Vendée Globe: Collision, foil breakage and MacGyver mission for Herrmann

Boris Herrmann's second Vendée Globe remains unkissed by Fortuna. After a series of technical setbacks in the past week, the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" skipper experienced a collision with an unknown object or marine animal on the night of 16 January. Its port foil was severely damaged, as Team Malizia reported on Thursday afternoon.

Vendée Globe collision on race day 66

The latest negative highlight of Boris Herrmann's black streak hit him when he was sailing in tenth position about 900 nautical miles west-south-west of Cape Verde at a speed of 13.7 knots, according to his own statement. The collision occurred at 3.31am German time on Thursday night. Boris Herrmann had already informed his team and the race organisers about the collision with a so-called "OANI" (French abbreviation for collision with unidentified objects or creatures) early on Thursday morning.

Team Malizia made the incident public in the afternoon, as did the organisers of the Vendée Globe. "It's another difficult day today," said Herrmann, "but it can always get worse, the boat is safe, I'm uninjured and we'll carry on. We'll do our best, as always."

After consulting with his team about the broken foil, Boris Herrmann initially had two options: Either the foil could be retracted somehow. That seemed difficult at first. If this was not possible, the only option would probably be to take the difficult step of cutting the foil from the boat to ensure the integrity of the hull and the safety of the ship.

Setback for the "indestructible"

Team Malizia described this option as a "last resort". The skipper then struggled to hold the foil. Regardless of the development, Boris Herrmann expressed his confidence that he would be able to reach the start and finish harbour of Les Sables-d'Olonne, which was still around 2750 nautical miles away in the morning, under his own steam.

The team statement said: "The loss of a foil is a handicap in terms of performance, but fortunately the starboard foil will be used for the rest of the race as there will be a lot of sailing on starboard bow until the finish. This is another setback for the German sailor, but securing the boat and finishing the race is now the main goal for the resilient skipper."

Then, late in the afternoon, Boris Herrmann reported in with a video from on board and announced the good news of the day: "After the repair, we are now back on course. A bit slower now without a proper foil."

Outboard repair and foil securing completed

Boris Herrmann explained: "What I did in the end was: I quickly realised that it would be impossible to cut away the foil with the tools available. So I hung overhead under the foil where it goes into the hull. There I cut away some of the splinters and the top laminate of the foil. Then I managed to push it 80 per cent into the boat so that it protruded less into the water."

The next phase of Herrmann's work was dedicated to temporary securing. Herrmann explained: "Then I put lines over the tip of the foil to minimise its movement. It sounds simple, but it took me three hours. There were a lot of tools involved: the Akkuflex, the climbing equipment, lots of buoys, clamps, blocks, hammers - as always, lots of things like that. Luckily I had the right cap on today."

In a video, Herrmann pointed to the lettering on his blue corduroy cap with a palm tree motif and embroidered sun and quoted: "Zero problemo!" Then the 43-year-old from Hamburg said in an unshakeable mood: "We'll continue the race. It will be an asymmetric performance. Slower on the port bow. My guess, depending on the wind strength and given the current light winds, is about three knots slower. In stronger winds, the difference can be much higher. So far, so good. Let's see how this holds up."

Simon writes Vendée Globe history

While Boris Herrmann was out in the North Atlantic fighting for his foil, Sébastien Simon was racing the final miles of his Vendée Globe. The 34-year-old "Groupe Dubreuil" driver sailed towards the historic third podium finish for a skipper from the start and finish harbour of Les Sables-d'Olonne and is expected to arrive in the night.

The foil break and the consequences: