The Ocean Race 2023: Team Malizia cross the finish line first in Itajai to win Leg 3

Team Malizia have won leg 3 of The Ocean Race after crossing the finish line first in Itajai.

After 35 gruelling and eventful days of racing over some 14,714 nautical miles, the team sealed the win at approximately 05:20:28 UTC (02:20:28 local time in Brazil).

However, having dedicated two days to repairs on-board, the team, skippered by Boris Herrmann, battled their way back into contention.

Braving the conditions, Team Malizia were able to chase down leaders and pace-setters Holcim PRB, eventually catching up as the two exchanged the lead between them.

This allowed Team Malizia to eventually see their way over the finish line on Sunday morning, with an 80-mile lead.

“We’re still energised,” said Herrmann.

“The racing was close and that keeps you motivated. This was a full team win, and I’m very proud of what we achieved.”

“A dream come true,” added Will Harris.

“When I think back to that day, we’d just started, we’d lost a sail and damaged the mast, we really thought about going back to Cape Town,”

Kuiper added “I’m doing well. I’m recovering. Not completely there yet, but I’m doing fine and happy to be here with everyone,

“I’m the best version of myself when I’m on this boat. I’m looking forward to the next start already,

“I’m super-happy to be in Itajaí now but if I could choose, we would go and start again.

“We had so much fun and it was by far the most epic sailing I’ve ever done.”