Team Holcim-PRB protest against 11th Hour Racing ruled 'invalid' ahead of redress hearing at The Ocean Race

Updated 29/06/2023 at 08:12 GMT

Who has won The Ocean Race 2022-23 is still undecided. Team Holcim-PRB are a point ahead of 11th Hour Racing in the standings but a redress hearing is set for June 29 which could give 11th Hour Racing points. Team Holcim-PRB filed a protest against 11th Hour Racing following their crash with GUYOT environnement - but it was ruled 'invalid' ahead of the hearing.

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Team Holcim-PRB's protest against 11th Hour Racing has been ruled invalid awaiting a redress hearing, as the result of The Ocean Race 2022-23 remains up in the air.

Holcim-PRB are currently one point ahead of 11th Hour Racing in the standings after the final leg finished in Genova, Italy on Tuesday.

However, the standings are provisional as 11th Hour Racing have a redress hearing on Thursday, June 29 following a crash at the start of the leg with GUYOT environnement - Team Europe.

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Ahead of the hearing, it was announced: "The International Jury has ruled the protest filed yesterday between Team Holcim-PRB and 11th Hour Racing Team is invalid. The Request for Redress hearing is scheduled for 10:00."

The incident ruled both boats out of the leg, denying 11th Hour Racing the chance to get any points.

Benjamin Dutreux, the skipper of GUYOT environnement - Team Europe acknowledged responsibility for the collision.

The jury at the redress hearing could decide 11th Hour Racing are due compensation in the form of points, which may move them above Team Holcim-PRB.

If 11th Hour Racing are awarded one point or more then they would be the winners of The Ocean Race.

The protest from Team Holcim-PRB relates to the collision and cites Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) 14 and 16.1.

RRS 14 reads, in part: “A boat shall avoid contact with another boat if reasonably possible. However, if a boat has right of way…and if she is complying with the other rules of Part 2, a right-of-way boat…need not act to avoid contact until it is clear that the other boat is not keeping clear.”

RRS 16.1 reads, in part: “When a boat acquires right of way or when a right-of-way boat alters course, she is required to give room for the other boat to keep clear. The other boat must promptly manoeuvre in a way which offers a reasonable expectation that she will keep clear.”

The hearing into the protest was held on Thursday morning before the redress hearing.

Team Holcim-PRB finished third on the final of The Ocean Race.

They were leading into the closing stages of the leg but were overtaken by Team Malizia, who arrived first in Genova, and Biotherm.

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