"Beccaria's victory in The Ocean Race Europe Leg 4 was extraordinary"

In a thrilling race marred by electrical failures, unstable Mediterranean conditions, and the infamous Bouches de Bonifacio, Ambrogio Beccaria's team Allagrande Mapei emerged victorious in The Ocean Race Europe Leg 4. The 600 nautical mile leg started in Nice, went around Corsica, and ended in Genoa.

The race saw a dramatic turn of events off the Island of Elba, where Beccaria's team pulled ahead of the fleet. Despite facing an onboard power issue that left them without sailing instruments for an hour, Allagrande Mapei held on to their lead and made the most of an incoming breeze from a Mediterranean low pressure system to sprint towards Genoa.

The victory broke Biotherm's previously perfect score in the race, with the overall race leader finishing third in Leg 4. Paprec Arkéa managed to shrink the gap to just eight miles but ultimately wasn't able to overtake Beccaria's homecoming team.

Ambrogio Beccaria, elated at the win, stated that it was special because the finish was in Italy. "Winning in my home country is a dream come true," he said.

Meanwhile, Francesca Clapcich of Team Malizia looked forward to a homecoming in Genoa. However, the race wasn't without its challenges for her team as they had to exchange their enormous Code Zero headsails for smaller J3s as the wind increased to nearly thirty knots in the Strait of Bonifacio.

Holcim - PRB skipper Lunven explained how the Venturi effect impacted conditions in the Bonifacio Strait. Despite Beccaria missing Leg 1 of the race due to a collision with Holcim-PRB, the rivalry between the two teams seemed to fuel their competitive spirit.

The fleet will now prepare for the grand finale of The Ocean Race Europe, with the start of Leg 5 set for September 7, 2025. Departing from Genova, Italy, the teams will head to Boka Bay, Montenegro, in a 1,000 nautical mile dash. During Leg 5, the fleet will pass through a scoring gate at Santo Stefano, in the Arcipelago della Maddalena.

As the race reaches its climax, the tension is palpable. With each leg, the teams are pushing their boats and themselves to the limit, vying for the top spot in The Ocean Race Europe. The final leg promises to be a spectacle of endurance, strategy, and sheer determination.