Spectacular collision at the start of The Ocean Race Europe in Germany

Two minutes after crossing the starting line, while sailing side by side close-hauled (going upwind), the Holcim-PRB boat of the Dutchwoman Rosalin Kuiper and the Mapei of the Italian Ambrogio Beccaria collided with their lateral appendages.

In a rare accident for this type of technology-packed boat, Holcim-PRB's port foil tore Mapei's headsail and mainsail , while the latter pierced its competitor's hull with its outrigger (a side tube helping to support the mast).

The two monohulls quickly turned around to return to port, where they will have to decide whether to repair and restart the race , during this leg or the next.

Seven sailboats at the start

In total, seven yachts , with mixed and international crews, took part in this first stage between Kiel and Portsmouth, on the south coast of England.

A variation of the famous Ocean Race, a crewed leg race around the world, The Ocean Race Europe is a 4,500-mile (8,300 km) journey around the continent, from the Baltic to the Adriatic, aboard IMOCAs, the Vendée Globe monohulls.

Several of the sailors who participated in the last edition of this solo round the world race were also at the start of this race on Sunday: some as skippers like Paul Meilhat (Biotherm), Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkea), Alan Roura (Team Amaala) or Boris Herrmann (Malizia), others as crew members, like Thomas Ruyant or Justine Mettraux.

On Sunday, Meilhat and Richomme made the best start, heading northeast to cross the Danish archipelago before heading due west for a crossing of the North Sea. They are expected to arrive in Portsmouth within four days.

The next stages will take them to Cartagena, in the south-east of Spain, Nice and Genoa (Italy) before arriving in Kotor (Montenegro) in September.