The Ocean Race 2022-23: Team Holcim–PRB make it back-to-back leg wins after coming out on top in thrilling finish

Team Holcim-PRB made it back-to-back wins after coming out on top in a thrilling Leg 2 finish of The Ocean Race in Cape Town.

Skippered by Kevin Escoffier, Holcim-PRB finished in a time of 17 days, 19 hours and nine seconds, 16 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

“With the crew I had, and the boat, that I was not looking at the boat and being afraid,” Escoffier told Eurosport. “I hope it is the opposite now.

“The race is long, I know it. I think we are part of the favourites for sure.

“We are working very well in the water, good mood. I am so proud of the crew and looking forward to Leg 3.”

At sunrise on Sunday morning, four teams were in the fight for the leg win, with Biotherm, 11th Hour Racing Team and the Holcim-PRB crews racing in lockstep in light and changeable conditions.

Team Malizia was some 20 miles to the south, but then spent the next three hours just about sailing around the leading trio.

But the light and fickle winds didn’t hold for them and in the end it was a three-boat race among the northern trio.

Just three hours before the finish, Escoffier and his team finally popped up at the head of the rankings, having been able to sail a slightly better angle at a similar speed towards Cape Town, creating the narrow separation necessary to eke out a winning position.

11th Hour Racing Team and Biotherm were neck and neck during the final five miles but it was the latter who edged out the battle for second place.

“It was hard to believe that three days ago we struggled,” said Biotherm skipper Paul Meilhat. “But the forecast was clear, it was not finished so we pushed at the maximum to come back, so it was a good atmosphere on the boat.

“Today it was quite tricky at the end, we were a bit lucky to be in front of 11th Hour. It was really good to push the boat hard together.

“We were far away from the leaders in the first leg and in this leg we were the leaders for the first five days so it was totally different.

“We knew we could race against the others, the boat and crew has good potential so it was perfect. The race is so long and it could be like this during all the legs so that’s good for the storytelling.”

The teams are in Cape Town until February 26 when the longest leg in the history of the race – 12,700 nautical miles to Itajai, Brazil – starts.

IMOCA Class, Leg 2 result

• 1. Team Holcim-PRB, winner Leg 2, finished – 17d 19h 00m 09s
• 2. Biotherm, finished – 17d 19h 16m 54s
• 3. 11th Hour Racing Team, finished – 17d 19h 25m 40s
• 4. Team Malizia, finished – 17d 21h 6m 49s
• 5. GUYOT environnement – Team Europe, finished – 17d 22h 46m 27s

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