The Ocean Race Revolution Is on Its Way For IMOCA

The International Monohull Open Class Association (IMOCA) participation in The Ocean Race is a significant departure and a new adventure for the class, and some are calling it a revolution. The race is happening in less than eight months, with at least four highly competitive international teams now confirmed on the start line and the prospect of more to come. The start date for leg one of The Ocean Race 2022-23 has been confirmed with both IMOCA and VO65 fleets scheduled to burst from the starting blocks on Jan. 15, 2023, from Alicante on Spain’s Mediterranean coast. The scuttlebutt among IMOCA skippers is that this event will mark the start of a new era for IMOCA with significantly more boats taking part in the race following 2023.   Paul Meilhat, the skipper of the new foiler, Biotherm, currently completing construction at the Persico yard in Italy, has always been supportive of IMOCA joining The Ocean Race. Meilhat is relishing the chance to show how it can work for IMOCA teams on both a commercial and sporting level.   “I was one of the first who believed strongly in this race three years ago,” said Meilhat in the June 1 IMOCA news release. “I think The Ocean...