Alan Roura and Team AMAALA finished 7th in the 5th and final leg of The Ocean Race Europe, marking the end of the offshore part of the event. With just a few days to go before the final race, a coastal course in the Bay of Kotor, it's time to take stock of this successful launch of the Swiss Offshore Team project, whose ambition is to train young Swiss sailors in offshore racing to participate in The Ocean Race around the world in 2027. This first adventure has left a lasting impression and promises great stories to come.
"It's a combination of feelings. We were excited to arrive but a little sad that an incredible adventure was coming to an end. Nine days at sea, with nothing to eat at the end, lots of twists and turns, mentally difficult moments when the gap between us and our competitors went from 2 miles to 300 miles... It was a long leg, but we really enjoyed it, and we had a beautiful finish with the sunset in this magnificent setting.
On the sporting side, I must admit that I had a knot in my stomach. I am a competitor, and in my mind, the Canadians had to finish behind us. That was a clear goal. Catching up with them and overtaking them at one point as we entered the Adriatic was a small victory. My goal from the start was to beat them on at least one leg. That didn't happen, but we're proud to have given them a run for their money for a while. And it's not over yet! We still have Saturday's race to go. And I think we've scared them over the last few days. We really pushed hard and came very close...
We proved to them that we were there: serious, competitive, capable of rivaling the best. Even with an older boat, we managed to stay ahead of the winner of the last Ocean Race and finish third in the Vendée Globe for a short while. It's very satisfying and it shows that we need to come back with a more competitive boat and thorough preparation to compete with the others. Because even though we managed to hang on, we're still quite far behind in the end, and there's a gap to fill.
Beyond the result, what I really loved was the human aspect. The crew changed at each stage. It required a lot of work, communication, and adaptation. What I found most powerful was seeing people who had never spent a night at sea before, and guiding them to sail an IMOCA, adjust the sails continuously... and above all, enjoy doing it.
And then there was the beauty of the journey: Sicily, Albania, sublime landscapes, colorful and memorable arrivals. It was a long, demanding race, but above all, it was fabulous.
I also discovered a role as team leader, which I was unfamiliar with. As someone who sometimes lacks self-confidence, I am very proud today to have taken on this role. This race was a great warm-up for the round-the-world trip that awaits us."
Pictures © Mark Lloyd / The Ocean Race Europe