“The Vendée Globe remains the ultimate challenge”, says Boris Herrmann

“The Vendée Globe remains the ultimate challenge”, says Boris Herrmann

by Team Malizia 8 Nov 23:11 PST
10 November 2024

Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann is setting sail this Sunday in the Vendée Globe, the legendary solo, non-stop, unassisted round-the-word race. Once again, the German is eager to face the demanding challenges of the Southern Ocean. With a blend of experience, nautical miles sailed, and a boat designed specifically for this race, Boris Herrmann is considered a strong podium contender in this edition of the Vendée Globe.

“The Vendée Globe is simply one of the greatest challenges in sport”, says Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann a few days before the start of the race this Sunday 10 November. “Solo, non-stop, unassisted, and a full lap around the world. Despite having done the race before and sailed around the globe with our new Malizia – Seaexplorer yacht, I can clearly say that the Vendée Globe remains the ultimate challenge. Since September, my hands get a bit sweaty, I’m jumping from one leg to the other, and I am truly excited about this.”

This Sunday at 13:02 (CET), a record-number of 40 IMOCA boats will set sail in the 10th edition of the race. The course covers 45,000 kilometres (24,300 nautical miles), starting and finishing in Les Sables d’Olonne, France. The fleet will head down the Atlantic, around Antarctica, passing the three iconic Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn, before returning north through the Atlantic, aiming to finish between mid and end of January. “Seeing Cape Horn is one of the reasons to do the race”, comments the Team Malizia skipper. “It’s such a magical moment, to have done the Southern Ocean and then see this iconic landmark. This will be my sixth circumnavigation and my seventh rounding of Cape Horn, but it never gets old. It’s very special and I’m really looking forward to seeing it.”

Held every four years since 1989, the Vendée Globe is also known as the “Everest of the Seas”. Only 114 sailors have ever completed the race out of 200 who started. Boris Herrmann made history as the first German to compete in the race, finishing an impressive fifth out of 33 participants in the 2020-2021 edition after more than 80 days at sea. Following this achievement, Team Malizia sold the boat and built the new Malizia – Seaexplorer yacht, launched in July 2022, incorporating Boris Herrmann’s insights from his time in the Southern Ocean.

“We quickly began building a new boat specifically optimised for the Vendée Globe,” says the offshore sailor. “We decided that to truly understand and ensure the reliability of the boat, we would sail it around the world in The Ocean Race 2022-2023.” Along with the several transatlantic races over the past 2.5 years, the new boat has already raced nearly three times around the globe in solo, double-handed, and crewed modes. “I believe that’s what sets us apart from many other teams.”

He adds: “We are in a very good position for this race. In terms of the campaign, there’s a solid foundation that gives me confidence it will continue strong. Our team’s future isn’t solely dependent on the outcome of this race. I felt that pressure the last time, but this time, I hope to approach it with a lighter, more carefree attitude and really enjoy the experience, focusing on becoming one with my boat. And it is truly my boat. I conceived it from scratch and was driving most of its details and features from day one.”

Boris Herrmann goes on: “We are the team that has sailed the most miles in the first four years of preparation, and especially with the Southern Ocean experiences, I now feel much more in tune with the boat. These experiences have made a huge difference since last time. I think we are one of the best prepared teams. There was just nothing to do for me anymore on the boat since mid-September. This is a great feeling.”

Malizia – Seaexplorer was designed to be more comfortable and smoother through the waves. “There’s really a trade-off between being fast on flat seas or in waves. We wanted a boat that adapts to the sea state rather than fighting every wave, especially those of the Southern Ocean. That’s been a key success of our campaign: being able to sail at 30 knots while still feeling comfortable.” A performance already proven in The Ocean Race, with Team Malizia having won the Southern Ocean leg of the race. However, Boris Herrmann remains pragmatic, understanding of the Vendée Globe’s risks. With unpredictable conditions and the potential for technical issues, no matter how well-prepared a skipper may be, nothing is guaranteed. “There is a high chance of disappointment—something could break, like a bowsprit in the first week, and suddenly you’re already out of the race. But you can still complete the voyage,” he reflects.

