The Ocean Race Leg 4: Drama at start as two boats recalled to start line, Biotherm take early lead

ByRob Hemingway

Updated 23/04/2023 at 21:10 GMT

Leg 4 of 7 of The Ocean Race 2022-23 is underway, as the fleet of five IMOCAs are now making their way north from Brazil towards Newport, Rhode Island, and there were ups and downs from minute one of the Leg 4 start as 11th Hour Racing Team and Guyot Environnement - Team Europe were made to cross the start line twice, while French team Biotherm capitalised to make some early headway.

There was drama in The Ocean Race Leg 4 start in Itajai as two boats were recalled to the start line, allowing Biotherm to take an early lead.

After slightly misjudging the pace at which they approached the start line, 11th Hour Racing Team and Guyot Environnement - Team Europe were told they had to circle back and re-cross it, wiping out the initial lead they thought they had over the field.

Simon Fisher, co-skipper of 11th Hour Racing Team, said it was "one of those 50-50 calls" that didn't quite go the way of his team.

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That allowed Paul Meilhat's Biotherm to storm into a healthy early lead, as they made the most of the favourable weather conditions off the Brazil coast to win the race to both Mark 1 and Mark 2.

They were followed by overall race leaders Team Holcim - PRB and Team Malizia in a close fight for second.

The latter had initially been in the ascendancy behind Biotherm, but Kevin Escoffier's Team Holcim - PRB made a fine overtake on their rivals as the boats made their way towards the end of the second lap of the coastal course.

It was a fascinating afternoon's racing after around three weeks for the teams on dry land in Brazil, where nearly 350,000 fans visited the Ocean Live Park put on in Itajai for the Leg 3 to Leg 4 stopover.

These early skirmishes are just the appetiser for another long leg, with the boats set to complete a 6,387-mile route from Itajai to Newport, on the eastern coast of the United States.

'They're both being recalled!' - Drama at start of The Ocean Race Leg 4 as two boats jump start line

Leg 4 is expected to take around 17 days to complete, meaning the boats can be expected in Newport around May 9-10.

Biotherm skipper Paul Meilhat, speaking ahead of the Leg 4 start, said he hoped the contest would once again be tight.

"I think it will be a close race again on this leg. When we were at Point Nemo (the location in the ocean furthest from any land) we had four boats within a mile of each other.

"That means that it could happen every time.

It was an intense fight for position on the way out of Itajai for the five IMOCA boats in The Ocean Race 2022-23.

Image credit: Other Agency

"If it happens again this leg I will be happy because we are here for that, we’re in this race for close competition."

For more on how the day unfolded, ongoing coverage and the boat tracker, check out our live blog here.

STANDINGS AFTER LEG 4 START

• 1. Biotherm
• 2. Team Holcim - PRB
• 3. Team Malizia
• 4. Guyot Environnment - Team Europe
• 5. 11th Hour Racing Team

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Watch live coverage from every leg of The Ocean Race 2022-23 on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk

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