The Ocean Race 2022-23: 11th Hour Racing Team win ‘insane’ Leg 6 in The Hague to extend overall race lead

On a dramatic morning off the coast of The Hague, 11th Hour Racing Team took victory in Leg 6 of The Ocean Race 2022-23 to extend their overall race lead.

It was the American boat’s third leg win in a row as they continue to take the race by the scruff of the neck.

Their triumph wasn’t without a battle though as they were pushed all the way by Team Holcim-PRB, who came across the line as runners-up, just 12 minutes and 23 seconds behind.

Team Malizia completed the podium as they kept up their strong overall showing in the 2022-23 edition of the race, finishing just one minute and 20 seconds down on Holcim-PRB.

There was, however, a considerable consolation prize for Team Malizia of having royalty grace their boat, with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands climbing aboard to ride into shore in The Hague alongside the only Dutch sailor in the race, Rosalin Kuiper.

With just one leg remaining of the The Ocean Race 2022-23, 11th Hour Racing Team now look to be favourites to take the overall title, holding a two-point lead over nearest challengers Holcim-PRB.

Speaking afterwards to Eurosport, winning skipper Charlie Enright said: “It was a short one [leg], but not a lot of sleep proportionally speaking.

“We’re psyched, it was intense from the start to the finish. Unbelievable, can’t believe it, just keep on rolling.

“It lived up to the billing, two boats within a mile of each other with 30 miles to go is insane. Everybody did a great job.”

And on 11th Hour Racing Team’s chances of overall victory, he added: “Winning three legs in a row won’t mean anything if we don’t close the deal.”

The seventh and final leg of the race – which takes the fleet from The Hague to Genova, Italy – is a tricky 2,200-nautical mile jaunt that takes in the English Channel, among other busy shipping routes.

FULL LEG 6 RESULTS

1. 11th Hour Racing Team: 5 points

2. Team Holcim-PRB: 4 pts

3. Team Malizia: 3 pts

4. Biotherm: 2 pts

5. Guyot Environnement – Team Europe: 1 pt

OVERALL STANDINGS – IMOCA CLASS

1. 11th Hour Racing Team: 33 points

2. Team Holcim-PRB: 31 pts

3. Team Malizia: 27 pts

4. Biotherm: 19 pts

5. Guyot Environnement – Team Europe: 2 pts

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