The European version of the Ocean Race, the Ocean Race Europe, started on August 10 in Kiel, Germany, with the final taking place from September 15 to 21 in Boka Bay and Tivat, Montenegro. Interested sailing fans have the opportunity to be there in person. SeaHelp explains how.
In January 2027, the next Ocean Race will start in Alicante, a regatta around the world in which four crew members and an onboard reporter will be aboard IMOCA boats. The destination is AMAALA, a tourism project currently under construction on and in the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.
To help sailors pass the time until then, a non-stop race across the Atlantic Ocean will also take place for the first time in the summer of 2026 under the name Ocean Race Atlantic, which will run from New York to Barcelona.
And then there is the Ocean Race Europe, which is considered the “little brother” of the Ocean Race. The second edition of the European race started on August 10, 2025, in Kiel. Seven teams, including a German team skippered by Boris Herrmann and co-skippered by Will Harris on the racing yacht MALIZIA, are taking part in the regatta with stops in Portsmouth (GBR), Matosinhos (Portugal), Cartagena (Spain), Nice (France), and Genoa (Italy).
The finish line of The Ocean Race Europe 2025 is in the Bay of Kotor
The finish line is in the Bay of Kotor (Boka kotorska), a fjord-like bay almost 30 km long, lined by high and steep mountain flanks, on the southeastern Dalmatian-Montenegrin Adriatic coast. Sailing enthusiasts can watch the spectacle live from Tivat, which is located directly on the Bay of Kotor, about 19 kilometers from Herceg Novi, 10 kilometers from Kotor, and 80 kilometers from Dubrovnik in Croatia.
Good to know: The Ocean Race Europe is an offshore yacht race around Europe, created and run by the organizers of The Ocean Race. The first edition was The Ocean Race Europe 2021, which started on May 25, 2021, as a three-part route from Lorient (France) to Genoa (Italy).
The second edition of the quadrennial event started on August 10, 2025, in Kiel. SeaHelp was there, was allowed to take part in one of the so-called “speed runs” and was able to experience the complexity of the sailing racing machines live – a dream for every sailor to be able to take part in a race on an Imoca yacht.
The Imoca yachts are 60-foot (18.3 m) monohull sailing yachts managed by the International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA). The class is an “open” design, which means that the boat is size-controlled and designers have certain freedoms within the rules.
Design restrictions include a hull length between 59 and 60 feet (18 m) and a maximum draft of 4.5 meters (15 feet). The length including bowsprit must not exceed 20.12 m. The maximum width is 5.85 m. A maximum of four ballast tanks are permitted. Each of them has a size restriction.
The foils attached to the IMOCAs allow the sailing yachts to “fly” over the water
IMOCAs typically have a very wide hull compared to yachts designed for coastal racing. This is intended to provide greater stability in rough seas. With the introduction of hydrofoils, the stresses that the hull had to withstand changed. The hydrofoils ensure that, in the right conditions, the boats can fly over the water rather than plow through it with their hulls.
The opening stage of the Ocean Race Europe, which started in Kiel on August 10, already promised to be challenging. The route between Kiel (Germany) and Portsmouth (England) included the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and a long list of hazards to avoid – busy shipping lanes, extensive wind farms, and strong currents.
“We came here for a fly-by in June 2023, during the penultimate leg,” recalls Will Harris of local favorites Team Malizia. “I was overwhelmed by how many people had come to watch us – it was incredible,” said the co-skipper before the race.
Yoann Richomme, skipper of PAPREC ARKEA and runner-up in the 2024/25 Vendée Globe, says: “There are five stages in six weeks. Although the first stage gives an impression of the form of the individual teams, it does not determine the outcome. You have to pace yourself and keep a cool head until the end.”
After stage stops in Portsmouth (United Kingdom), a fly-by off Matosinhos (Portugal), Cartagena (Spain), and Nice (France), the seven teams are now on their way from Nice to Genoa (Italy, start August 31, 2025). From there, they will continue on September 7 to the final, decisive stage, which ends in Boka Bay in Montenegro.
