{"id":307,"date":"2025-09-03T14:43:44","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:43:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=307"},"modified":"2025-09-03T14:43:44","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T14:43:44","slug":"this-one-was-special-homecoming-victory-beccaria-in-the-ocean-race-europe-leg-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/?p=307","title":{"rendered":"\u2018This one was special\u2019 \u2013 Homecoming victory Beccaria in The Ocean Race Europe Leg 4"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"entry-lead-paragraph\"><strong>Italian sailor Ambrogio Beccaria and his team Allagrande Mapei took first place in the Ocean Race Europe Leg 4, breaking Biotherm&#8217;s so-far perfect score. Leg 4 saw the fleet facing electrical failures, unstable Mediterranean conditions, and the infamous Bouches de Bonifacio. <\/strong><\/p>\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/09\/m190902_TORE_02_03_250903_ML_081-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" data-image-id=\"159855\" \/><figcaption>Photo: Lloyd Images \/ The Ocean Race Europe 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ambrogio Beccaria\u2019s team Allagrande Mapei Racing made a triumphant finish to The Ocean Race Europe Leg 4 as they arrived in Genoa, Italy early Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n<p>Beccaria, who built and launched his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/tag\/class-40\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Class 40<\/a> yacht in Genoa in 2022, said he considers the city his second home, and was overjoyed to have gone from missing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/races\/the-ocean-race-europe-leg-1-recap-biotherm-first-into-portsmouth-malizia-overtakes-paprec-arkea-159653\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leg 1<\/a> completely due to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/events-2\/start-disaster-as-two-boats-collide-and-return-home-in-the-ocean-race-europe-leg-one-159535\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">dramatic collision with Holcim-PRB<\/a> to winning this stretch.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/races\/the-ocean-race-europe-2025-everything-you-need-to-know-159457\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ocean Race Europe<\/a> Leg 4 saw the fleet of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/tag\/imoca-60\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IMOCA 60s<\/a> on a 600 nautical mile leg that started in Nice before snaking around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/cruising\/cruising-in-corsica-and-sardinia-gelato-marine-reserves-and-medieval-history-154799\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Corsica<\/a>, through the famed Bouches de Bonifacio, and into Genoa, which hosted the Grand Finale of inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Europe in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Already at the start of the Ocean Race Europe Leg 4, Beccaria had said he had only one goal\u2013 to be first across the finish line in Genoa.<\/p>\n<p>After coming ashore in the night, having finished the leg at 01:42:14 local time on Wednesday 3 September, he confirmed, \u201cI always want to win every leg. But this one was special because the finish was in Italy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beccaria wasn\u2019t the only Italian sailor looking forward to a homecoming.<\/p>\n<p>Francesca Clapcich of Team Malizia said, \u201cI\u2019m really looking forward to having a lot of Italian people coming down in Porto Antico in the middle of the city. We have an Italian boat also in this race with Ambrogio. Hopefully people will be really excited to come down, check it out, and spend time together.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Second at the end of the Ocean Race Europe Leg 4 was Yoan Richomme\u2019s Paprec Ark\u00e9a, followed by overall race leader Biotherm in third.<\/p>\n<h3>Ocean Race Europe Leg 4 at a glance<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The fleet leaves Nice sailing upwind<\/li>\n<li>Biotherm first through the scoring gate off Monaco<\/li>\n<li>Light winds off the Western side of Corsica<\/li>\n<li>The pace picks up as the fleet races through the Strait of Bonifacio<\/li>\n<li>Power outage onboard Allagrande Mapei as they pass the Island of Elba<\/li>\n<li>Homecoming victory for Ambrogio Beccaria and team Allagrande Mapei<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"collection-wrapper  \">\n<article class=\"media loop section-style-list-tiny post-159457 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-races tag-the-ocean-race tag-top-stories publication_name-yachting-world loop-first loop-odd loop-1 featured-image\" role=\"article\">\n<div class=\"entry-media col-xs-12 col-sm-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/races\/the-ocean-race-europe-2025-everything-you-need-to-know-159457\" rel=\"bookmark\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2023\/08\/YAW289.FEAT_The_Ocean_Race.14_04_230504_ana_maliz_0833_1.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-image-id=\"147897\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content media-body col-xs-12 col-sm-9\">\n<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<h4 class=\"entry-title sub-heading media-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/races\/the-ocean-race-europe-2025-everything-you-need-to-know-159457\" rel=\"bookmark\">The Ocean Race Europe 2025: Everything you need to know<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>Seven teams, six weeks, five legs, one unforgettable race. For its 2025 edition, the Ocean Race Europe will bring together\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<ul class=\"entry-meta\">\n<\/ul>\n<\/footer><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"media loop section-style-list-tiny post-159535 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-events-2 tag-imoca-60 tag-the-ocean-race tag-top-stories publication_name-yachting-world loop-first loop-odd loop-1 featured-image\" role=\"article\">\n<div