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Day 5: The Ocean Race Europe - Start and collision!

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Tens of thousands clapped and made la-ola waves as the teams marched across the keel line - this is how the start of The Ocean Race 2025 began in Kiel. Winds of up to 23 knots are blowing in Kiel's outer fjord. It will be the expected speed start. The field will be accompanied by numerous boats on the fjord. The first leg will take the fleet over 850 nautical miles to Portsmouth. The winner will receive seven points.

Biotherm collected the first two points of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 after the start. Skipper Paul Meilhat was the first to pass the first mark at the Kiel lighthouse. Team Paprec Arkéa, skippered by Yoann Richomme, crossed the line in second place and scored another point.

Boris Herrmann before the start: "The organisers have set us a big challenge with the mark. We have to cross the start line at speed without colliding with anyone, which is super tricky. I've never experienced such a difficult start." Setting the first mark so early is viewed critically by some skippers in the fleet. It is intended to provide a spectacle right at the start, but harbours an unusual risk for the large offshore racing yachts.

And then - what a disaster: skipper Rosalin Kuiper's Holcim-PRB was badly damaged on the hull in the collision with skipper Ambrogio Beccaria's Allagrande Mapei Racing, and Holcim's foil sliced through Allagrande's sails. Both crews return to the harbour under engine power.

Sailing expert Tim Kröger: "In hindsight, because we've seen the videos several times, it now unfortunately looks like Holcim lost control with the big sail and tacked so fast that Mapei had no chance at all to get out of the way."

In an initial reaction, Mapei skipper Ambrogio Beccaria was completely frustrated. "My heart is destroyed," said the Italian after the collision with Holcim-PRB and the sail damage to his boat.