Boris Herrmann crossed the finish line off Les Sables-d'Olonne with "Malizia - Seaexplorer" after a stormy final phase late on Wednesday evening at 11.18 pm. After a demanding few days, a tear in the mainsail made for some tense hours in the final stretch.
After finishing fifth four years ago, the 43-year-old ocean pro from Hamburg completed his second solo around the world in 80 days, 10 hours, 16 minutes and 41 seconds. Boris Herrmann beat his own time for his Vendée Globe premiere (80 days, 14 hours, 59 minutes, 45 seconds) by a good four and a half hours. He crossed the finish line on Wednesday evening 15 days and just under 15 hours after winner Charlie Dalin from France. Boris Herrmann had already held out the prospect of a third Vendée Globe participation in four years in the Boris BLog for YACHT during the race.
His first reaction at the finish was "Relief!". Then he began to think about how he could use what he had learnt for his third attempt.
After crossing the finish line, he sent a first message from the sea, where he stayed alone on "Malizia - Seaexplorer" until sunrise and waited for his team, who would then be able to join him on board in presumably somewhat better conditions and in daylight.
I am glad that this fight is over"
Boris Herrmann said this with relief. And: "Arriving, that's quite something."
His commentary in the first German-language video after crossing the finish line:
"It's done! We've crossed the finish line. We have arrived safely. Today there was a little damage to the mainsail during a jibe. But that doesn't matter any more. I now have to wait until the conditions become more favourable so that my shore team can come on board. At the moment there are breaking waves here in the harbour entrance. And it's pitch dark. At dawn, we hope that I can be supported so that we can enter the harbour together with the team around midday. So: 80 days, 10 hours to the finish line and now once again until tomorrow morning... After 81 days, I'm looking forward to stepping onto solid ground again."
Boris Herrmann's canal trip to Port Olona is planned for Thursday afternoon from 3pm. Before that, Samantha Davies is expected to cross the finish line on Thursday morning. The Brit will follow Herrmann's canal journey half an hour later.
