The Ocean Race Europe, the fully-crewed offshore sailing race for the foiling IMOCA Class, will visit the Mediterranean coast of France for the first time this summer with a historic stop in Nice from 29-31 August 2025.
Connecting the Baltic with the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas, with races between seven iconic cities and countries, The Ocean Race Europe will start on Sunday 10 August 2025 from Kiel, Germany with the mixed male/female crews of the IMOCA fleet racing through the Baltic Sea and North Sea and into the English Channel for a quick stop in Portsmouth, UK from 14-17 August. From there, the race continues with a fly-by via Portugal (20 August), before entering the Mediterranean Sea en route to Cartagena, Spain (23-26 August). The short stop in Nice is next, from 29-31 August, before the fleet continues on to Genova, Italy (3-5 September) and The Finale on the Adriatic Sea in Boka Bay, Montenegro (15-21 September).
Phil Lawrence, race director, The Ocean Race, said: “France is a foundational base for so many of the IMOCA sailors and teams, where traditionally the focus has been on the Atlantic coast, so this is an exciting time for us to showcase the sailors, teams and the sport in one of the iconic waterfront venues in the country.”
Organised under the theme ‘Connecting Europe’, The Ocean Race Europe supports the EU Mission in engaging citizens and local communities to protect and restore the health of the ocean. The race stopover in Nice follows UNOC 3 (the United Nations Ocean Conference) which will be in the city in June and is focussed on accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean. The Ocean Race and its partners will participate and host a side event.
The Ocean Race Europe 2025 is one of three major events on The Ocean Race calendar over the next three years, which includes The Ocean Race Atlantic: New York to Barcelona in September 2026 and the next edition of The Ocean Race (around the world), scheduled to start in January 2027.
For more information see theoceanrace.com
Main image: Baie des Anges and sea view of Old Nice (© Julien Veran via The Ocean Race)