Biotherm Returns: Paul Meilhat Set to Race in The Ocean Race Europe 2025
Just three months after finishing fifth in the Vendée Globe, French skipper Paul Meilhat is setting his sights on a new challenge: The Ocean Race Europe 2025. Starting on 10 August, Meilhat will lead Biotherm and a top-tier international crew in a fast-paced, five-leg race from Kiel to Boka Bay, showcasing the best of offshore competition across Europe.
A Natural Fit for Team Biotherm
After completing the last edition of The Ocean Race around the world, Meilhat returns with fresh momentum and clear intent. “It’s a powerful, energising, team-focused race,” he says. “We know the rhythm and structure well, and this summer we have the people and the tools to perform.”
Following a post-Vendée refit – including weight reduction, bulb optimisation, new sails, and a full systems check – Biotherm is set to hit the water ready for speed and agility.
A Crew Built for Performance
To match the intensity of the Race, Paul has assembled what he calls “a big team of winners” – sailors with serious offshore credentials and strong chemistry.
- Amélie Grassi (FRA), Co-skipper
An experienced offshore sailor across Mini, Class40, Imoca and Ultim circuits, Grassi knows Biotherm and the team well. “She’s incredibly organised and has honed her performance and data expertise with the Ultim SVR,” says Meilhat. “I’ll be leaning from her a lot.”
- Jackson Bouttell (GBR/AUS)
A double The Ocean Race champion and winner of the first edition of The Ocean Race Europe, Bouttell brings elite-level experience and versatility. “He’s the ultimate teammate,” says Meilhat. “He’ll bring all his energy to the first two legs.”
- Benjamin Ferré (FRA)
A Vendée Globe finisher and former Mini sailor, Ferré brings a unique, outside-the-box mindset to the crew. “He has a great instinct and infectious enthusiasm – he’ll be a real asset during the Mediterranean legs of the Race.”
A fourth crew member will be announced soon.
Race Route: A Continental Sprint with a Global Message
The Ocean Race Europe is a high-intensity sprint linking northern and southern Europe in five demanding legs. The 2025 edition will take teams from Kiel (Germany) to Portsmouth (UK), Cartagena (Spain) via a fly-by in Matosinhos-Porto (Portugal), Nice (France), Genova (Italy), and finish in Boka Bay, Montenegro.
Coastal navigation, shifting summer conditions, and short logistical turnarounds make this a complex and dynamic race – exactly the kind of challenge that motivates Meilhat and his team.
Before the start, Biotherm will also compete in the Gotland Runt in late June, a 347-mile sprint around the Swedish island – a classic Baltic Sea event that draws over 250 boats.
A Race That Reflects Their Values
The Ocean Race Europe is more than a competition for Meilhat and Biotherm. It’s a platform for ocean advocacy. “This race gives us the chance to speak up at every stopover,” says Meilhat. “We’ll continue our science mission too – with our onboard microscope capturing new plankton imagery as we go.”
As the countdown begins, Team Biotherm is gearing up to race hard and speak up for the future of the ocean.
