With this summer’s edition of The Ocean Race Europe fast approaching, race organizers have confirmed the final piece of the puzzle: a high-stakes Fly-By in Matosinhos-Porto, Portugal, during Leg 2 of the event.
Scheduled for August 20th, this marks a welcome return of the iconic race to Portuguese shores — and adds a critical competitive and environmental dimension to the course.
For teams navigating the double-points leg from Portsmouth, UK, to Cartagena, Spain, the Porto Fly-By isn’t just a mid-leg spectacle. It’s a scoring gate. Half the points are awarded as the IMOCA fleet rounds the mark near the Porto Cruise Terminal before restarting the leg a few hours later and pushing on into the Mediterranean.
This format rewards consistency and strategy — and offers Portuguese fans a front-row view of some of the fastest offshore monohulls ever built, slicing through Atlantic swells on their foils.
“It’s very special to know that The Ocean Race Europe is stopping in Matosinhos,” said Team Paprec Arkéa’s Mariana Lobato, who made history as the only Portuguese woman in the last round-the-world edition. “We’ll be racing around Europe, but when we arrive in Portugal, I’ll feel at home — and that’s something very special to me.”
Beyond the racing, the Matosinhos-Porto Fly-By serves a bigger mission: raising awareness and driving action around ocean health. The Ocean Race’s sustainability and science programs will be on full display, including onboard water sampling technology that will gather environmental data for global researchers — an extension of the successful scientific efforts piloted in the previous edition of the race.
“We are proud to welcome The Ocean Race Europe to our coastline,” said Luísa Maria Neves Salgueiro, Mayor of Matosinhos. “There is an obvious relationship between us: the city of Matosinhos promotes the blue economy and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. This sporting event complements our long-term commitment to preserving the marine environment.”
Race Chairman Richard Brisius reinforced that alignment during Wednesday’s announcement at the Porto Cruise Terminal, confirming that Portugal will also host The Ocean Race Summit in 2026 — a gathering of scientists, policymakers, youth leaders, and ocean advocates focused on actionable solutions for the ocean’s most urgent challenges.
“Our commitment doesn’t end when the fleet sails away,” Brisius said. “In 2026, we’ll return to Portugal to host one of our most iconic events: The Ocean Race Summit. I invite all of you to join us in contributing to the greatest race of all — the Race for the Ocean.”
The confirmation of the Matosinhos-Porto Fly-By completes the 2025 race route: Kiel (start), Portsmouth, Matosinhos-Porto (Fly-By), Cartagena, Nice, and Genova, before the fleet makes its final push into the Adriatic Sea for the grand finale at Boka Bay, Montenegro.
With four-strong mixed-nationality IMOCA crews — plus onboard reporters capturing every second of the action — this year’s edition promises intensity from start to finish. But just as critical is what’s happening off the water: learning programs, citizen engagement, and public-facing activations that connect fans to the future of ocean health.
Or as Pedro Machado, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Tourism, put it: “This race reminds us of Portugal’s maritime tradition — our innovation, ambition, and our responsibility to lead once again in shaping the future of the ocean.”
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He grew up in landlocked Switzerland, lived in a campervan in a car park to break into professional sailing, and in 2025 became the first Swiss-German to complete the Vendée Globe. Now Oliver Heer is back — with a foiling IMOCA, a 14-strong team, and the commercial instincts of a startup founder.
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