The Ocean Race 2023: Team Malizia cross finish line first in Itajai to win Leg 3, Team Holcim-PRB retain overall lead

ByEurosport

Updated 02/04/2023 at 16:08 GMT

After 35 hard-fought days of thrilling racing action, Team Malizia have taken victory on the third leg of The Ocean Race. Weeks of action that saw the lead change multiple times, as well as the need for several repairs, Boris Herrmann's team crossed the finish line first in Itajai, Brazil on Sunday morning. Holcim-PRB finished in second place to remain leaders in the overall competition.

Team Malizia have won leg 3 of The Ocean Race after crossing the finish line first in Itajai.

After 35 gruelling and eventful days of racing over some 14,714 nautical miles, the team sealed the win at approximately 05:20:28 UTC (02:20:28 local time in Brazil).

Team Holcim-PRB came in second, meaning they sit on top of the overall leaderboard on 19 points with Team Malizia on 14. 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm are yet to finish.

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Their win is all the more remarkable given Malizia’s start to the leg which almost saw them abandon the leg due to a broken mast.

However, having dedicated two days to repairs on-board, the team, skippered by Boris Herrmann, battled their way back into contention.

Braving the conditions, Team Malizia were able to chase down leaders and pace-setters Holcim-PRB, eventually catching up as the two exchanged the lead between them.

The extent of how treacherous the conditions were during racing were highlighted when the team’s Rosalin Kuiper suffered a concussion after the boat was rocked during one particularly difficult spell.

With a narrow advantage of less than 30 nautical miles as the teams came through Cape Horn, Team Malizia then navigated a difficult penultimate night of racing as Holcim-PRB suffered damage amid the conditions.

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• The Ocean Race Leg 3 as it happened – Team Malizia cross finish line in Itajai to win Leg 3

This allowed Team Malizia to eventually see their way over the finish line on Sunday morning, with an 80-nautical-mile lead.

"We're still energised," said Herrmann.

'Energised I would say!' - Team Malizia skipper Herrmann relishes in Leg 3 triumph

"The racing was close and that keeps you motivated. This was a full team win, and I'm very proud of what we achieved."

"A dream come true," added Will Harris.

"When I think back to that day, we'd just started, we'd lost a sail and damaged the mast, we really thought about going back to Cape Town,"

'An absolute dream!' - Harris reacts after Team Malizia Leg 3 victory

Kuiper added: "I'm doing well. I'm recovering. Not completely there yet, but I'm doing fine and happy to be here with everyone.

"I'm the best version of myself when I'm on this boat. I'm looking forward to the next start already.

'In one word, love!' - Kuiper reacts to Leg 3 of The Ocean Race

"I'm super-happy to be in Itajai now but if I could choose, we would go and start again.

"We had so much fun and it was by far the most epic sailing I've ever done."

Holcim-PRB and Team Malizia are sat in first and second on the overall leaderboard.

Kevin Escoffier’s Holcim-PRB had collected maximum points on legs 1 and 2, and also at the scoring gate on leg 3, meaning the four points they picked up at the end of leg 3 leaves them on 19 points and atop of the leaderboard. Team Malizia are on 14.

With 11th Hour Racing Team, Biotherm and GUYOT environnement - Team Europe sat on 10, 8 and two respectively, that means - with only three and two points available for the two boats, 11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm, left at sea - the table is set ahead of leg four.

GUYOT environnement - Team Europe had to suspend racing and turn back to Cape Town on leg three of The Ocean Race. They arrived in Itajai on March 30 ahead of Leg 4.

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You will be able to watch live coverage from every leg of The Ocean Race 2023 with Eurosport and discovery+.

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