Vendée Globe: Boris Herrmann in a colourful mood - cheerful finale for the XL adventure

On the evening of 10 May, fans once again crowded together on the banks of the famous canal in Les Sables-d'Olonne. Once again they displayed posters of their favourites and celebrated their Vendée Globe heroes at the final parade. Once again, the skippers experienced the exuberant passion with which the people of the Vendée bowed down to the sailors. Once again there was a goosebump atmosphere.

Reunion of the Vendée Globe heroes

For the final act of the tenth edition, the soloists had split up into groups on boats. The fact that their final canal parade was accompanied by rain and that winner Charlie Dalin was unable to take part for health reasons did not stop the other circumnavigators and spectators from enjoying the fun-filled final party.

The soloists celebrated their great adventure with the fans on Saturday evening. Boris Herrmann was right in the thick of it. The 43-year-old "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skipper also enjoyed the exuberant atmosphere at the parade. The sailors experienced it on Bénéteau boats, surrounded by a wide variety of watercraft: the SNSM speedboat, a fishing trawler, the "Olonnois", the sailing boats of the Sablais Nautical Sports School, the Atlantique Scaphandre fleet and the ribs of the Vendée Globe.

A stark contrast to the grey sky over Les Sables-d'Olonne was provided by the brightly coloured costumes of the group of sailors on the parade boat with Boris Herrmann. The "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skipper said: "The speciality was these costumes. They were great fun. The driver of the boat had organised them. We were a nice group on the boat. We were six boats with sailors in total. I think mine was the funniest."

"Incredibly strong field of participants"

While the most recent Vendée Globe chapter has come to a close, Team Malizia's current five-year programme will continue into the autumn of this year before the Herrmann racing team also starts a new chapter in the autumn. "We still have our ship and this year is part of our cycle that has not yet been fully completed," said Boris Herrmann in Lorient.

It was there that Alain Leboeuf, President of the Vendée and the Vendée Globe, gave the farewell speech at the end of the latest edition of the solo round the world race: "What an emotional evening here in Les Sables d'Olonne after a tenth edition that was simply historic. First of all because it was a great success with the public, but also because we have brought together an incredibly strong field of participants that reflects the best values of the Vendée Globe."

These extraordinary sailors have pushed the boundaries to offer the whole world a truly global regatta. They have written a new chapter in this incredible adventure." Alain Leboeuf

Alain Leboeuf continued: "This diversity, this openness, this inclusive dimension are today the pride of the Vendée Globe. And in the midst of all this excitement, we have remained true to the DNA of our event: a race of adventurers, of men and women who brave the oceans alone, fuelled by their passion, their courage and their hunger to surpass themselves. On this 10th May, we celebrated much more than just a race by honouring these sailors: We celebrated the spirit of the Vendée Globe."

Vendée Globe: an extraordinary adventure

Leboeuf described the soul of the race as follows: "It is a spirit that makes people dream, inspires them, brings them together and gives them the desire to surpass themselves. Thank you to the skippers, thank you to the public, thank you to everyone whose commitment and passion make the Vendée Globe an extraordinary human and maritime adventure." Click here for the big YACHT documentation of the 10th Vendée Globe.

The final act of the 10th Vendée Globe! This is how it went at the parade in Les Sables-d'Olonne:

Before the closing ceremony, Team Malizia announced the end of the latest refit for "Malizia - Seaexplorer". Here is the clip: