The Ocean Race Europe 2025: Everything you need to know before the start of the finale to Boka Bay, Montenegro

The Ocean Race Europe nears its conclusion. The route promises to be as demanding as it is dramatic, with the fleet expected to arrive in Montenegro on Monday, September 15. After five action-packed stages filled with twists and turns, the grand finale is set to deliver even more excitement. Follow the action via Onboard on TNT Sports and discovery+.

The seven crews in The Ocean Race Europe are set to line up for the ultimate challenge: a 2,000-mile showdown from Genoa, Italy to Boka Bay, Montenegro.

The route promises to be as demanding as it is dramatic, with the fleet expected to arrive in Montenegro on Monday, September 15. After five action-packed stages filled with twists and turns, the grand finale is set to deliver even more excitement.

The course, revealed on Friday morning, is nothing short of spectacular. The fleet will leave Genova and race south, rounding Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, before heading down to the south of Greece and turning north into the Adriatic Sea.

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To make things even more interesting, the Race Control team has added a series of waypoints along the way.

A grand tour of the Mediterranean

"The fleet is going to spend at least eight days at sea," explains Race Control’s Max Gallais.

"We needed a course that can adapt to the unpredictable Mediterranean weather, so we’ve built in flexibility with movable waypoints."

Leg 5 course map

Image credit: The Ocean Race

Among the unique challenges, the crews will sail close to four lighthouses and four islands around Sicily, including Ustica, Pantelleria, and Gozo.

They will also need to pass through an 11-mile gate southeast of Sicily, which could compress the fleet. From there, they will head for a new waypoint off Greece before the final push up the Adriatic into Boka Bay.

"It’s a proper Mediterranean lap – really interesting," says Alan Roberts (Holcim-PRB). "You can expect every type of condition. It’s going to be full of surprises."

"The weather systems are always unpredictable here – the Med can sometimes be a lottery," adds Gautier Levisse (Paprec Arkea). "You need to keep your eyes on the sky and take every opportunity."

Another key factor is rest. "It’s easy to burn out," admits Roberts.

Amelie Grassi (Biotherm) agrees: "This isn’t a three-day sprint. We’ll need to manage ourselves with a more ocean-style rhythm to get the right recovery."

Biotherm firmly in control

With points still on the line, the stakes remain high. In total, 16 points are available – two at the scoring gate, seven for the stage win, and seven more for the In-Port Race in Boka Bay on 20 September.

Biotherm top the leaderboard with 41 points, 12 ahead of Paprec Arkea, and remain the clear favourite.

Biotherm hold the lead ahead of the final leg

Image credit: The Ocean Race

"We’re in a very strong position," says Grassi. "The key is not to make mistakes. We don’t need to do anything spectacular."

Levisse acknowledges the challenge: "With a lot of ‘ifs’, we could still win, but Biotherm have been so consistent. They’ve been impressive."

Battles across the fleet

Behind the leader, the fight for the podium is wide open. Paprec Arkea (29 points) and Holcim-PRB (27.3 points) are locked in a duel for second place, while Allagrande Mapei Racing (19 points) and Team Malizia (18 points) are close behind, looking to climb.

"Our goal is to win the stage and take second overall," says Roberts. "We’re optimistic," counters Levisse. "It may come down to strategy – we’re stronger upwind and in the light, they’re quicker downwind – so it could split the fleet."

Several teams are also making crew changes for the final push. Holcim-PRB welcome back skipper Rosalin Kuiper and Will Harris returns to Team Malizia, while Biotherm add rising Spanish talent Carlos Menara, second of the 2023 Mini Transat.

On Paprec Arkea, Levisse himself will step aboard for his first stage, as will Hugo Feydit on Allagrande Mapei Racing. Team Amaala see Swiss sailors Jessica Berthoud and Yann Burkhalter join Alan Roura and Conrad Colman.

Crew list for Leg 5

Image credit: The Ocean Race

With Allagrande Mapei Racing (19 points) and Team Malizia (18 points) separated by the narrowest of margins in the fight for fourth, and Canada Ocean Racing (13 points) battling Team Amaala (7 points) for sixth, the entire fleet has something left to play for. Expect fireworks all the way to Boka Bay. 

How to follow The Ocean Race Europe

The Onboard update show

With more onboard technology and more access to the sailors than ever before, a brand-new show, Onboard, has launched and is now available to stream on discovery+.

New episodes will air at 19:00 UK time every Tuesday and Friday on TNT Sports and discovery+.

The official tracker

The brand-new official Ocean Race Europe tracker, allowing viewers to track the fleet in real time, is available on The Ocean Race website.

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