As soon as the Vendée Globe is over, the dates for the next big events are fixed. The Ocean Race, the successor to the legendary Whitbread and Volvo Ocean Race, should actually start this year. However, due to the corona, this was postponed to the coming year. However, its smaller offshoot, The Ocean Race Europe, is entering the final preparation phase and is also intended to be the prelude to the ImocWorld Series.
The organizers have just announced the French town of Lorient as the starting port from which they will head towards the Mediterranean on the last weekend in May. This is apparently intended to motivate the French teams based there. The destination is Genoa, there should be two stage ports in between, but which have not yet been named. However, Cascais is considered safe.
Six teams are expected to compete on VO65 Racers, the boats of the past Volvo Ocean Race. Six to eight Imoca teams are considered interested, including those of Louis Burton, Thomas Ruyant and Alex Thomson.
Two German teams are also considered interested. Boris Herrmann's start depends on the sale of his boat as well as the necessary repairs, not least the damaged starboard foil. The Offshore Team Germany also has a boat and the necessary crew, with Robert Stanjek as the skipper and the British Annie Lush as one of a total of four crew members with whom the Imocas are to be sailed in this race. One of them has to be a woman.
But like the entire race, the participation of the Germans is subject to corona reserve. "We are in serious preparations, but are waiting for the pandemic situation", says team manager Jens Kuphal.