Paul Meilhat and the Biotherm team win The Ocean Race Europe
by Biotherm 21 Sep 18:29 UTC
Carlos Manera Pascual, Amelie Grassi, Paul Meilhat, Benjamin Ferre and Gauthier Lebec of Biotherm, celebrate winning the Coastal Race and overall winners of The Ocean Race Europe in Boka Bay, Montenegro on September 20 © Lloyd Images / The Ocean Race Europe 2025
And that's what you call finishing in style! Paul Meilhat, Amélie Grassi, Benjamin Ferré and Carlos Manera Pascual won the last coastal course contested this Saturday in Kotor Bay in Montenegro.
Securing 5 victories in 6 races, the team can now officially celebrate its triumph in The Ocean Race Europe, a performance that has been hoped for and meticulously prepared for since Paul Meilhat took 5th place in the Vendée Globe. This success is the result of a philosophy and a method inspired by the skipper of the blue boat, collectively brought about by the work, commitment and motivation of all his team. A new cycle begins for Paul Meilhat, who is already working on preparing for the future.
It begins with an attitude...
"My takeaway from this adventure, admits Paul Meilhat, is how we've analysed the deciding factors in performance for this race, how we've managed to get ourselves in the best position to win and how we've freed ourselves of external constraints to ensure we have been both fulfilled and efficient. I also take away the fact that in order to perform well, you have to target your goals, make strong choices and hence sacrifices potentially: give up the idea of doing other competitions, other ways of being on the IMOCA circuit, accepting the risks inherent in that."
Then there is the method...
"In the Biotherm team, we have our own way of working well. We've placed the emphasis on trust and autonomy, everyone having a great deal of responsibility in their own domain. There's no hierarchical structure; it's the group which writes its own rules. Of course, that requires total commitment, strong support for the project from everyone involved, and the ability to give your all, both on land and on the water. Ultimately though, that frees up talent, creates fluidity and, when everyone is working in unison with the same energy, it's super-efficient and super-satisfying."
And finally...
The result: outstanding symbiosis and dynamics within a team made up of a range of different personalities, generations and expertise whose profiles fit together like the pieces of a mosaic to form one harmonious picture. A team whose members - sailors, technicians - are nourished by one another and with whom Paul has been enriched, now and going forward in his future projects.
The next step according to Paul
"I'm eager to capitalise on this experience and have a crack at the Holy Grail: The Ocean Race, the crewed round the world race with stopovers (a race he has already competed in, back in 2023), and which sets sail in January 2027. We have a boat, a team and expertise, plus we know what to expect. In the meantime, we want to take part in The Ocean Atlantique (New York - Barcelona). We have 8 months to prepare for it!"
And the financial aspect?
"As planned, our contract with Biotherm is drawing to a close. A new cycle is beginning, and we are working to prepare for the future. In contrast to other sports where athletes have a value, in sailing there is no market that says, 'this person is bankable, they're worth this much." This is why some sailors with track records as long as your arm encounter difficulties with sourcing funding. We are one of the few sports in that situation, it's very unique. More often than not it's a question of meeting people, a shared story and the right timing. However, I believe that The Ocean Race format is an interesting prospect for a sponsor, with a very polished and controlled offer in terms of communication, content, fantastic international media coverage and fabulous exposure due to the limited number of boats."
* Four of the five legs won, first through four out of five scoring gates
Verbatim from the sailors
Amélie Grassi, co-skipper: "This experience will remain a very significant part of my career because I've learned a massive amount and I have evolved a great deal over the course of this race in terms of managing the boat, navigation and strategy. I've greatly appreciated the way Paul has managed the project, leaving his colleagues a lot of freedom. He has taken the time to train people on land and on the water (some began with a training session) and he trusted in me as his co-skipper. Leaving us all space enables everyone to grow and ultimately it leads to success. I love the idea that we can win whilst having a kind, human team. It is possible! What's next for me? I'm going home for four days and then I'm competing in three long legs of the Globe 40 (double-handed round the world race in Class40) with Ian Lipinski. The schedule might sound a bit full-on but I was keen to discover the Southern Ocean as the idea of doing the Vendée Globe has been going through my mind."
