Team Malizia secures Fourth Place after thrilling high-speed finale in Course des Caps Race
by Team Malizia 6 Jul 08:41 NZST
5 July 2025
Team Malizia's crew after securing fourth place in the Course des Caps 2025 © Marie Lefloch | Team Malizia
After six days of intense racing around the British Isles, Team Malizia crossed the finish line in Boulogne-sur-Mer to secure an impressive fourth place in the Course des Caps 2025. Battling unpredictable winds, strong currents, fierce competition, and back-to-back challenges onboard, the Malizia - Seaexplorer crew skippered by Will Harris showcased resilience, skill, and teamwork, setting the stage for an exciting crewed season ahead.
05 July 2025, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France - Team Malizia crossed the finish line of the Course des Caps in Boulogne-sur-Mer, France, at 20:04 local time (18:04 UTC) this Saturday 5 July 2025, securing a strong fourth-place finish after a thrilling race finale. The team, skippered by British sailor Will Harris and crewed by co-skippers Cole Brauer (USA), b (ITA/USA), and Julien Villion (FRA), as well as onboard reporter Flore Hartout (FRA/NED), had departed Boulogne-sur-Mer 6 days, 6 hours, 4 minutes, and 26 seconds earlier. Onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer, they raced 2,039 nautical miles clockwise around the British Isles, maintaining an average speed of 13.59 knots against a fleet of 10 IMOCA competitors.
"It was an incredible and intense race", said skipper Will Harris shortly after the arrival. "We shared some unforgettable days together on the boat. The competition was fierce right from the start, with Charal just 10 miles behind us at the finish. The leg around Scotland was particularly challenging, with some heavy storms to test us all. Each day brought its own conditions, from light winds at the start, to moderate breezes past western Ireland, and finally strong winds near Scotland and the finish line. This race pushed us to our limits and really tested us, especially as we faced significant challenges onboard. But the crew worked brilliantly together and I'm incredibly proud of the team. It was not just great preparation on land and a well-performing boat; this first race was a hard-fought, memorable battle we'll be talking about for a long time."
Unlike the high-speed finish today, the Banque Populaire du Nord Boulogne-sur-Mer Cape Race, also known as Course des Caps, began very slowly. On Sunday 29 June 2025, the fleet set off in very light and variable conditions, navigating a mix of fog and sunshine. Challenged by the lack of breeze and strong currents, they crawled across the start line and made slow progress through the English Channel. Team Malizia had a strong start to the race, leading the fleet in the opening stages, but like their competitors, they were tested by the light winds, which demanded patience and made it difficult to settle into a steady rhythm. After rounding the Scilly Islands and negotiating a transition zone between two weather systems, the fleet continued toward the legendary Fastnet lighthouse, which Team Malizia rounded on Wednesday morning, on Day 3 of the race.
That same morning, Race Management announced a course change: instead of rounding Out Stack, the northernmost point of the Shetland archipelago at 60 degreesN, the fleet would now pass Papa Westray and Ronaldsay at 59 degreesN. This shortened the route by about 220 miles and brought the expected finish forward to Saturday afternoon, aligning with the Tour de France's arrival in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
As the boats made their way up the magnificent Irish coast, conditions began to change and a freshening breeze filled in. Upon reaching Scotland, Team Malizia made a bold choice by sailing outside the firing zone west of the Hebrides, while all the other boats chose a tighter passage further east. The move paid off with a small but meaningful gain on their rivals.
After that, the gear changed. By 3 July, Day 5 of the race, the tempo shifted dramatically: the wind built, and the IMOCAs finally unleashed their full potential. For the first time in the race, the fleet was moving fast, regularly clocking over 20 knots. But with the speed, Team Malizia faced new challenges.
During a sudden nosedive, onboard reporter Flore Hartout was thrown forward while filming and injured her ribs and knee. The crew immediately slowed the boat down, spoke to the doctor, gave her pain relief, and made sure she was okay before picking up speed again. Well looked after by the crew and described as "a trooper" by her teammates, Flore Hartout had been trying to rest for the remainder of the race but it has not been easy on a slamming boat.
Shortly after, the team discovered three broken battens at the top of Malizia - Seaexplorer's mainsail. A tough blow, especially after the morning incident. "We had to drop the mainsail and cut some of our spare battens to make repairs to them", explained Will Harris. "We managed that really quickly and didn't lose too many miles. That was definitely a challenge and we were pretty surprised to find the damage in the first place. We have no idea how it happened but managed to successfully repair and even film a bit!"
Still, the crew pushed on, rounding the northernmost islands of Papa Westray and Ronaldsay at 59 degreesN on Thursday night. Diving into the North Sea at full speed, Team Malizia entered what co-skipper Julien Villion dubbed "pony mode," regularly pushing the boat over 30 knots. Determined to make the most of the first true downwind stretch of the race, the crew was now firmly in pursuit of the podium.
Flying down the North Sea, Team Malizia engaged in a relentless speed battle with their competitors, navigating oil rigs, sandbanks, and wind farms with barely a moment's rest. Team Holcim-PRB gradually pulled ahead, while Charal chased closely from behind. Neck-and-neck with Charal between the Calais traffic separation zone and the English coast, the final 100-mile stretch today turned into a demanding zigzag sprint, requiring no less than 13 tacks and absolute focus from the Malizia - Seaexplorer crew. In a last-minute breaking update, Team Malizia learned that Holcim had broken their bowsprit, opening up the possibility to catch up and challenge for third place.
"When we heard about Holcim's damage, it gave us a real boost," said Will Harris after the race. "We pushed even harder, both to escape Charal behind us and to give everything we had for a potential podium finish. We gave it everything and are completely spent now." The crew made a final push as they caught a strong southwesterly gust that rocketed them toward the finish line, bringing an intense race to a thrilling close. Team Malizia finished 4th, ahead of Charal, crossing the line 4 hours, 53 minutes, and 41 seconds behind the winning boat MACIF Santé Prévoyance, skippered by Sam Goodchild.
Now back on land, Flore Hartout will immediately undergo a medical checkup, while the rest of the crew enjoys a well-deserved shower and meal to recover from the intense race. The break will be brief: starting 17 July 2025, Boris Herrmann, Will Harris, Cole Brauer, and Oakley Marsh will compete in the Admiral's Cup aboard the Carkeek 40 Jolt 6, helmed by Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-president of the Yacht Club de Monaco and co-founder of Team Malizia. Then, on 10 August, Team Malizia will reunite in Kiel for the start of The Ocean Race Europe 2025, setting the stage for a spectacular and fiercely competitive five-leg race around Europe.
Team Malizia's A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now! mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its eight main partners: Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, KPMG Germany, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, and Zurich Group Germany. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.