class=\"entry-media col-xs-12 col-sm-3\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/events-2\/start-disaster-as-two-boats-collide-and-return-home-in-the-ocean-race-europe-leg-one-159535\" rel=\"bookmark\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1125\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/08\/m182537__C8V2345.jpg\" class=\" wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" data-image-id=\"159539\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-content media-body col-xs-12 col-sm-9\">\n<header class=\"entry-header\">\n<h4 class=\"entry-title sub-heading media-heading\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/events-2\/start-disaster-as-two-boats-collide-and-return-home-in-the-ocean-race-europe-leg-one-159535\" rel=\"bookmark\">Start Disaster as Two Boats Collide and Return Home In The Ocean Race Europe Leg One<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<p>The opening leg of The Ocean Race Europe was rocked by drama within moments of the starting gun as two\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer>\n<ul class=\"entry-meta\">\n<\/ul>\n<\/footer><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Ocean Race Europle Leg 4 starts in Nice<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159850\" class=\"size-large wp-image-159850\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/09\/Jean-Louis-Carli-The-Ocean-Race-Europe-2025-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" \/>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The fleet, Code Zero headsails high, headed upwind in 8 knots of wind. Photo: Jean-Lous Carli \/ The Ocean Race Europe 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Holcim-PRB, with Nico Lunven replacing skipper Rosalin Kuiper for Leg 4, and Paul Meilhat\u2019s Biotherm made the cleanest start, slipping away from the pack within the first minutes of the race.<\/p>\n<p>Team Amaala opted for a port start, heading offshore hoping for stronger winds and hoping to reap the benefits of a radically different tactic.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/races\/route-du-rhum-skipper-paul-meilhat-141210\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Paul Meilhat<\/a> of Biotherm, the race\u2019s clear overall leader, had commented, \u2018It\u2019s better to be the hunted than the hunter, that\u2019s for sure. I don\u2019t really care about the pressure. It\u2019s not that I like it, but it doesn\u2019t affect me a lot. When you\u2019re chasing the others, it\u2019s more pressure. You have a problem to fix, you\u2019re not really confident.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>True to his word, Biotherm was once again first through the scoring gate at Monaco, snatching the lead from Paprec Ark\u00e9a at the last second.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159847\" class=\"size-large wp-image-159847\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/09\/Gauthier-Lebec-The-Ocean-Race-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" \/>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Gauthier Lebec \/ the Ocean Race Europe 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>The winds died away overnight, taking the fleet through patches of calm. Paprec Ark\u00e9a held speed more consistently than the fleet, managing to gain a one mile lead.<\/p>\n<p>A breath of air around 2am separated leaders Holcim, Paprec, and Biotherm from the rest of the group.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur first night at sea didn\u2019t really go according to plan,\u201d said Team Malizia\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/features\/cole-brauer-i-had-a-choice-between-going-to-medical-school-or-working-at-a-yacht-club-152160\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cole Brauer<\/a> of falling behind, which she called \u201cdisappointing.\u201d \u201cThey were blasting away while we were just sitting ducks.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Uncertainty in the Mediterranean<\/h2>\n<p>In the Mediterranean, \u201cNobody knows what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d said Biotherm\u2019s Benjamin Ferr\u00e9. \u201cWe study the Meteo and try to understand what will happen, but in the end it is totally different. So we just have to adapt, keep moving, keep focused, and try to go as fast as possible in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Pip Hare, who sailed the last leg of The Ocean Race Europe 2021, said, \u201cMy experience is there is not a lot of wind, with waterspouts and thunderstorms \u2013 it throws it all at you.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159853\" class=\"size-large wp-image-159853\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/09\/Photo-The-Ocean-Race-powered-by-PredictWind-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" \/>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: The Ocean Race Europe, Powered by PredictWind.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>As in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/races\/biotherm-wins-ocean-race-europe-leg-3-after-going-neck-and-neck-with-team-holcim-prb-159817\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Leg 3<\/a>, Italian sailor Ambrogio Beccaria of Allagrande Mapei remained unfazed by the unpredictable conditions in his home waters.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI love Mediterranean sailing,\u201d he commented. \u201cI was born here and it is what made me love the sea. I hope she loves me too, but sometimes it is a difficult relationship and it is hard to understand what she wants.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Sprint through the Bouches of Bonifacio<\/h2>\n<p>Team Hoclim-PRB pulled ahead as the fleet approached Bonifacio, with Biotherm and Paprec Ark\u00e9a close behind. They were fresh off a long night of light air sailing, during which the fleet stayed compact.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s going to be lots of manoeuvres now, lots of tacking, a transition. We will probably go into the strait upwind and come out of it downwind. It\u2019s going to be a busy few hours,\u201d said Alan Roberts aboard Team Holcim-PRB.