The Ocean Race Europe – a new, three-stage offshore sailing race for professional teams racing in two classes of high-performance ocean-going yachts: VO65 and IMOCA 60 – starts from Lorient, France on Saturday May 29 at 13.45 CEST.
This inaugural edition of the race will finish in Genova, Italy on June 19, and includes stopovers in Cascais, Portugal and Alicante, Spain along the way.
In addition to the equally scored offshore legs, at each of the stopovers in Cascais and Genova the teams will also take part in a shorter coastal day race, with bonus points being awarded to the first three finishers.
All digital output for The Ocean Race Europe will be managed from The Ocean Race headquarters in Alicante, where the engaging and award-winning content from the last three around-the-world editions of the race was also produced.
The Ocean Race website www.theoceanrace.com will go into race mode ahead of start day, and is the hub for all key content for The Ocean Race Europe, including: video and still imagery from the yachts; results; latest news; and, during the offshore legs, a race tracker showing the positions of the yachts.
Live leg starts
Each leg start will be covered live on www.theoceanrace.com as well as The Ocean Race Youtube channel and other social media platforms. The start of the race, from Lorient, France on May 29 will also be shown across Europe with local language commentary on Eurosport (see more below)
Ongoing Race Coverage
Each race day at 1800 CEST during the offshore legs, tune in to the Daily Fix, a round-up of the day’s racing action with footage from the race boat, which will be broadcast official YouTube and Facebook channels.
On leg start, arrivals, and coastal race days a highlight show will be posted on The Ocean Race social platforms and website.
Eurosport
Eurosport/Discovery is The Ocean Race Europe’s live broadcast and news distribution partner. Eurosport reaches 150 million households in 65 countries in more than 20 languages. Discovery has a cumulative subscriber base of 3.8 billion, and attracts a monthly audience of 300 million viewers.
On Saturday May 29 Eurosport will broadcast the Leg 1 start live from Lorient, beginning at 1330 CEST. The one-hour broadcast will be available in 54 countries and 21 languages, including: French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch and Polish. Check local listings for programming details.
Eurosport will also produce and broadcast four 23-minute magazine programmes to be broadcast and repeated on Eurosport 1 and 2 – check local listings for confirmed timings:
Episode one – May 27, 28
Episode two – June 7
Episode three – June 14, 15
Episode four – June 22, 23
News and other updates on The Ocean Race Europe will also be posted on Eurosport social media and digital channels.
The Ocean Race social media channels
The Ocean Race social channels will be updated regularly throughout The Ocean Race Europe with all the latest news, video footage and still images from the boats, and The Daily Fix update show, as well as all other important news and information related to the race.
Accredited media can access the following resources relating to The Ocean Race Europe via the race media centre at https://mediacentre.theoceanrace.com
Media Guide
The Ocean Race Europe Media Guide containing information about the race, the route, and the participating teams, along with a glossary of ocean racing terms is available for download here
Press releases during racing
During The Ocean Race Europe daily press releases will be distributed to accredited media in four languages (ENG, FRA, ESP and ITA).
Image Library
The Ocean Race’s new image library will be updated each day with free-for-editorial-use images from Ocean Race Europe, including ‘live’ on-the-water and aerial images from leg starts and arrivals, plus all images sent from the boats while racing. Please ensure the full photographer credit is used on all published images.
Downloadable graphic of The Ocean Race Europe route
A graphic of The Ocean Race Europe route is available for downloadhere
Onsite media opportunities
Please note that – with the potential exception of Genova – no Race Village activity is planned in the stopover host cities.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic a strict safety protocol has been implemented for The Ocean Race Europe. All local health restrictions must also be adhered to at all times.
As a consequence, there will be no media centre facilities at any of the stopovers and normal media activities such as press conferences, mixed zones, and one-one interviews, may not always be possible.
As a minimum requirement, any interviews that have been arranged will take place outside, at a separation of two metres, and with all persons wearing masks.
To request interviews with individual sailors please contact press@theoceanrace.com and/or the individual Teams’ communications contacts listed in the media guide.
Places on official media boats for accredited professional photographers/cameramen may be available at the selected stopover cities. Please note that space will be extremely limited and places will be allocated by The Ocean Race Europe media team. Please contact press@theoceanrace.com for availability.
Accredited media planning to visit the race at any of the host cities should email press@theoceanrace.com for the latest information.
Since 1973, The Ocean Race has provided the ultimate test of a team and a human adventure like no other. Over four decades it has kept an almost mythical hold over some of the greatest sailors and been the proving ground for the legends of our sport.
The last edition of the race was the closest in history, with three teams virtually tied, approaching the finish line. After 126 days of racing spread across 11 legs, the winning margin for Charles Caudrelier’s Dongfeng Race Team was only 16 minutes. The top three teams were separated by just four points.
The next edition of The Ocean Race will start from Alicante, Spain in the autumn of 2022 and will finish in Genoa, Italy in summer of 2023.
The Ocean Race Europe
In May/June of 2021, IMOCA and VO65 teams will take part in the inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Europe, starting in Lorient, France on May 29 and finishing in Genova, Italy on June 19, with stops in Cascais, Portugal and Alicante, Spain.
Sustainability in The Ocean Race
We have a proven commitment to sustainability, and with the support and collaboration of 11th Hour Racing, Founding Partner of the Race Sustainability Programme and Premier Partner of The Ocean Race, we are inspiring action and creating tangible outcomes.
Building upon our award-winning legacy in sustainability, our innovative Racing With Purpose programme is acting as a catalyst for positive change and accelerating the application of innovative solutions to help restore ocean health.
The Ocean Race 1973 SL Registered Office: Muelle 10 de Levante, Puerto de Alicante, Alicante, 03001, Spain. Registered in Spain No B76239177. This email and any files transmitted are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. If you have received this email in error, please notify webmaster@theoceanrace.com.