning on day 2 of this historic leg of The Ocean Race. Is it any surprise if we said Holcim-PRB are leading the way? A long, LONG way to go, of course, and GUYOT environnement Team Europe are just eight nautical miles behind.

Biotherm are third, a further 20nm adrift, but we've not even had 24 hours of racing yet so a lot will change.

Sunday 26 February - launch day

23:10

They will be resuming racing shortly!

19:30

What an eventful day it was earlier in Cape Town with the start of the much-anticipated Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23.

Catch all the best bits here!

Highlights: All the best action from Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23

16:10

An update now on the prognosis for the two teams that suspended racing earlier today: Biotherm and 11th Hour Racing Team.

13:55

That's live coverage of the start to Leg 3 done, but head over to our Ocean Race page for more of the latest happenings as the teams begin their jaunt into the Southern Ocean...

13:45

Quick standings update as the boats continue their path away from Table Bay:

1. Team Malizia
2. Team Holcim-PRB
3. GUYOT Environnement - Team Europe
4. 11th Hour Racing - in port
5. Biotherm - in port

13:35

Biotherm have made it back to shore, and are currently fixing their mainsail attachment.

Paul Meilhat, speaking to Eurosport, seemed to play down the importance of his boat's damage, and confirmed they expect to re-join the race after their minimum two hours in the dock have elapsed.

'We broke the loop' - Paul Meilhat explains exactly what went wrong on Biotherm boat

13:25

All sorts going on during this start to Leg 3 - and we've still got just under 12,750 nautical miles to go!

13:20

With the race at something of an impasse, let's have a look back at that remarkable start to Leg 3 from Biotherm...

'They're all on the wrong gybe!' - Chaos at the start as Biotherm catch everyone out

13:15

And now the confirmation that 11th Hour Racing have also decided to suspend racing as a result of breaking two wing tips on their mainsail. Two of the five boats will be heading back to shore, a hugely unexpected turn of events!

13:12

Latest on Biotherm: they HAVE decided to go onshore to get their problem fixed, but they've chosen to complete the inshore course so that they don't have to re-do it when they get back on the water. Looks like a clever decision from Paul Meilhat, with the rest of the boats currently making slow progress in the light winds.

13:10

And now 11th Hour Racing are dealing with some issues, with CEO Mark Towill telling Eurosport that they need to get their mainsail fixed, and considering suspending racing. What next in this dramatic start to Leg 3?

13:05

After a breathless start, it's Team Malizia who are still navigating the changeable wind conditions the best as they approach the inshore departure gate, but Team Holcim-PRB are right on their tails.

Biotherm meanwhile continue to race on - have they decided to try and fix their problem themselves?

13:00

They sure can...

12:55

It might be punishing work for the sailors, but for the spectators, how about these stunning scenes?

Table Mountain provides the stunning backdrop to the start of Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23.

Image credit: Other Agency

12:50

From bad to worse for Biotherm! It seems as if they have a technical issue that may force them to return to shore for an assessment. That could mean a two-hour delay, and then having to re-sail the in-port section. What a setback for Paul Meilhat and his team!

12:45

Here's that calm amid the drama as the IMOCAs almost reached a complete stop...

12:40

What a turnaround! Paul Meilhat and Biotherm have tacked too early on the next section and they have dropped right down the pack, with Team Malizia storming out into the lead.

12:30

You can see the gap Biotherm managed to carve out at the start...

Biotherm Racing take the early lead at the start of Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23.

Image credit: Other Agency

12:25

This in-port section of the Leg 3 start is fluctuating wildly, with the boats charging as they got into the strong breeze, but now they have almost all parked up as they reach a compression. Most of the boats are only going at 2 or so knots! Biotherm are still out in front, but not by much...

12:20

Here's the early state of play as the teams come past the first mark:

1. Biotherm
2. Team Malizia
3. GUYOT environnment - Team Europe
4. 11th Hour Racing Team
5. Team Holcim-PRB

12:18

It's a full two minutes until the next boat - Team Malizia - even crosses the start line, as the remaining boats all - unexpectedly - got stuck in a low wind area. Remarkable scenes!