Beyond pure performance, raising awareness through Team Malizia’s A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now! mission is of uttermost importance for Boris Herrmann. As he did in the previous edition, he will collect another round-the-world set of Ocean data with his onboard laboratory. The measured CO2, temperature, and salinity data is used by scientists worldwide to better understand the role of the Ocean in climate change, and is incredibly valuable as Boris Herrmann races in the most remote areas of the world where almost no research vessels go. He will also deploy a drifter buoy to further support weather forecasting and climate change monitoring.

Boris Herrmann’s greatest challenges during the Vendée Globe were battling loneliness and confronting his fear of heights when he had to climb the 29-metre mast in the middle of the Ocean. In Les Sables d’Olonne, he was spotted testing his slightly improved climbing gear: “I’m still not looking forward to climbing, it’s always a struggle to go up, and if there’s any sea state, it quickly becomes dangerous and very challenging. As a team, we spent a lot of energy on redundant wind gear, which measures wind speed and direction. We now have three units at the top of the mast instead of two, and two at the back of the boat, as well as a set of tools all about avoiding any extra reason to have to climb.”

“As for the loneliness, the first time was really tough”, he comments. “But instead of just saying ‘This is difficult, I’ll stay away from it’, I want to approach this challenge differently. I’m curious to see if I can go through it and still maintain a better state of mind. That’s the real question for this race. And I’m quite confident that I can.”

Team Malizia has focused on improving the boat’s ergonomics, balancing between comfort and weight. New features include a custom cushioned seat in the cockpit, a large navigation seat with adjustable back rest in the aft cabin, and a special bed bunk that tilts with the boat’s angle and is fitted with a custom mattress. “Conditions onboard during offshore races used to be very spartan, but now competitors are also more willing to bring items that make life onboard more comfortable”, explains Boris Herrmann. Besides the ergonomics, the team has added touches to the boat to make his home for the next months more cosy. “I’ll bring small gifts from the team, and they’ve also signed the coach roof next to my name, which is priceless when sailing solo in the most remote parts of the world.”

In Les Sables d’Olonne, Boris Herrmann stays discrete and fully focussed on the last moments before the start. “I have a bit of time by myself on the boat every day. I’m really enjoying being at the race village now, but with this many people, it can get tiring very quickly. My family is currently at home in Hamburg, my wife will come on the start day and until then I’m with my little dog Lilli.” Besides various briefings, a press conference yesterday and partner events, he spends his last days before the start exercising and checking the weather with his long-time co-skipper Will Harris. The duo is joined by sailor Cole Brauer who is currently in Les Sables d’Olonne with Team Malizia and mentoring under Boris.

“The models are a bit unstable, so it’s difficult to predict but it looks like a light-wind start, unlike last time when we had to deal with a big weather front right away”, details the German sailor. “It seems that we might take longer than the usual 7 days or so to get to the Equator. So I think there’s a reduced chance of breaking Armel Le Cléac’h’s 74-day race record.”

Just before the start, which will be streamed live on the Vendée Globe and Team Malizia channels, as well as by many broadcasters around the world, Boris Herrmann will do a few interviews on shore early in the morning. “Then I walk down the dock, say goodbye to the team, board the boat, and enjoy the cheering crowds and celebrations when we exit the famous channel of Les Sables d’Olonne. I will essentially act as a passenger until ten minutes before the start, when I take over from Will who I trust fully to manage the dock-off, setting sails, and preparing the boat with the rest of the shore team onboard. This setup allows me to rest, eat, and check the weather. After our traditional high-five, Will jumps off last, is picked up by the chase boat, and I sail us over the start line.”

Team Malizia’s A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now! mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its seven main partners: Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, and Zurich Group Germany. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.