Leg 5 so far: “A great leg to end the race on” – Scott Shawyer on the longest leg

10 September 2025: The final stage of The Ocean Race Europe is proving every bit as complex as expected. The IMOCA fleet left Genova, Italy, on Sunday for the last push to Boka Bay, Montenegro, and Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive president and skipper Scott Shawyer knew it would be a leg full of twists and turns.

After a slow, frustrating start in light and shifty winds, conditions have finally shifted, but not without drama. Yesterday, the team shared their excitement as the breeze kicked in and they went from crawling at 5 knots to blasting along at 20. The change in pace brought fresh energy and renewed determination to chase down the fleet.

By today, the momentum has continued. Sailing past Sardinia and brushing the Tunisian coastline near Bizerte, the team is making 14 knots downwind on their way to the next waypoint in Ustica, north of Palermo. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Chaotic stormy seas and localised thunderstorms have already tested the fleet, and with evolving weather systems ahead, constant strategy and focus will be essential.

For Scott, this unpredictability is exactly what makes Leg 5 such a fitting finale. “This leg is long, and it takes the team in a lot of different directions,” he explained. “The wind conditions are really variable and complicated. They’re expecting everything from light air to stronger pressure, which means they’ll be sailing across a lot of different points of sail and wind strengths. It’s a proper test for both the boat and the crew.”

That variety means relentless work onboard. “There’ll be lots of sail changes, lots of different sailing modes,” Scott added. “It’s a great leg to end The Ocean Race Europe on.”

The team is also making the most of this final opportunity to learn, with new crew member Lincoln Dews joining for the leg. “It’s fantastic to have Lincoln on board,” Scott said. “He will be recording all the data from this leg and consolidating the data from the previous legs, so we can analyse it at the end of the race, and see what the data tells us about our performance.”

With the end of the race getting nearer, Scott is clear about what matters most: “Leg 5 is going to give us so much more to learn from – about the boat, the conditions and our performance. It’s been a tough, inspiring race so far.”

Expect an unpredictable, high-intensity finish as the team charges towards Boka Bay — a finale that captures the very spirit of The Ocean Race Europe.

Follow our live position here: https://www.canadaoceanracing.com/follow

Keep an eye on the scoreboard here: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/europe/2025/scoreboard

Here’s how to follow the race: https://www.theoceanrace.com/en/how-to-follow

And here’s more information about what’s coming when the team arrives in Boka Bay, ETA 15 September. https://bokabay.theoceanrace.com/