Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia are getting a new Imoca this summer. The new-build final will take place in Lorient. In part 1 of the interview Boris Herrmann spoke about his trust in designer Antoine Koch, the collaboration, the advantages of the new design and the hopes associated with it. In part 2, we continue the interview on "Malizia 4" and take a brief look at the team's ten-year history and the "Malizia Explorer" research vessel.
Boris, while your want to present your new foils in more detail lateryou described the first pictures of the hull of the new "Malizia 4" with obvious enthusiasm as "aggressive". What did you mean by that?
The lines are simply straighter than on the previous ship, which has a lot of curves and - depending on the perspective - sometimes looks a bit bulbous. I think the new ship has this appearance that looks very aggressive. The shape will look a bit sleeker overall.
The new Imoca sailing: "with wide legs, slightly bent forward"
Another step on the way to the ideal Imoca, which can never be perfect due to the classic compromise constraints?
You always have one that has the best overall package for a Vendée Globe. That was interesting last time because there were these two extremely different concepts: the Guillaume-Verdier boat that won (ed.: Charlie Dalin's "Macif Santé Prévoyance") and the narrow Koch boat that came second.
If it had only been a little windier and wavier in the Southern Ocean, I think the Koch ship would have prevailed. With a little more wave, the Guillaume-Verdier boat doesn't work so well. I don't want to diminish Charlie Dalin's performance, but he was a bit lucky. In slightly tougher conditions, the advantages of the "Arkéa" would have been more obvious. If Yoann Richomme had had a bigger lead at Cape Horn, things might have turned out differently.
What's also different about your new boat compared to its predecessor is the reduced headroom in the main cabin, which was so noticeable on "Malizia - Seaexplorer"...
I think that's a good thing. We recreated it as a mock-up in plywood and also tried it out with virtual reality goggles. With the last ship, it was sometimes almost too high for me when I wanted to hold on to the ceiling because the ship was shifting. Now you tend to stand with your legs wide apart, leaning slightly forwards. And if you really want to stretch out, you can stand in the side areas or in the rear cockpit. We'll have to try that out.
I had my penultimate boat 'Malizia 2' for four years. I had a much flatter cockpit there than it will be on the new 'Malizia 4' now. I got on well with that too. I think I had a height of 1.60 metres then and now we have a bit more. Less at the front and more at the back, so you can almost stand up.
"Malizia 4": better ergonomics, more visibility
The good thing about it?
I have the feeling that the new ship will be more comfortable in terms of ergonomics. That's why we've done it this way. You can also see more. Because if the cockpit is as high as on the previous ship, where the coaming was so high, then the windows will eventually become very narrow. You couldn't see so much out to the side on the old ship. Now you can even look out from a sitting position.
How good will the view be?
Because the freeboard is lower than on the "Malizia 3", the windows are larger. When you're sitting, your eyes are at deck level with my height so that I can see out. Which is great, of course, because you're sitting in the basement. Especially when I'm sailing around on my own for three months (editor's note: on the Vendée Globe 2028/2029), there's no longer a basement feeling because I can see out to sea.
After the sporting winter break, during which you also accompanied an Antarctic expedition with your research vessel "Malizia Explorer" and the progress of the new construction in Lorient, the focus is now shifting back to regatta sport with the christening of "Malizia 4" approaching at the end of June. Are you looking forward to it?
Yes, very much. I do sport three times a week. I try to be in shape for when the sporting season starts for us in July after the christening at the end of June.
10 years of Team Malizia: into the future with two ships
Team Malizia was founded in 2016 by you and Pierre Casiraghi, turned ten years old this year. How do you currently view your team?
With a lot of joy. Things are going well, the team is good. I am also pleasantly surprised at how everything is developing with our research vessel "Malizia Explorer". We actively planned all the missions and projects, but it's great when they are realised so well. Simply stringing together three Antarctic expeditions is not a matter of course. That was a really good start.
With the purchase of the 26 metre long, 7 metre wide and 60 tonne heavy "Malizia Explorer" your team also has a robust sailing boat in addition to the racing yacht, with which expeditions and research projects are undertaken. A consistent step towards marine conservation, which your team has been committed to right from the start. Was that your idea?
Indirectly. I always had such a project in mind. An action ship. I was then approached by Arno Kronenberg, a long-time companion. He said he had discovered a boat on the second-hand market that would be very suitable for such purposes. We went there, took a test drive and off we went. This ship inspired the whole thing.
And proven itself so far?
Absolutely! You can sail it with two people and take ten guests on board. There were seven scientists and three journalists on the first Antarctic mission, for example. We started last year in April, travelled to Monaco in May, then had a fin whale project in southern Spain. We then travelled to Senegal, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil and a small refit in Uruguay. Then came the three missions in the Antarctic. It went in quick succession. We have now completed a total of nine individual projects in eleven months.
Who promotes and utilises this offer of a research vessel?
It is a mixture of private and public scientific funding. We have the Geomar, the Alfred Wegener Institute and Hereon as sponsors. The Federal Environment Agency has financially supported the Danger Island Mission. Then we have the Laeisz shipping company as a private sponsor. There are also other private contracts.
As Team Malizia, are you well positioned in all areas for the new five-year cycle that started at the end of 2025 and is planned to run until 2030?
Yes, we have six partners: EFG, Zurich, Hapag Lloyd, KPMG, Schütz and the Yacht Club de Monaco. We are still looking for a partner. This is also part of the overall challenge and is no less strenuous than sailing itself. But we are optimistic that we will soon be complete.
With the series "Born to Race", Team Malizia accompanies the current new chapter of the racing team ten years after its foundation. Click here for the start of the series:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