<\/p>\n<p>As the fleet came into the Strait of Bonifacio and the wind increased from five knots to nearly thirty, the sailors had to exchange their enormous Code Zero headsails for smaller J3s.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159851\" class=\"size-large wp-image-159851\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/09\/Julien-Champolion-The-Ocean-Race-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" \/>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Julie Champolion \/ The Ocean Race Europe 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cRacing around Corsica is always very tricky because the mountains on the island are big and their wind shadows are huge,\u201d says Paprec Ark\u00e9a\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/vendee-globe\/vendee-globe-rookie-yoann-richomme-secures-second-place-156418\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yoann Richomme<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Holcim \u2013 PRB skipper Lunven explained how the Venturi effect impacted conditions, \u201cIn the Bonifacio Strait the wind increased because of the funnelling effect between Corsica on our port side and Sardinia on our starboard side. These islands are very high \u2013 especially Corsica \u2013 between 2,000 and 2,500 metres. It is a narrow passage between the two, so the wind accelerates a lot.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Still, he commented, \u201830 knots for Bonifacio is an easy day \u2013 it could have been way worse!\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Allagrande pulls ahead off the Island of Elba<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159854\" class=\"size-large wp-image-159854\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/09\/Pierre-Bouras-The-Ocean-Race-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" \/>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Pierre Bouras \/ The Ocean Race Europe 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Even as they dealt with an onboard power issue that left them without sailing instruments for an hour, Ambrogio Beccaria\u2019s team Allagrande Mapei managed to pull ahead of the fleet while passing the island of Elba.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt one point we tried to charge our battery and the engine didn\u2019t start. So we had to shut down the whole boat, steer the boat with nothing \u2013 at night. Morgan succeeded in repairing the alternator and we were able to go on with the race. But that moment could have been the end for us,\u201d said Beccaria.<\/p>\n<h2>Allagrande\u2019s triumphant arrival in Genoa<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159852\" class=\"size-large wp-image-159852\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2025\/09\/Lloyd-Images-The-Ocean-Race-Europe-2025-630x354.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"630\" height=\"354\" \/>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Lloyd Images \/ The Ocean Race 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Beccaria\u2019s Allagrande Mapei held on to their lead and made the most of an incoming breeze from a Mediterranean low pressure system. They sprinted towards Genoa, hitting 25 knots of downwind foiling speed and increasing their advantage to 20 nautical miles over chasers Paprec Ark\u00e9a.<\/p>\n<p>Undaunted, Paprec Ark\u00e9a managed to shrink the gap to just eight miles, but it ultimately wasn\u2019t enough to overtake Beccaria\u2019s homecoming team, which pulled away again thanks to an offshore drainage breeze.<\/p>\n<h2>When is the Ocean Race Europe Leg 5?<\/h2>\n<p>After enjoying celebrations and some much-needed rest in Genoa, the fleet will set off for Ocean Race Europe Leg 5, the race\u2019s last, on 7 August. The 1,000 nautical mile dash to Montenegro will take them through a scoring gate at Santo Stefano, in the Arcipelago della Maddalena, before the race\u2019s grand finale in Boka Bay.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2JMgfA4\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright wp-image-120951 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/keyassets.timeincuk.net\/inspirewp\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2019\/05\/YW_JUNE19_-COVER-1-152x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"152\" height=\"200\" \/><\/a>If you enjoyed this recap of the Ocean Race Europe Leg 4\u2026.<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"\"><em>Yachting World is the world\u2019s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.<\/em><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"\"><em>Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2JMgfA4\">latest offers<\/a> and save at least 30% off the cover price.<\/em><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><em>Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn\u2019t affect our editorial independence.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/races\/homecoming-victory-for-ambrogio-beccaria-as-ocean-race-europe-leg-4-finishes-in-genoa-159843\">\u2018This one was special\u2019 \u2013 Homecoming victory Beccaria in The Ocean Race Europe Leg 4<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/\">Yachting World<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Italian sailor Ambrogio Beccaria and his team Allagrande Mapei took first place in the Ocean Race Europe Leg 4, breaking Biotherm&#8217;s so-far perfect score. Leg 4 saw the fleet facing electrical failures, unstable Mediterranean conditions, and the infamous Bouches de Bonifacio. Photo: Lloyd Images \/ The Ocean Race Europe 2025. Ambrogio Beccaria\u2019s team Allagrande Mapei&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-307","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=307"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/307\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=307"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=307"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yachtersworld.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=307"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}