Sam Goodchild (GBR), legs 1,2,3,4: "Competing in the 48H Azimut, which he has just won this Saturday, Sam Goodchild was not available to answer our questions. All the same, the British sailor, who raced four of the five legs of The Ocean Race Europe, has been a valuable member of the crew and one of the key movers and shakers in Biotherm's victory. Sam will be taking the start of the Transat Café l'Or at the helm of the IMOCA Macif, for which he is the replacement skipper. At the same time, he is working on lining up for the start, in three years' time, of his second Vendée Globe.
Benjamin Ferré, legs 3,4 and 5: "What has greatly appealed to me is the collective adventure, the format and the joys shared as a crew, the intensity of the racing and the close contact with the other competitors. I have really relished sailing with other people. We had a magical team, both at sea and on land. I feel fortunate and grateful to have been part of this project. We've finished the job in style but Sam and Jack also played a huge part in this fine victory. I'm now going to take the time to savour this experience a little, give myself some room and clear my head so that other new projects come along to fill in the space. I'm also eager to spend some time with my loved ones and take care of them because between my Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race Europe, I've been absent a great deal in recent months. As to what I fancy doing next: a few legs on the next The Ocean Race and I admit that I'm drawn to the Solitaire du Figaro. I went straight from the Mini to IMOCA, without doing any intermediate classes. Sailing on small, one-design boats appeals to me. One thing I know is that I'm very happy on the water and in competition, whatever the craft!"
Jackson Bouttell (AUS/GBR), legs 1 and 2: "I've been competing in The Ocean Race event for the past 11 years and these races rank among the finest memories of my sailing career. This is also my fourth victory in this type of event and it's something I find very special. I like this type of race: short legs, coastal courses, the intensity like on the sprints and always having something to do on the boat. Biotherm is one of the smallest teams I've worked with but it's efficient and incredibly solid and ultimately the best overall! At the start, we were viewed as outsiders, not as race favourites, so to have done what we did, that's very special to me!
I had to get to know almost everyone and whether it's on the water or on land, I've had some very enjoyable moments. We've chatted, shared and laughed a great deal, whilst still being able to be intense when required. I also liked the Franco-English mix aboard with Sam, who I know well. I stepped aboard without having been involved in the pre-race preparation but it played out really well: coming into the mix fresh and highly motivated, I was able to bring a lot of energy into the boat. I really enjoyed it! Today, I've returned to my usual activity. I manage the Maxi Yacht V (100-foot monohull), which we've just contested a race on in Sardinia and we're preparing for a season in the West Indies. At the same time, I'm working on my own IMOCA project, which has been a goal for the past 15 years!"
Carlos Manera Pascual (ESP), leg 5: "It's been an incredible opportunity for me to learn with a fully dedicated and very driven crew, all of which has been done in a very pleasant and highly productive atmosphere. Having worked with other teams, I find what they've managed to achieve with simple things pretty impressive. It's not a massive team but there is a lot of structure. I've enjoyed the way Paul has managed it all and his leadership qualities. I've learnt that the human factor and values are important and that this is a very cool philosophy but also one that is very effective at achieving results. The next stage of the programme for me? I race on the Maxi and ORC circuits and I'm looking for some offshore racing projects. I'd love to do The Ocean Race 2027."
The programme
Biotherm sets sail on the delivery trip back to Brittany on Sunday 21 at 16:00 hours. Aboard: Marc Liardet, boat captain and Etienne Moy electronics expert, accompanied by Laurent Mermod and the Swedish navigator Emil Forsgren who will be discovering the IMOCA Biotherm for the first time.
ETA in Lorient around 30 September / To follow: sailing with partners
Dismantling and refitting of the boat for a month in Hennebont