12:15

And we're underway with Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23! What a start by Biotherm Racing - they've well and truly stolen a march on the rest here!

12:10

The five-minute gun has just gone as the boats get ready for the off. And what a beautiful day it is in Cape Town, with the imposing Table Mountain in the background.

11:55 - Not long to go...

11:45 - Davies ready to face her limits

Samantha Davies says Leg 3 of The Ocean Race will push her to the limits of endurance, as the British sailor prepares to set off with Biotherm.

"It is incredible to be able to participate in something that has never been done before,” said Eurosport expert Davies, who recalled her experience competing in the Vendee Globe, a non-stop solo race around the world.

"That's what made me want to come. It's a challenge to be able to set off into the unknown, because if you know this journey through the Vendee Globe, it will be nothing like it. It's obviously linked to the fact that we're not sailing solo. During the Vendee Globe, I sometimes felt like shouting, for example, but it's useless when you're alone on the boat.

"Here, we will share everything: the scares, the joys, the adrenaline... But especially when you are solo in the southern seas, you feel really alone, and it is not easy to manage."

‘Really looking like food!’ - Escoffier on refuelling during the Ocean Race

11:30 - The teams are ready!

11:20 - Teams waiting for daunting Leg 3 challenge

Leg 3 of The Ocean Race is the longest ever since the competition’s inception.

Kevin Escoffier of Team Holcim PRB and Benjamin Dutreux of GUYOT environment are confident of their chances.

“I am very happy with the beginning of the race, even if the leaderboard doesn’t show that,” said Dutreux.

“The scoreboard, it’s only numbers, and what I feel is that the level is very high and very close in the fleet.

"We have a fight with the other boats, and our points are not good, but I’m very happy with the fight and effort we put into sailing the boat, and that is the most important factor.

"I feel we are making good progress, and I’m looking forward to getting back on board and fighting for 20 per cent of the race on this crazy leg.”

Full story

Watch highlights as Holcim-PRB thrive in Cape Town In-Port race with impressive win

11:05 - What early tactics will the teams employ?

The Ocean Race's official weather consultant Christian Dumard gives his thoughts on the tactics the teams may employ as they begin their epic journey on the longest leg in race history.

He said: "The boats could go upwind and go quite close to the Cape of Good Hope, but some could reach off to the southwest and go and get the windshift (south-east to southwest) in the high pressure system.

"They will not like having a negative VMG, but if one or two boats go southwest, the others could follow."

Full story here!

10:55 - Leg 3 coming right up!

So here we go then! In around half an hour's time the competitors are due to race for a month in order to cover a gruelling 12,750 nautical miles to Itajai in Brazil.

Remember you can watch live coverage from Leg 3 of The Ocean Race with Eurosport and discovery+.

'Everybody keyed in' - Enright

11th Hour’s skipper Charlie Enright is aware of the task ahead.

Enright said: “When the course for this race was announced, everybody keyed in on this leg pretty quickly as the big one. You know, it's going to be somewhere between 30 to 40 days.

“The south can be unbelievable,” added Enright. “I mean, it's big westerly winds with no leeward mark, a sailor's dream and you get to go downwind forever. But it's also a pretty treacherous part of the world. In the two previous editions of the race we’ve been either side of that. In 2014/15 we were a group of young guys and to find ourselves leading the fleet around Cape Horn was a magical moment.

"But in the next edition of the race we dropped a rig about 50 miles after going around Cape Horn. So the Southern Ocean can give and it can also take away.”

Welcome to one and all

Hello and welcome to Eurosport's live coverage of Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-23, from Cape Town in South Africa all the way to Itajai, Brazil, an astonishing 12,750 nautical miles that makes it the longest leg in race history.

Let's start things off by hearing what some of the athletes had to say.

- -

You will be able to watch live coverage from every leg of The Ocean Race 2023 with Eurosport and discovery+.

The Ocean Race