Oliver Heer / The Ocean Race

Swiss offshore sailor Oliver Heer has announced that his team, Embrace The Challenge, will participate in The Ocean Race 2027.

Heer will lead a truly international team of sailors, technicians, and shore crew from around the world in this campaign. The team is united by a shared ambition to race around the globe in offshore sailing’s ultimate crewed challenge.

For Heer, The Ocean Race represents the fulfillment of a childhood dream.

Heer expressed his passion for the race, stating, “Competing in The Ocean Race has always been a dream of mine. As a child, I followed the Whitbread and later the Volvo Ocean Race obsessively. I bought every sailing magazine I could find and imagined what it would be like to race around the world as part of a team. To now be leading my own campaign into this race is incredibly special.”

While Switzerland has a rich history in offshore sailing, Swiss skippers in The Ocean Race are rare. Heer will become the first Swiss skipper to lead a campaign in the race for decades, following in the footsteps of legendary Swiss sailor Pierre Fehlmann, who competed in multiple Whitbread campaigns during the 1980s.

Heer expressed his pride in representing Switzerland on this stage, stating, “There is a huge sense of pride in representing Switzerland on this stage. Pierre Fehlmann inspired generations of Swiss sailors and helped put Swiss offshore sailing on the map. To have the opportunity to continue that story means a great deal to me.”

Heer is the first Swiss-German sailor ever to complete the Vendée Globe (2025) after sailing over 45,000 kilometers solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world.

Now, he’s ready to take on the toughest test of a team in the sport. The Ocean Race emphasizes teamwork, leadership, and collective performance. Crews race at maximum intensity around the clock, managing some of the fastest offshore racing yachts ever built while enduring extreme weather, sleep deprivation, and relentless competition.

Heer acknowledges the fresh challenge of leading a multinational crew, stating, “The move from solo racing to leading a multinational crew presents a new challenge.”

“The Vendée Globe taught me a lot about resilience and self-reliance,” he explained. “However, The Ocean Race is about bringing people together and performing as a cohesive team. Success hinges on trust, effective communication, and maximizing the potential of everyone on board. That’s what truly excites me.”

The campaign, titled Embrace The Challenge, reflects both Heer’s personal journey and the team’s philosophy of pushing beyond perceived limits. The team’s new IMOCA yacht already boasts impressive credentials. The foiling yacht previously completed the Vendée Globe under Swiss-French skipper Justine Mettraux, who delivered a standout performance, confirming the boat’s speed, reliability, and round-the-world pedigree.

Despite facing formidable opponents and well-funded teams, Heer embraces the underdog role.

Heer expressed his determination, stating, “We’ll be one of the younger campaigns in the fleet, and our boat won’t be the newest. However, we’ve demonstrated before that determination, preparation, and teamwork can close the gap. We’re building a hungry, international team that is eager to prove what is possible.”

The Ocean Race campaign plays a crucial role in Heer’s preparation for his second Vendée Globe challenge in 2028. This opportunity allows him to gain invaluable experience racing an IMOCA yacht fully crewed at the highest level. Before the start of The Ocean Race in January 2027, the team will compete in The Ocean Race Atlantic, providing a vital chance to test systems, refine performance, and finalize crew selections.

Heer emphasized the importance of the Atlantic race, stating, “The Atlantic race will help us identify the right people and build the chemistry necessary to perform under pressure. We’re creating something bigger than a sailing team—we’re building a group of individuals from diverse backgrounds and nationalities who all share the same goal.”

For The Ocean Race Atlantic, Heer has assembled a formidable crew, including the former winner of The Ocean Race and Olympian Marie Riou (FRA), the experienced offshore sailor and rower Liz Wardley (PNG/AUS), and world champion paddleboarder Lincoln Dews (AUS), who competed in last summer’s The Ocean Race Europe.

As preparations intensify, Heer acknowledges that the road ahead will be demanding. However, after successfully completing one of the most challenging solo races ever devised, he is prepared to face the next challenge.

Heer expressed his understanding of the obstacles that will arise, stating, “There will always be obstacles when you set your sights high. But that’s precisely why we exist. We embrace these challenges, and together, we will embark on one of the greatest adventures in the world of sports.”