The first week of the Vendée Globe is behind us. I'm happy with the boat. Everything has been reliable and good so far. I was very fast downwind again. Tactical skill was also required this week. I didn't have the best hand there, but the race is still long.
In fact, the length of the Vendée Globe is frightening - it's madness! You always have to come to terms with it mentally. At the moment, it's still more of a virtual feeling. I remember the last time I realised how long it was in the Indian Ocean. Or around Christmas. The idea that I'm going to be on the boat until Christmas and beyond is sometimes quite impressive.
The Vendée Globe launch in Les Sables is a crazy party!" Boris Herrmann
The start was also very impressive. I just had to think about it again, some images continue to accompany me. The many German flags, lots of "Go, Boris!" signs. Thank you to everyone who came to Les Sables. Thank you to everyone who followed and supported the race. It's great to see.
Vendée Globe: Fear of loneliness
It's a shame that it's only one day when the boats leave. Maybe we should organise a few pre-races next time. So that people can party more often in the harbour. In any case, there was a great atmosphere. It was also nice to stand on the foredeck with Pierre (editor: Team Malizia's co-founder Pierre Casiraghi). Which we weren't really supposed to do. It was nice to share the moment with Cole (ed.: Cole Brauer) and Pierre.
I could be in this mood every day. Out here now, I sometimes struggle a little with the fear of feeling lonely. I'm a bit nervous that it might come. But to be honest, everything is still fine at the moment. There are days like this and days like that. I'm finding it a bit more difficult today. The mood is always linked to how I'm doing in the race. Not so great today. I've manoeuvred a bit too far south and it's not going so well here. I'm just bobbing along in very little wind.
Are storms or lulls actually more stressful? Doldrums are stressful when the wind is below four knots. When the boat starts to turn in circles. Especially in swell. That's the most unpleasant thing. Of course, storms also have an upper limit somewhere, where it's no longer nice. I say: I'd rather have 30, 35 knots of wind than less than four knots.
Back then "poof" in the southern hemisphere
I haven't thought too much about the differences between my first and second Vendée Globe since the start. I tended to think about this a lot beforehand. At the moment, the differences in the weather conditions are striking. Last time, the weather scenario was more normal with the trade winds at the start.
So it's more a case of perhaps comparing individual phases. Back then, we travelled down south quickly with the trade winds. We reached the equator quite quickly and were in the southern hemisphere in no time at all.
Editorial team: Alex Thomson has held the Vendée Globe record from Les Sables-d'Olonne to the equator since 2016 with 9 days and 7 hours. At the last Vendée Globe, Alex Thomson on "Hugo Boss" was also the first to reach the equator after 9 days and 23 hours.
Looking back, it was faster than we are travelling right now. But it was also much harder. We will certainly compare the other phases step by step. Basically, the differences between my first and this Vendée Globe are certainly that I have more experience and a boat with much more space. A boat that sails much faster downwind. That already feels good. Better!
The enormity of the Vendée Globe
I was asked about the fact that I had withdrawn for a while before the race. The focus had suddenly become necessary. I hadn't anticipated that. But suddenly I realised: Oh, now the Vendée Globe is really coming! It's no longer just a slogan. This race really is something completely different to starting an Ocean Race leg or a Transat. I treated the transat almost as a matter of routine, maybe even went shopping in the morning before the start.
It's also good to see what a big mental difference it makes. It's amazing! The Vendée Globe is just so damn long, such a big thing! That suddenly dropped like a stone on my heart. Or the scales fell from my eyes. Suddenly, bang, I realised, oh, this isn't business as usual. Here comes the really big thing. I really need to take a step back, reflect and prepare for it.
Our Malizia team is a really close-knit group." Boris Herrmann
The good thing is that I can rely 100 per cent on my team and my boat, because they both do a great job. The team is a bit like our family, our group of friends, but of course also our company. They are all doing a great job with the various projects we now have. We are building our new Malizia 4 and also a sister ship for Armel Tripon. There's already a lot going on. It's a great life task to work with them and to be involved.
In the current race, it feels stupid that Maxime Sorel had to retire. I don't know exactly why he twisted his ankle and how bad it was. When someone has to retire so early, it's difficult to empathise. Let's say you had to give up in Australia. Then I would want to bring my boat back on its own keel and with a crew, because that has a special meaning.
I wouldn't necessarily have to continue single-handed if I was out of the race anyway. That's kind of what I was thinking. However, my motto out here at the moment is completely different: keep going, 'no way back' or 'burn the bridges'. We're in the race here and there are no thoughts of giving up.
A topsy-turvy world at the Vendée Globe
But I'm not so concerned with the ranking at the moment because it's quite skewed due to the special weather situation. Because we're not sailing southwards in a straight line. That won't happen again for another two or three days. Until then, I'm just trying to enjoy it now when the boat is travelling in a nice straight line. I'm currently doing nine knots. The boat is going slower. But when we hit 13, 14 knots, then we'll be on the foil. Then it sets off nicely. And I just try to enjoy those moments.
I haven't studied Jean Le Cam's weather situation in the east that closely. That's why I can't assess it exactly. But Jean Le Cam doesn't do anything out of bollocks or principle. He's a great sailor! He will have carefully thought through the risks of the option there.
What do I miss most out here - apart from sleep? The answer is simple: I miss sitting together with other people and chatting. I always enjoy socialising. But things are looking good on board in the provisions area: I still have some bread and eggs, but recently I've been satisfied with normal standard food. Today I had a great muesli with yoghurt from a brand I hadn't had before: Trail Organic Food from Denmark with oat flakes, honey, pumpkin seeds and sunflower oil. I also had a small bottle of fruit juice.
