The Mirpuri Foundation will host The Ocean Race Europe when the race makes a stopover in the port of Cascais, Portugal.
- The Mirpuri Foundation will host the first stopover in The Ocean Race Europe at its home port of Cascais, Portugal
- The finish line of the first leg of the race from Lorient, France
- This is the first time that an Ocean Race event will come to Cascais
- Cascais and the Clube Naval de Cascais are the home of the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team and their Racing For The Planet VO65 boat, which will compete in the race
- First time an organisation has hosted a stopover in the race
The Ocean Race Europe is a new event, designed to showcase top-flight, fully crewed, competitive ocean racing featuring the best international teams. The prestigious race will see crew members from all over the world racing in foiling IMOCA 60s and one-design VO65s racing from Lorient into the Mediterranean Sea, finishing in Genoa, Italy in June.
Located 30km west of Lisbon, Cascais is a historic and cosmopolitan seaside resort on the edge of the Tagus estuary, between the Sintra mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. Once a fishing village, Cascais was the summer retreat for Portuguese nobility. The picturesque old town is home to the medieval Nossa Senhora da Luz Fort and the Citadel Palace, a former royal retreat.
Cascais Marina is the largest marina on the Portuguese Riviera. It has previously played host to numerous high profile sailing events, including the America’s Cup World Series, the World Match Racing Tour, and the Audi MedCup. The Clube Naval de Cascais has been an institution of Portuguese sailing since it was founded in 1938 and is home to the biggest sailing school in the country.
Cascais is also the team base of The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, which will compete in the race with its VO65 boat, named Racing For The Planet.
Established by Paulo Mirpuri, The Mirpuri Foundation is a non-profit organisation with a far-reaching international spirit of conservation, and putting sustainability before politics and profit.
The Foundation was the principal sustainability partner for the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race, and the founding partner for the “Turn the Tide on Plastic” team – part of a global movement against plastic pollution. This campaign also marked the first time in history that two Portuguese sailors – Bernardo Freitas and Frederico Melo – competed in the race, racing on board a boat that carried the Portuguese flag.
In 2019, The Mirpuri Foundation launched The Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team, to carry its message – Stop Climate Change – around the world. Skippered by Yoann Richomme, the Racing For The Planet crew includes three Portuguese sailors.
Paulo Mirpuri, Founder of the Mirpuri Foundation said: “We are proud to welcome The Ocean Race Europe to Cascais and to host the stopover in our home port with our friends at Clube Naval de Cascais. This is the first time that an Ocean Race event has come to Cascais, having come to Lisbon in the past. Today’s announcement is the culmination of an enormous amount of work from many different parties. We have worked hard with the organisers of the race to bring The Ocean Race Europe to Cascais, our home, and we will have many more developments to share very soon. This will be a spectacular race after a difficult year for so many people and we cannot wait to welcome the fleet to Portugal.”
Richard Brisius, Race Chairman of The Ocean Race said: “The Ocean Race Europe will surely provide us with great competition on the water. But it is also an opportunity for our wonderful sport to inspire towards a greater purpose. We are united in driving action towards the promotion of ocean health and we look forward to working on this with all of our friends and partners in Cascais when we are in Portugal this June.”
Miguel Pinto Luz, Deputy Mayor of Cascais said: “Cascais is very proud to be one of the cities chosen to become a stopover for The Ocean Race Europe. Sailing is a part of our identity and hosting the best regattas in the world is now a tradition here. We consider Cascais the best place to live – for one day or for a lifetime. And if you are a sailor, this is paradise… one of the best regatta locations in the world, in front of our beautiful Bay.”
Gonçalo Esteves, President of the Clube Naval de Cascais said: “It is with great pride and enthusiasm that Clube Naval de Cascais hosts the inaugural edition of Ocean Race Europe. It will certainly be a remarkable moment for everyone after a year in a pandemic. I hope that sailors and everyone involved will enjoy this return to the sea and almost normality. The Clube Naval de Cascais is grateful to Dr. Paulo Mirpuri and the Mirpuri Foundation, partners of our club, for making this event possible in Cascais.”
Yoann Richomme, Skipper of the Mirpuri Foundation Racing Team said: “It will be an honour to lead Racing For The Planet and our crew out from my home in Lorient and into our home port of Cascais this Spring, a place we have seen many times from our boat, but never surrounded by such an incredible fleet. It will be a wonderful occasion for everyone involved. There is no doubt, The Mirpuri Foundation’s passion for sailing will be felt by everyone.”
Organisers of The Ocean Race Europe are prioritising the health and safety of all competitors and stakeholders and will follow all relevant regulations and advisories with respect to COVID-19.
