New York Vendée: Winner of hearts - Boris Herrmann finishes in second place after wow race
Tatjana Pokorny
· 09.06.2024
If there were an overall ranking for the two solo transats in this first half of the 2024 sailing super year, the winner would be Boris Herrmann. With two impressive second places, the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" was not only the only participant to achieve a podium finish in both transatlantic races. It is also the constant, consistent and courageous way in which he did this that impressed the competition, experts and fans so much.
Boris Herrmann followed up his strong first serve in the Transat CIC with an even stronger one in the New York Vendée. With tousled hair and a happy face, he formed his fingers into a victory sign after crossing the finish line. He also knows that he has contested one of the best races of his career. The Hamburg "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skipper, who usually only gets better and better over the course of longer races, combined a determined start with a highly focussed performance, confident positioning, individual interpretation of the course, a firm belief in his own, at times lonely course in the North Atlantic and an infectious competitive spirit. At the end of the race, there was even some room left for the sailor Boris Herrmann and his appreciation of the wild beauty of the Atlantic.
Runner-up twice: Herrmann is Transat King 2024
A good 17 hours after the deserving winner Charlie Dalin on "Macif Santé Prévoyance, Boris Herrmann crossed the finish line off Les Sables-D'Olonne late on Sunday afternoon. His total sailing time was 10 days, 20 hours, 52 minutes and 32 seconds. With 4112 nautical miles sailed over ground, Boris Herrmann achieved an average speed of 15.76 knots. He had a major influence on this race and the Transat CIC, which he also finished in second place behind Yoann Richomme on "Paprec Arkéa".
"Malizia - Seaexplorer" has become very versatile." Franck Cammas
For jack-of-all-trades Franck Cammas, Performance Director of the French America's Cup team Orient Express, two-time Figaro, two-time Ocean Race and Route du Rhum winner, Boris Herrmann is "the big surprise of the year". The French champion of so many sailing disciplines immediately provides the reasons for his assessment: "'Malizia - Seaexplorer' has become very versatile. And we know that she is perhaps the fastest downwind boat in stronger winds. And these conditions will be crucial in the Vendée Globe around the Antarctic..."
Experienced performance optimiser Franck Cammas, who also strongly supported Charles Caudrelier on his way to victory with the Ultim giant "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" in the first solo race for 100-foot foiling trimarans at the Arkéa Ultim Challenge Brest, is convinced that Team Malizia's participation in The Ocean Race was a decisive factor in the so obviously successful improvements. Cammas says: "The team's confidence has been boosted because they have already crossed the Southern Ocean in the boat that will be used in the Vendée Globe. The improvements to the boat since the Ocean Race have been effectively realised through the knowledge gained from this race."
Vendée Globe: Boris Herrmann is co-favourite
Franck Cammas told YACHT online in an exclusive interview in Barcelona at the end of May that he considers "Malizia - Seaexplorer" to be one of the best, if not the best Imoca for the Southern Ocean sections of the Vendée Globe. Charlie Dalin, Yoann Richomme, Jérémie Beyou, Boris Herrmann and Thomas Ruyant are in the group of skippers who can win the Vendée Globe, said Cammas.
Even before Sam Goodchild's unfortunate mast break, Cammas had already noted that he did not see the Briton and his boat in the top group of contenders for the Vendée Globe. "He's not too young, but his boat is not so strong on downwind courses. He will struggle with that. And if you're not confident in these conditions, you can end up with breakage. The risk is high. On the other hand, if you are comfortable in the conditions and have an advantage, then you can finish Transats and Vendée Globes strong."
When asked which boat he would currently choose for a Vendée Globe if he were taking part and had a free choice, Franck Cammas said: "I work a lot with 'Charal'. I believe that you can win the race with 'Charal'. Or with a boat like Ruyant's. And 'Malizia' is very good at certain times, the best boat. If these conditions prevail, then she can also win. Boris doesn't have to push his boat as hard as others in tough conditions. That is an advantage."
Experts pay homage to Boris Herrmann
Boris Herrmann's former Ocean Race competitor Christopher Pratt, who commented live on the New York Vendée final on Sunday alongside circumnavigator Dee Caffari and presenter Andi Robertson, also said: "Boris sailed an outstanding race. Now he really is one of the favourites for the Vendée Globe." Chris Pratt also recalled the old days when even Team Malizia's crew members referred to "Malizia - Seaexplorer" as a "bus": "Those days are long gone. You have to congratulate Boris on the boat and his assessments. It has developed strongly."
The two transats have given me a lot of confidence for the Vendée Globe." Boris Herrmann
With less weight and increased agility, "Malizia - Seaexplorer" has lost none of its effective and reliable robustness, which competitors such as the likeable Nico Lunven after the second bowsprit breakage of "Holcim - PRB" or Sam Goodchild would certainly wish for.
Boris Herrmann heard the first personal "Bravo!" from winner Charlie Dalin after mooring at the dock in Les Sables-D'Olonne. The winner and the runner-up embraced in a beautiful scene. Boris Herrmann bowed to his only conqueror and said: "Congratulations to Charlie!" Still in Dalin's presence, Boris Herrmann said with a smile that the race had given him good self-confidence for the Vendée Globe. Boris spoke openly about how he had thought long and hard about the route options before deciding to go it alone in the north.
Two successful dress rehearsals for the Vendée Globe
Charlie Dalin and Boris Herrmann were the only two skippers to break out of a low-pressure trough a week ago. Their tactically successful escape had enabled them to build up a large lead over their pursuers. In the battle for victory, Boris Herrmann, in contrast to the more conservative and course-centred Charlie Dalin, who was thinking of the advantages of his "Macif Santé Prévoyance", had chosen a very demanding northern route, which required him to sail a short period of flat weather in order to achieve fast downwind conditions again on the north-east and east side of a high-pressure area. Boris Herrmann's choice was not without risk. And Charlie Dalin admitted that even 24 hours before the finish he was still worried about being caught at the last minute.
In the second Transat, I was on my own and had plenty to think about." Boris Herrmann
In the retrospective, Boris Herrmann considers his lonely ride north to be "scientifically correct", even if it sometimes felt "a little crazy". Simply following Charlie Dalin would have been "boring for everyone", said Boris Herrmann with a twinkle in his eye. He continued: "The northern route was the more obvious one for me." At the end of the race, he was "happy with my decision".
Overall, both races - Transat CIC and New York Vendée - gave him a lot of confirmation and confidence in his boat for the second solo round the world: "They were two very different races. In the first, I was in contact with other boats a lot and was able to get a good impression of their speed capabilities. In the second transat, I was on my own and had plenty to think about. That's often the case with the Vendée Globe. So that was also good practice."
What Boris Herrmann really wants
Boris Herrmann quickly put into words what made him particularly happy at the goosebump-inducing arrival in Les Sables: "What I really want is a reliable boat. Two races without any major problems is a real achievement. So congratulations to my team, who have done a great job. Coming back to the Mecca of sailing in France like this feels great."
