The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team emerged victorious in the inaugural Ocean Race Europe 2022/23 in Genoa, Italy. With the motto “Race for the planet”, the crew and boat VO65, led by GYC member Paulo Mirpuri, won for the first time in such a competitive environment.

The team had announced early on that they would compete to win. However, with light winds predicted, it was uncertain whether the race would even take place.

Everything was going smoothly for the crew until the team started hoisting the spinnaker at the last buoy when the wind changed direction. The tack slowed their progress and allowed second placed Sailing Poland to gain some ground while the crew pulled the sail on board. This led to an exciting tactical race.

The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team was early on the team to beat. The team led for much of the race from the first leg in Lorient, France, to its home port of Cascais in Portugal, before losing something in the closing stages and hitting the slow front of the light wind. This was to be the only stage the Portuguese team did not win.

With its first win in the Cascais coastal race as part of the Mirpuri Foundation Sailing Trophy, the team embarked on an impressive run to catch up, with the crew taking maximum points in each race and arriving in Genoa with a one-point lead with back-to-back wins in the next two offshore legs. The team ended up winning with 21 points, four points ahead of runners-up Sailing Poland and AkzoNobel.

Paulo Mirpuri, the founder of the Mirpuri Foundation, said: “This is a very proud day for all of us. From the beginning, the commitment and passion of each team member has been very special. As a base, we set out to build a team capable of winning this race, but it is individual ability, instinct and perseverance that has led to victory in this impressive manner. Above all, a win for the Racing for the Planet crew reinforces the reach of our message – Stop climate change – around the world, and that’s something we can celebrate.”

The Ocean Race is not just a race. It has stood for ocean conservation since its very first installment in 1973. The victory underlines the Mirpuri Foundation’s mission to stop climate change worldwide.

GSTAAD YACHT CLUB