Boris Herrmann is once again in great demand. To mark the publication of his new book, the 44-year-old is a sought-after interview partner and talk show guest. The talks are about the new book "Die Welt unter meinem Boot", which Herrmann has written with co-author Walter Wüllenweber.
Above all, however, it is about Germany's most famous sailor himself, who not only reports on the sporting and marine conservation work of Team Malizia on the occasion of the book publication, but also gives insights into his own career, his soul life and his convictions.
Vendée Globe: the ultimate challenge
As an NDR guest on the "Red Sofa", Boris Herrmann reported in an interview with Bettina Tietjen this week about the races we have recently experienced: the Vendée Globe and the Ocean Race Europe. Once again, the question was: Do you prefer sailing alone or in a team? Boris Herrmann's answer: "Of course I like being with people and it's fun to sail with a team. However, I don't sail alone because I want to sail alone. It's simply the ultimate challenge."
Non-stop around the world alone - there is nothing greater. There is no more difficult race than the Vendée Globe. That's why it has this incredible fascination." Boris Herrmann
With a cheerful smile, Herrmann said on the "Red Sofa" on the subject of solo versus team sailing: "We'll probably still be talking about it in ten years' time." And if he had to give up one of the two areas - solo or team sailing? "Solo sailing is really difficult, it's really hard," Herrmann mused, "then you sit on the sofa for a few days afterwards and think, boah, what's going on again?"
This is just one of Herrmann's indications of how difficult the loneliness at sea was for him, especially during his first Vendée Globe. He told Stern magazine about "dark phases" on board. In interviews with YACHT, Boris Herrmann has also discussed loneliness and isolation at sea on several occasions when sailing solo. According to Herrmann, however, he had already known what was in store for him during his second Vendée Globe. Six weeks before the start, he was still "really scared".
Fear of heights and "dark moments" at sea
Boris Herrmanns also spoke on the "Red Sofa" about his fear of heights and those "dark moments" at sea. In this regard, he described the successful coaching he received before his second Vendée Globe participation. "It has meant that I no longer have these feelings, that I no longer find being alone so threatening."
According to Herrmann, there is a coaching technique called EMDR that can be used in various areas. "Somehow it worked for me," says the extreme sailor. EMDR stands for "Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing" and is a method also used in psychotherapy to treat trauma. Among other things, this therapy involves using eye movements to speed up the processing of traumatic memories.
During his interview with Bettina Tietjen on the "Red Sofa", Boris Herrmann recalled moments during his first Vendée Globe in 2020/2021 that he found "threatening". He described his feelings at the time: "It felt threatening somehow. I'm so alone here on the ocean, the horizon all around. Anything could happen now. And you imagine it like this... And I felt completely threatened. So threatenedly lonely. We treated that with this technique. New synapses are created in the brain. And somehow it was gone."
Boris Herrmann: "The path is clear"
As a result of the coaching, his second Vendée Globe was also "a bit of a test to see if 'it' is gone". Now the course is clear, is Boris Herrmann's assessment today. His current credo for the third Vendée Globe race in 2028/2029: "Open fire for the next time. Without any obstacles, without any reservations: Attack next time."
On his twelfth place in his second Vendée Globe, Boris Herrmann reported on the "Red Sofa" how a whale collision had thrown him back from sixth to twelfth place at the end. He had sailed behind his own hopes and expectations with this placing. "In this respect, I now have to go for it a third time and make sure I perform there," said Boris Herrmann, citing his motivation for the third Vendée Globe participation he has set his sights on. The new Imoca is due to take to the water at the end of June 2025.
Another topic in the in-depth NDR interview was the new Imoca ship being built in France. "I think it's going to be a really great ship. And I'm really involved and enthusiastic about it. We are simply trying to make it better. We're trying to get a bit better with the new boat in light and medium winds. I think we're managing that well. It's an exciting process."
Research mission in the Antarctic
Until then, Boris Herrmann's diary is full to bursting, even without his own Imoca in the hangar in Lorient. In November, he will join the crew on the research yacht "Malizia Explorer", which has been sailing under the Malizia roof since April. The boat can carry 14 people. In addition to the regular crew, scientists working on various research projects and journalists will also be on board to report on projects.
"We were able to prepare the boat with the crew during the Vendée Globe while I was at sea. In November and December, for example, we have a trip to the Antarctic. Eight scientists and journalists and the small sailing crew that is needed for this ship will be travelling with us. This gives scientists the opportunity to go to places that are otherwise difficult to reach."
Boris Herrmann himself is on board the Antarctic mission for a good three weeks. Following missions to the Ocean Conference in Nice, Senegal, Cape Verde and Brazil, "Malizia Explorer" has already arrived in South America. Boris Herrmann will join the crew in November for the "difficult mission in the Antractic".
A life for sailing and marine conservation
This and many other topics are explored in the new book "Die Welt unter meinem Boot", which has now been published by Penguin Random House. The 336-page book tells the story of how Boris Herrmann became Germany's best-known sailor and the experiences and people that shaped him on his extraordinary journey.
Team Malizia's commitment to the health of the world's oceans, science and research takes up a lot of space. The motto is stated in the subtitle: "A life for sailing and the protection of the oceans".
The Malizia clip "The final chapter" was released just a few days ago. It shows a look back at the farewell race with "Malizia - Seaexplorer", which has already been handed over to its new skipper Francesca Clapcich and is now called "11th Hour Racing". The Italian-American wants to start the Transat Café L'Or together with Will Harris at the weekend - the starting signal for her Vendée Globe campaign for 2028.
Transat start for ex-"Malizia" on Sunday
Although the Race Village in the starting harbour of Le Havre will be closed on Thursday due to an approaching storm, it is expected to reopen in the evening or on Friday. The starting shots for the four classes in the Transat Café L'Or - Ultims, Ocean Fifties, Imocas and Class40ies - are scheduled to be fired every quarter of an hour on Sunday from 2 pm. Here is the farewell clip from Team Malizia:
