Overnight, the leading group entered the Adriatic Sea after navigating the Strait of Otranto, marking a historic moment as this is the first time boats from The Ocean Race have competed in the Adriatic. In pursuit of the leaders, Rosalin Kuiper’s Team Holcim – PRB and Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia (GER) are locked in a tight contest, battling for position under challenging conditions. Team Holcim – PRB sailor Carolijn Brouwer noted the difficulties in maintaining speed, stating, “The wind is incredibly shifty – 20 to 25 degrees sometimes. Paprec Arkéa trails in fourth, while Allagrande Mapei seeks to close a 20 nautical mile gap to regain a podium position. For Biotherm, a top-three finish would secure enough points to clinch victory in The Ocean Race Europe ahead of the Coastal Race scheduled for Saturday.