The Ocean Race Europe will arrive in Portsmouth during the summer of 2025
by The Ocean Race 16 Sep 06:15 PDT
14-17 August 2025
Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, UK © Visit Portsmouth
The Ocean Race Europe, an offshore sailing event for the foiling IMOCA class, will have Portsmouth on England’s south coast as one of its six stopovers.
This event is part of The Ocean Race, the legendary fully-crewed offshore race around the globe, which first took place in 1973 with Portsmouth serving as the starting and finishing port.
Today, The Ocean Race proudly operates at the crossroads of sport and sustainability, featuring its acclaimed Racing with Purpose program that emphasizes ocean education, marine science, and advocacy efforts.
The Ocean Race Europe will commence on Sunday, 10 August 2025, from Kiel, Germany, with the mixed-gender crews of the IMOCA fleet racing through the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and into the English Channel, expected to reach Portsmouth on Thursday/Friday, 14/15 August.
While the fleet is in Portsmouth, there will be an Ocean Live Park for the public at Gunwharf Quays with family-friendly activities, interactive educational sessions on ocean health, and displays highlighting the remarkable achievements of the sailors and their teams in the Race. The next leg of The Ocean Race Europe will begin during the weekend of 16/17 August.
Throughout the race, sailors and teams will engage in groundbreaking marine science projects, collecting vital ocean data and water samples using onboard scientific equipment. This data will be shared with scientific organizations globally that study ocean health and meteorology, contributing to a better understanding of the challenges oceans face due to human activities.
“It’s exciting to bring The Ocean Race Europe to the UK and add another chapter to Portsmouth’s history of hosting major offshore sailing events,” said Phil Lawrence, the Race Director of The Ocean Race. “The cutting-edge technology of the foiling IMOCA class boats represents innovation in offshore racing. The sailors are among the world’s best, committed not just to competitive racing, but also to crucial marine health initiatives like the onboard science program.”
Portsmouth City Councillor leader Steve Pitt stated: “We have a rich history of hosting successful sailing competitions dating back to the very first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973. It’s also wonderful that The Ocean Race Europe’s themes resonate perfectly with Portsmouth’s focus on sustainability and ocean health.”
Portsmouth has played a significant role in the illustrious history of The Ocean Race. Legend suggests that plans for the original event, the Whitbread Round the World Race, were finalized over drinks in a Portsmouth pub. The Race itself started and/or finished in Portsmouth during its first four editions, with the last stopover occurring in 2006.
UK sailing icons like Sir Chay Blyth, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Clare Francis, Tracy Edwards, Ian Walker, and Simon Fisher, among many others, have enhanced their legacies through accomplishments in this Race.
“As a British sailor, I’m thrilled to hear that The Ocean Race Europe 2025 will include a stop in Portsmouth,” said Will Harris, who raced around the globe with Team Malizia in the previous edition. “The city has a longstanding connection to the Race through the legacy of its initial Whitbread editions. For me, it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the foiling IMOCA boats in my home waters while raising awareness about the challenges facing our oceans.”
“It’s incredibly exciting to learn that the next edition of The Ocean Race Europe will feature a Portsmouth stopover,” said Samantha Davies, an accomplished sailor preparing for her next circumnavigation in the Vendée Globe on her IMOCA Initiatives-Cœur. “It’s really special for me since I was born in Portsmouth and I have amazing childhood memories watching the old Whitbread Round the World Race starts and finishes in the Solent. The history of the Race is significant, so it’s wonderful to see it returning to Portsmouth.”
With its long maritime heritage, Portsmouth continues to be an important naval and commercial port, dedicated to conservation and ocean health.
The second edition of The Ocean Race Europe will kick off from Kiel, Germany, on 10 August 2025. Besides Portsmouth, other confirmed stopovers are in Cartagena, Spain, and Genova, Italy. The complete race route will be announced soon.
The Ocean Race Europe is set for August/September 2025, followed by The Ocean Race Atlantic from New York to Barcelona a year later in September 2026. The next edition of the around-the-world Ocean Race is scheduled to start in January 2027.
