Vendée Globe: A triplet for Boris - Herrmann builds sister ships with Ruyant and Berrehar

At the beginning of the week in Lorient, Boris Herrmann announced that his Malizia team had planned and developed the new Imoca racing yacht together with two other teams. Construction is now underway. Yacht designer and sailor Antoine Koch, the company Finot-Conq and Gsea Design are responsible for the design of the Imoca triplets. The boats are being built at the CDK shipyard in Lorient.

The long-term goal is the Vendée Globe 2028

Commenting on the choice of Antoine Koch as head designer, Boris Herrmann said: "Antoine Koch is a friend and a highly talented yacht designer. I have wanted to work with him for a long time. Now we are not only entrusting him with the design of our new boat, but we are also doing this together with TR Racing and Team Banque Populaire."

This project builds on the foundation that Antoine Koch and I have been developing since 2019." Thomas Ruyant

The French racing teams Thomas Ruyant Racing, Team Malizia and Banque Populaire are relying on synergy effects and the power of a joint campaign for their new Vendée Globe endeavours. Thomas Ruyant, Boris Herrmann and Banque Populaire newcomer Loïs Berrehar see their three-rider team as a pioneering project with great potential.

We are convinced that we will be stronger with three teams." Boris Herrmann

Project initiator Thomas Ruyant will be the first to receive his new boat for the Vendée Globe and other races at the beginning of June 2026. Shortly afterwards, Team Malizia's sister ship should be ready at the end of June 2026. Loïs Berrehar, who will be competing in the Ocean Race Europe with Team Malizia this summer, will have to wait until early 2027. However, Berrehar experienced his first day of sailing with Boris Herrmann since the Vendée Globe last Sunday.

A significantly different Imoca than its predecessor

At a press conference in Lorient on Monday, Boris Herrmann described the long-running collaboration between the three teams as "unique" and said: "We believe it is a smart way to save resources and learn a lot from each other. We are not only pooling our expertise and intelligence, but also sharing tools, which, among other things, helps to reduce the environmental footprint of construction." Naturally, the joint venture also reduces costs.

According to Herrmann, the new boat will be very different from its predecessor. The 43-year-old skipper from Hamburg says: "They will be slimmer boats, with a more pointed bow than the current 'Malizia'". Antoine Koch also explains the design process with a view to Thomas Ruyant's current "Vulnerable", which serves as the starting point for the development of the new boats.

Looking back on "Vulnerable", the French designer says: "The rounded hull shape of the boat makes life on board more comfortable and less brutal, as it moves well through the water. We know its strengths, especially in rough seas and tailwinds. But we have also recognised its weaknesses: in headwinds and on flat water."

The devil is in the detail and we are making progress in all areas." Antoine Koch

Design goal: close gaps, improve versatility

These weaknesses have been and are being addressed, as Antoine Koch explains: "We are working on improving versatility. Our aim is to win in the transition phases, close our small gaps in light winds and continuously improve the boat's behaviour in the waves."

Antoine Koch rates the three-yacht project as "rather rare" in Imoca circles. His view of the task: "Simply sharing the moulds for three yachts should help to reduce the environmental impact of construction and achieve economies of scale - a way of responding better to the challenges of our time."

In detail, Antoine Koch says: "The tools alone account for almost half of the CO2 emissions of an individual boat. Each boat will therefore have a smaller CO2 footprint. We are not working on three separate projects, but on a single design, which is made possible by the extensive and open collaboration between the three teams, who remain competitors on the water."

Smart answer to higher Vendée Globe intensity

Boris Herrmann said about the project philosophy: "I think we live in a very competitive class. The Vendée Globe has been around for 40 years now and is becoming more and more competitive. We are developing all our projects, becoming more and more professional. We try to do smart things. Working together brings more people to the table for every discussion. There are also more intellectual resources available."

According to Boris Herrmann, the Imoca class is also committed to reducing emissions and improving environmental friendliness. "The idea of building three sister ships and using the same tools saves a lot of resources," said the six-time circumnavigator, who also has his sights set on the next Ocean Race around the world with Team Malizia and the new Imoca.

Boris Herrmann does not see any potential problems or even disputes in the complex decision-making processes within the three-man team: "All three of us decided in favour of Antoine Koch as the leading yacht designer. Of course, there are many more designers and people involved. But he really is the one who unites the three projects. At the end of the day, each team could of course change something if they wanted to, but they all have an interest in being efficient and on time, doing the same things, so that we stay within the philosophy of the sister ships.

Small compromises for the big Vendée Globe success

That's why, says Boris Herrmann, "we also make a few compromises where we might have done things a little differently on our own". He is certain: "In the big picture, it is useful for us to really build the same ships." Boris Herrmann clearly emphasised that the relationships and friendships with Thomas Ruyant and Loïs Berrehar that have grown over many years also inspire this ambitious project.

"Thomas and I have been friends for many years and sailed the Transat Jacques Vabre together in 2017. I have great respect for him as a sailor, and he has a very experienced team that has already completed three Vendée Globe campaigns. Team Banque Populaire also has a first-class design office and is now returning to the IMOCA class with Loïs as skipper," said Boris Herrmann.

It is a real privilege to work with these brilliant people." Boris Herrmann

Boris Herrmann will spend many days sailing together with Loïs Berrehar this year in the Ocean Race Europe on board "Malizia - Seaexplorer". He said of the young up-and-comer: "Although this is his debut in this class, I have known Loïs since he was a child. In 2008 he christened my Class40 'Beluga Racer'. This year he will be co-skippering with Team Malizia in The Ocean Race Europe. Our three teams are now working together with Antoine. Such collaboration is rare in our sport and has made the design process for our new boat inspiring and motivating."

The new boat reflects this spirit: innovative, precisely developed and full of potential." Boris Herrmann

Team Malizia is still competing in this year's regattas with the 2022 Imoca "Malizia - Seaexplorer" before the boat is handed over to the new skipper Francesca Clapcich and her team powered by 11th Hour Racing in autumn. Participation in the Ocean Race Europe, starting on 10 August in Kiel, marks the sporting highlight of the year for Boris Herrmann and Team Malizia.

The skipper from Hamburg said: "I'm really looking forward to it. Kiel is the best sailing city in Germany and we are hoping for as many spectators as for the Ocean Race Flyby 2023 - or even more." In Kiel, 250,000 visitors are expected in the week leading up to the start.

This season, "Malizia - Seaexplorer" is still going strong. Here is the clip of her refit for her farewell season with Team Malizia. For the first training session since the Vendée Globe, the boat was back in action on 18 May with Boris Herrmann and also with Loïs Berrehar and other team members: