Holcim-PRB claims 2nd place in Boka Bay after memorable comeback in The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5
by Holcim-PRB 15 Sep 20:59 NZST
15 September 2025
Team Holcim-PRB, skippered by Rosalin Kuiper, finish second in The Ocean Race Europe Leg 5 in Boka Bay, Montenegro © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE
Rosalin Kuiper, Nicolas Lunven, Carolijn Brouwer, and Alan Roberts battled intensely over 1,600 miles of racing. The Holcim-PRB crew claimed an outstanding second place on the fifth and final leg of The Ocean Race Europe, navigating a course full of twists and turns. Midway through the race, the team was 150 miles behind the leaders, but they used a light-wind transition for an amazing comeback, closing the gap and reshuffling the fleet.
At 2:30 a.m. on Monday, the IMOCA Holcim-PRB entered the stunning Bay of Boka in Montenegro. Tired from the tough leg but exhilarated, the sailors celebrated their impressive second-place finish, their pride and excitement far outweighing their exhaustion.
The Mediterranean lived up to its reputation, and the final leg of The Ocean Race Europe kept everyone on the edge of their seats. In the early days, the fleet faced very low winds, often below 5 knots. Around the Island of Porquerolles, the Holcim-PRB team fell significantly behind its competitors when their strategy to take advantage of coastal thermal winds did not pay off. However, ever-shifting conditions and the crew's determination reshuffled the fleet just days later. This time, the leaders became trapped in a light-wind transition zone, while Holcim-PRB closed the gap with a streak of fast downwind sailing. It was a vivid reminder that in offshore racing, nothing is decided until the finish line is crossed.
"It was a massive comeback. At one point we were 150 miles behind, but we managed to fight our way back. When the fleet parked up in the light transition zone, we sailed downwind, caught them, and from there it was like a restart. That gave us the chance we needed, and we couldn't have wished for a better outcome. The mood onboard was incredible — we knew it was a restart, and with a good team and a fast boat, this was our one opportunity. We stayed focused, pushed hard, and managed to overtake," explained Rosalin Kuiper, skipper of the IMOCA Holcim-PRB.
Nicolas Lunven echoes this sentiment "We never gave up. We always kept pushing to make the boat go as fast as possible, reminding ourselves that the leg is long and nothing is decided until the finish,"
At the finish line, the green and blue IMOCA secured a fine second place on this fifth leg, just 1h15 behind leader Biotherm. With this result, Holcim-PRB remains fully in contention for second place overall. Just half a point separates them from Paprec Arkéa, with everything to be decided in the final coastal race on September 20 in the Bay of Boka.