Portsmouth named UK host of The Ocean Race Europe 2025

The city of Portsmouth has been announced as the UK host for The Ocean Race Europe 2025.

The major sailing event falls under the banner of The Ocean Race, the historic offshore around the world race first held in 1973 as the Whitbread Round the World Race which started and finished in Portsmouth.

The Ocean Race Europe will start on Sunday 10 August, 2025 from Kiel, Germany. The mixed male and female crews of the IMOCA fleet will race through the Baltic Sea and North Sea and into the English Channel, expecting to arrive in Portsmouth on 14 or 15 August. Other confirmed stopovers include Cartagena, Spain and Genova, Italy, with more to be announced shortly.

Portsmouth City Council Leader Cllr Steve Pitt said: "We have a long tradition of hosting successful sailing events going back to the very first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973.

"It's also exciting that the themes and passions of The Ocean Race Europe align perfectly with Portsmouth's themes around sustainability and having a healthy ocean."

Portsmouth Ocean Race activities

While the event is in Portsmouth, Gunwharf Quays will host the Ocean Live Park public area, with family activities, engaging and educational ocean health activities showcasing the extraordinary achievements of the sailors and teams in the race. The action is due to be in the city from 14/15 -16/17 August, when the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe will set off from Portsmouth waters.

Sustainability and ocean health

Sustainability is at the heart of The Ocean Race, with its award-winning Racing with Purpose programme focused on ocean literacy, ocean science, and advocacy.

During racing, the sailors and teams will participate in pioneering ocean science projects, collecting important ocean data and water samples with on board scientific instruments. This information is fed into science organisations around the world studying ocean health and meteorology and contributes to the scientific community's understanding of the pressures facing the ocean due to human activity.

Latest chapter in Portsmouth's sailing story

Phil Lawrence, Race Director of The Ocean Race, said: "It's fantastic to bring The Ocean Race Europe to the United Kingdom and to add another chapter to the story of Portsmouth and its hosting of iconic offshore sailing events.

"The foiling IMOCA class boats are at the cutting-edge of technology and innovation for offshore racing yachts. The sailors are among the best in the world in their sport and the teams are committed not just to racing hard, but also to engaging in important ocean health initiatives like the on board science programme."

Portsmouth is synonymous with the historic race. The original Whitbread Round the World Race started and/or finished from Portsmouth for its first four events, and last returned to the city for a stopover in 2006.

Renowned Portsmouth sailor Samantha Davies, who is preparing to race around the world again in the upcoming Vendée Globe, said: "It's super-exciting to hear that there will be a stopover in Portsmouth.

"It's really cool. First of all, I was born in Portsmouth, so that's one very good reason to be excited! When I was a kid I watched some of the old Whitbread Round the World Race starts and finishes in the Solent and those are amazing memories. It's a big part of the history of the Race so great to hear it will be coming to Portsmouth."

The Ocean Race Europe will take place in August/September 2025, followed by The Ocean Race Atlantic: New York to Barcelona one year later in September 2026. The next edition of The Ocean Race (around the world) is scheduled to start in January 2027.

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