Sailing fans can follow the finish and the subsequent final race up close at the Ocean Live Park in Tivat
Sailing enthusiasts can follow the finish and the subsequent final race up close at the Ocean Live Park in Tivat; preliminary schedule: Monday, September 15: from 12 noon – Official opening ceremony / Ocean Live Park opening hours until 9 p.m.
Tuesday, September 16:
- 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. – Ocean Live Park opening hours
- 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Ocean Race guest experience
Wednesday, September 17:
- 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Ocean Live Park opening hours
- 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Ocean Race guest experience
- 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Boat tours
- 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Fan Day
- 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Pit lane tours
Thursday, September 18:
- 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Ocean Live Park opening hours
- 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Dock-Out Show Session 1
- 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Pro Am Speed Runs Session 1 – full fleet
- 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Skipper press conference
- 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Dock-Out Show, Session 2
- 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Pro-Am Speed Runs Session 2 – full fleet
Friday, September 19:
- 9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. – Skipper briefing
- 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Ocean Live Park opening hours
- 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Dock-Out Show and guest sailing
- 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Guest sailing to Kotor and Herceg Novi
Saturday, September 20:
- 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Ocean Live Park opening hours
- 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Skipper mix zone
- 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Final coastal race guest experience
- 11:45 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. – Sailor parade
- 12:20 p.m. – 12:55 p.m. – Dock-out show
- 1:55 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. – Final coastal race
- 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. – Awards ceremony and party
Sunday, September 21:
- 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Ocean Live Park opening hours
- 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Public awards ceremony
- 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Grand departure
Interested visitors can book a fifteen-minute guided tour, a 45-minute “Behind the Scenes Tour,” or a VIP tour
Anyone who has ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the Ocean Race now has the chance to get closer to the race in Boka Bay than ever before. Interested visitors can visit the pit lane and have access to the pontoons to experience the best ocean sailors and the fast IMOCA boats up close.
Sailing fans have a choice: they can book a fifteen-minute guided tour, a 45-minute “behind the scenes tour,” or opt for a VIP tour. The fifteen-minute guided tour includes a walk along the dock with an experienced guide who shares insider stories about the race, the teams, the boats, and the crews. You can get to know the teams, see the boats up close, watch the crews at work, and ask questions. Groups are limited to 15 guests and cost €15 per person (free for children under 12 – only when accompanied by an adult).
The “Behind the Scenes” tour offers VIP access to the heart of Ocean Live Park, led by an official race representative. During this 45-minute tour, you can explore the technical areas of the race and the hidden corners where the real action takes place. Participants have access to the Shared Teams area, meet the people behind the race, and learn firsthand what it takes to compete at the highest level.
A special highlight here is that participants can skip the queue and dive right into the “Race Cockpit Experience.” Along the way, a guide shares exciting stories, insights, and insider information about the Ocean Race Europe. Each tour is limited to ten people to ensure a personal and intense experience. The cost is €25 per person (free for children under 12 – only when accompanied by an adult).
The VIP Pit Lane Tour offers more exclusive access on the start day of the stage.
For more exclusive access on the start day of the stage, take the VIP Pit Lane Tour: four hours with exclusive access to the Sailors Terrace, a reserved table, free food and drinks, and a special VIP welcome package (bag + cap).
Here you can get first-hand insights from a professional sailor, take part in an interactive question and answer session, and attend the Sailors Parade and mooring ceremony on the pontoon as the participating teams prepare for the start of the stage. (groups of only 5 guests, led by an experienced guide who shares insider stories, offers a look behind the scenes, and provides the opportunity to get to know the teams up close, price €350 per person).
Participation: Scroll down on the page bokabay.theoceanrace.com and select the appropriate tour. Those who cannot be there in person in Tivat and Boka Bay will have the opportunity to follow The Ocean Race Europe 2025 live via the official tracker. This digital platform allows viewers worldwide to track the real-time positions of the sailboats, their chosen routes, speed, and the tactical decisions of the crews on the high seas (also available as a free app for smartphones: Apple, Android).
