Vendée Globe: Harmonica game with three angels - Herrmann under pressure
One month after starting his second solo race around the world, Boris Herrmann defended his tenth place in the Indian Ocean on 10 December, ahead of three female skippers. However, around 15 nautical miles behind Herrmann, two-time Swiss Ocean Race winner Justine Mettraux ("TeamWork - Team Snef") is not letting up.
And 45 and 47 nautical miles behind Justine Mettraux, the Frenchwoman Clarisse Crémer ("L'Occitane en Provence") and the Brit Samantha Davies ("Inititatives - Cœur") also remained within striking distance on Tuesday afternoon. However, the latter two have swapped places twelve and thirteen. A picture reminiscent of the 1970s US series "Three Angels for Charlie" has been circulating on social media about the Herrmann quartet's four-way battle with three ladies that has been going on for days.
Vendée Globe: Three angels for Boris
In the picture with the series title, the name Charly is crossed out and replaced by Boris. This is how "Three Angels for Boris" came about. At a press conference at sea on Tuesday, Boris Herrmann said when asked whether he saw any chance of being able to distance himself from the three skippers in the near future: "It could be that I sail away from them a little. But it's also possible that we'll come together again. We can expect an accordion game."
According to Herrmann, this is due to the changing wind systems, which his group repeatedly comes up against. His assessment: "At the moment, I don't have the feeling that we can expect a big split." Boris Herrmann was recently able to reduce his gap to the Vendée Globe leader Charlie Dalin, who was far behind, but still had 1111 nautical miles to make up on the 31st day of racing.
Charlie Dalin had already been the first to pass the longitude of Cape Leeuwin on Monday. He had set a new record for the passage from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Leeuwin with 9 days, 22 hours and 27 minutes. The Frenchman led the fleet of 38 remaining boats at the start of race day 31 ahead of his compatriots Sébastien Simon ("Groupe Dubreuil") and Yoann Richomme ("Paprec Arkéa").
Herrmann plans small celebration off Cape Leeuwin
Seb Simon has been sailing with a broken starboard foil since 6 December. Boris Herrmann's forecast for Simon's further progress in the Vendée Globe: "My guess is that Seb won't make it into the top ten." Herrmann is sticking to his own big goal: "I want to reach Cape Horn by New Year's Eve or New Year's Day."
Before that, Team Malizia's founder is expected to reach the second of the three large capes that line and define the Vendée Globe course on 12 December. Although the well-known landmark at the south-west tip of Australia cannot be compared to the legendary Cape Horn for Herrmann, he said: "That will also be a big milestone for me, a small celebration."
But Herrmann has his sights set on Cape Horn, the most important of all capes for him. His hope: "It took us 18 days to get from Cape Leeuwin to Cape Horn in the Ocean Race." Which is why the 43-year-old is sticking to his "big goal": "I want to reach Cape Horn by New Year, even if it won't be easy."
The South Atlantic depression and its consequences
At the end of the first month of racing, Boris Herrman was asked once again about the scenario that cost him his hoped-for place in the leading group early on in his second solo around the world. When asked whether the Vendée Globe was the design race he had expected, Boris Herrmann said: "I do believe that design plays a major role."
Boris Herrmann explained in detail how the race had not gone so well for him so far: "The race is defined by the low in the Atlantic, which we had predicted. It was 100, 150 nautical miles that led to this big separation. Of course, it's a mixture of luck and design. The skipper's luck and a bit of bad luck for me too, of course. Anecdotally, this 150-mile gap wouldn't have been a problem for me if it hadn't been for this major separation. With this ideal low that the leading group beyond Cape Town was able to capitalise on."
Boris Herrmann had high praise for the dominant Charlie Dalin and his closest pursuers at the front: "The whole leading group is of course contesting a great Vendée Globe. That's very impressive. Also the dominance of Charlie Dalin. So chapeau, chapeau, there's nothing to criticise. And he did it on notice - really very fascinating."
Good days in the peaceful Indian Ocean
When asked why the Vendée Globe's ice exclusion zone below Australia was relatively far to the north - partly at 46°, partly at 50° south latitude - Boris Herrmann explained that this was due to national security interests: "The Australian authorities made this a condition for the race. That - in the event of an emergency - people are not miles away in the south, but within reach. From Australia."
"You couldn't see much of the world. It was also a bit of a cave feeling." Boris Herrmann
Boris Herrmann described the current situation at sea as "a peaceful Indian Ocean for the last time". Although it was a "bumpy ride" on Tuesday, he was still able to sleep. He had experienced "good days" since the last repair. Boris Herrmann described the current conditions as "moderate". It had been very foggy on the previous three days," said Herrmann.
According to Team Malizia's founder, the prevailing conditions are "quite good for most of the boats in the fleet". Which explains why he is currently finding it difficult to pull away from his group: "Since the start of the Vendée Globe, there have been no conditions like we have experienced in the Ocean Race. Downwind for a few days with swell and wind, we haven't really had that yet."
Sun in sight again at last
After the foggy days, he and the neighbouring sailors welcomed the sun, which made an appearance again on Tuesday: "It was quite pleasant today because the visibility improved, the sun shone and then charged the batteries via solar power and warmed up the cold here on board a little. It creates a kind of greenhouse effect when the sun shines in through the windows."
Commenting on his foil box repair a few days ago, Boris Herrmann said: "I hope it holds now. I sailed on the foil for a few hours immediately after the repair. Since then - now three days - also on the starboard foil. And the next gybe is only planned for tomorrow lunchtime. Then we'll see again how well it all holds. But I've already seen full speed, full load on the foil. I assume that it should actually hold up quite well."
I want to remain this stable. This is a great success for me." Boris Herrmann
Boris Herrmann assured us two weeks before Christmas Eve that he was also doing well: "The loneliness isn't bothering me as much this time. That's a positive surprise for me too. You can't be so sure beforehand. I'm feeling better overall. I'm in a good mood and I'm coping quite well with the race. I've made personal progress in terms of coping with such challenges and this particular challenge."
