Team Malizia and Biotherm have announced crew changes ahead of Leg 4 of The Ocean Race 2022-23.
British sailor Will Harris will be Team Malizia’s skipper for the fourth stage of the round-the-world race, taking over the role for the second time, as Boris Herrmann steps off for the leg from Itajaí to Newport, Rhode Island.
And a new face joins the team as French offshore sailor Christopher Pratt will be on board for Leg 4.
This is a scheduled change for the team and Pratt comes with a wealth of experience, having co-skippered the IMOCA Charal with Jérémie Beyou for four years and taken podium finishes in the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Transat Jacques Vabre, along with campaigns on other well-known French teams like Maître Coq and Banque Populaire.
“I am really happy to join Team Malizia on the next leg of The Ocean Race. Taking part in this race is a childhood dream come true,” Pratt said.
“I have been following the race very closely from the start and even more during the last leg. I am impressed by the commitment and the resilience of the crew winning the longest leg of the race. I am really looking forward to joining the team in Itajaí and I will do my best to bring my experience and enthusiasm to the crew.”
In addition to Will Harris and Christopher Pratt, Nicolas Lunven is also confirmed for the next leg and Rosalin Kuiper — currently back home in the Netherlands and recovering well from her recent concussion — is planning to return a week before the start to join the crew. Antoine Auriol will also be back as onboard reporter.
Specialists are grinding back the damaged material of Biotherm’s damaged foil | Credit: Alexander Champy-McLean/The Ocean Race
Biotherm skipper Paul Meilhat has also announced his crew line-up for Leg 4.
The British sailor Alan Roberts, a specialist in the Figaro class, will join Meilhat along with Marie Riou, a four-time world champion and a winner of The Ocean Race in 2017-18 with Dongfeng Race Team. Portuguese Olympian and world champion, Mariana Lobato will also be on board.
Biotherm will also become the first team in The Ocean Race to start a leg with an equal split of men and women racing the boat. With Anne Beaugé returning as on-board reporter, three women will be on board for the leg to Newport.
Meanwhile, Biotherm’s team of technicians is in a race against the clock to repair their damaged foil ahead of Leg 4.
The team have moved the foil project to a composite materials facility near Itajaí where specialists are grinding back the damaged material to find the ‘good’ part, which will be built up layer by layer with new carbon fibre.
Once completed, the repaired area should be as good as new. But it is time-consuming work and the new lamination needs to happen in stages. The race is on!
