MADRID, 20 (EUROPA PRESS)
The Ocean Race Europe fleet stormed into Matosinhos this morning after two and a half days of relentless racing, with Biotherm once again leading the way. Paul Meilhat's team extended their winning streak by earning the seven points at stake at the mid-leg gate.
But it wasn't easy, as the Bay of Biscay offered smooth conditions, but this only further compressed the fleet. For much of the leg, all the boats sailed within a few miles of each other, with every gybe and sail change amplified to the maximum.
Meilhat and his crew made the decisive move around Cape Finisterre, being the first to catch the new breeze on the west side of the fleet. From there, they pushed hard and held on to the lead. "In the Bay of Biscay, we were on a beam with light wind, so that was good for us, and we took the lead just before Finisterre. We stayed to the west of the fleet, and it was the perfect strategy," explained Meilhat.
"It's true that it was different from the first leg. Here it was tough until the very end. Even tonight, the wind wasn't what we expected; we gybed several times and it was very choppy. But we found a solution to go very fast, and we're very happy with the boat," he added.
Behind them, Paprec Arkéa led the stage's comeback. Yoann Richomme's team had dropped to the back of the pack after losing ground at the Tide Gate against Brittany, but fought back to regain second place, 42 minutes behind Biotherm.
With six points in Matosinhos, Paprec Arkéa remains firmly in contention. For Richomme, their chances of winning The Ocean Race Europe for a second time remain intact. "I think the wind is dropping a bit on the north side of the course now. It's going to be tough for those behind us, so it's a good result for us," he analyzed.
Third place went to Holcim-PRB, 32 minutes behind Paprec. For skipper Rosalin Kuiper, these were the first points of the event after the tough setback in the opening stage. The passage through Matosinhos gave the teams three hours to regroup before setting off again for Cartagena.
With 18 points earned from all scoring opportunities, Biotherm is pulling away in the standings. While Team Malizia crossed in fourth place, the French boat was already back on the lead. "To Gibraltar, it will probably be very fast downwind, so it's good to have an advantage now, because it's not the fastest angle for Biotherm," said Meilhat.
"Seeing Biotherm pull out just as we crossed the line was tough for us," admitted Will Harris, Team Malizia's co-skipper. "But I can see from everyone's faces that they're raring to go again. Looking ahead to Gibraltar, nothing is certain. I think that's what motivates us the most. There are still plenty of opportunities to turn things around," he added.
By mid-afternoon on Wednesday, Allagrande Mapei Racing crossed the finish line ahead of Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive to begin their Fly By stopover, while Team Amaala continued sailing toward Matosinhos, with an ETA expected overnight.
From Matosinhos, the remainder of Stage 2 continues south, passing Lisbon and entering the dreaded funnel of the Strait of Gibraltar before the Mediterranean sprint to Cartagena.