A day of soft wind in Alicante ended up being a test for both fleets on the first day of competition at The Ocean Race

The Ocean Race 2022-23 has started this weekend in Alicante with the opening of the Ocean Live Park and the first In-Port Races.

In the celebration edition of its 50th anniversary, The Ocean Race returns, competing for the purpose of promoting ocean health and welcoming the race to the high-tech IMOCA fleet, along with the VO65 that will meet its third edition.

About 50,000 fans enjoyed the first days of the race at Ocean Live Park, under a warm weekend in Alicante, to see the VO65 and IMOCA teams launch into the waters of the Port of departure for the In- Port races this Sunday.

The activities will continue throughout the week at Ocean Live Park, in the days before the departure of Stage 1 from Alicante to Cape Verde, on January 15.

The German Team Malizia has won the In-Port Race of Alicante after a frenzy battle in which four of the five IMOCA took the lead at some point during a highly unpredictable and distressing competition.

The best way out, with about 9 knots of wind, was made by French Biotherm patrolling by Paul Meilhat. However, a good choice of smaller bow candle, the J2, worked well for the 11th Hour Racing Team of the United States, patrolling today by Simon Fisher. The American ship was put with a slight advantage on the first beacon.

At the end of the second tranche, Fisher's crew chose to continue starboard for 200 meters before they moved. Meanwhile, the two ships in the back, Team Holcim-PRB (SUI) and GUYOT Environnement - Team Europe, executed an immediate outburst on the second beacon and took their heads over the three ships in front.

Kevin Escoffier (FRA) and his Holcim-PRB were shot with a healthy advantage. But then, in the girly stretch, everything changed again. A large roll of wind to the left and a fall of its power left Escoffier stranded, while the rest of the fleet was hooked to the new wind before the race leader. For the second time, the hierarchical order changed completely.

From the fourth place, Team Malizia took the lead for a few minutes, just to be moved by the 11th Hour Racing Team, which had passed from last to first.

Codo in the next stretch, the German ship passed over the Americans and was placed on an advantage that Herrmann and Team Malizia's crew would maintain to the end.

Results and points

1. Team Malizia, 5 points
2. 11th Hour Racing Team, 4 points
3. Biotherm, 3 points
4. GUYOT Environnement - Team Europe, 2 points
5. Holcim-PRB - not finished, 0 points

WindWhisper wins VO65 In Port Race

With just a breath of wind, the WindWhisper Racing Team crossed the finish line of the VO65 In-Port Race of Alicante by a comfortable margin. Such was the advantage established by the patron Pablo Arararte (ESP) and his predominantly Polish and Spanish crew, that the other five ships could not end within the 15-minute time limit that began to run at the time WindWhisper crossed the finish line.

Outside the exit, with the wind in Alicante reaching only 4 knots, four of the six ships were very equal with slightly different candle configurations. But the more sotavent position of the WindWhisper led the Polish ship to the first position when the red ship rounded the first beacon of the tour with a slight advantage.

As the Arrarte team gradually moved away from the chasing group, several battles were fought for the positions of the tail. However, while the WindWhisper was able to maintain the momentum, a fading wind faded, leaving the other five stranded teams unable to cross the finish line.

Results and points

1. WindWhisper Racing Team, 6 points
2. Team JAJO, DNF - not finished, 0 points
2. Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, DNF - not finished, 0 points
2. Viva Mexico, DNF - not finished, 0 points
2. Ambersail 2, DNF - not finished, 0 points
2. Austrian Ocean Racing - Team Genova, DNF - not finished, 0 points