Flying boats, double points and a lightning pit stop set stage for Portuguese Ocean Race thriller
Matosinhos-Porto hosts critical Fly-By during Ocean Race Europe
Race highlights ocean health initiatives alongside competition
Event features cutting-edge IMOCA 60 and VO65 yachts
April 23 (Reuters) - Flying boats, double points and a three-hour pit stop will bring high-octane sailing drama to Portugal this August as Matosinhos-Porto secured a coveted spot on The Ocean Race Europe route – with ocean health activism sharing the spotlight alongside sporting glory.
The Portuguese coastal destination will host a "Fly-By" on Aug. 20 during the second leg from Portsmouth to Cartagena, it was announced on Wednesday, with the high-tech foiling IMOCA boats making a brief three-hour stop at Porto Cruise Terminal before continuing their journey to Gibraltar and the Mediterranean.
The Fly-By represents a critical sporting juncture, awarding half the points for the double-scoring second leg.
"It's very special to know that The Ocean Race Europe is stopping in Matosinhos because I know I will feel the warmth of Portugal and the Portuguese people in this extreme and hard competition," said Mariana Lobato, the only female Portuguese sailor who competed in the last round-the-world race and who will now be racing with Team Paprec Arkea.
The announcement, made during an event at Porto Cruise Terminal, highlighted how the race will spotlight ocean health initiatives alongside the sporting spectacle.
"Few competitions can claim to connect Europe more completely than The Ocean Race Europe," said Richard Brisius, Race Chairman. "This is a race that truly connects our continent, from the Baltic to the Mediterranean, and into the Adriatic Sea."
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 will start from Kiel, Germany on Aug. 10, with stops in Portsmouth, Matosinhos-Porto, Cartagena, Nice, and Genoa before finishing at Boka Bay, Montenegro.
The race, launched in 2021, has swiftly become a marquee event on the offshore sailing calendar, delivering elite competition across Europe's iconic ports. Designed as a shorter, continental counterpart to the legendary round-the-world Ocean Race, it features cutting-edge IMOCA 60 and VO65 class yachts with mixed-gender crews tackling a blend of offshore legs and coastal sprints.
The IMOCA 60 is a cutting-edge 60-foot (18-metre) yacht known for its speed and ability to "fly" above the water using foils, while the VO65 is a 65-foot (20-metre) one-design conventional monohull boat built for strength, speed and close competition.
The inaugural edition saw Portugal's Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team clinch victory in the VO65 class, while Offshore Team Germany triumphed in the IMOCA 60 category. Beyond the fierce racing, the event underscores a commitment to environmental advocacy, leveraging its platform to champion ocean health and sustainability initiatives across the continent.
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