Shortly after the christening of the "Malizia" in Hamburg in autumn 2022, Boris Herrmann gave YACHT editor Andreas Fritsch and a camera team a tour of his new boat. His crew member Will Harris and Rosalin Kuiper, who has since transferred, also joined him and provided exciting insights into the high-tech sailboat.
Among other things, Boris Herrmann reported that ergonomics took precedence over efficiency when it came to the height of the winches. "On many ships, this is a little lower because it offers an advantage in terms of the centre of gravity." However, the "Malizia" has the winches on a table with a comfortable working height.
Ergonomics and room layout as important success factors
In general, the layout of the space seems to have taken centre stage, especially at the helm. There is enough space everywhere so that all four crew members can work in parallel during the Ocean Race and not get in each other's way.
The organisation of the sheets in the cockpit is also exciting: according to Boris Herrmann, just over 50 lines arrive at the steering table. They are colour-coded, labelled and can all be operated centrally.
The atmosphere in the superstructure with its many windows is also very noticeable. Boris Herrmann and his crew have a view of the rig from almost every point without having to go on deck. So they didn't want to rely solely on camera surveillance.
Small changes to the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" for the Transat Jacques Vabre
After the Ocean Race, "Malizia - Seaexplorer" underwent an extensive refit, as is usual after such a long period of sailing. The foils and keel were examined ultrasonically, as were the keel fin and bomb. The rig is also checked and much of the running and standing rigging is replaced. An entire circumnavigation is a massive burden for a foiling Open 60, even if the boat was of course always subjected to an extensive check during the race in the ports of call.
In the course of the major refit, small things on board were also modified. For use without a large crew, a navigation chair was built for the skipper/co-skipper in the living area, from which he can keep an eye on all the data. The ship has also been made lighter, and the Open 60 has been slimmed down by several hundred kilos. The most striking change can be found on deck directly in front of the mast base: a white box can be seen there, which only contains foam as additional buoyancy in the event of capsizing. The boats must fulfil certain calculated buoyancy volumes for this, and if something is changed on board, such measures may become necessary.
The boat is not due to receive new foils until next spring, with which Boris will then start the Vendée Globe in 2024. At the moment, "Malizia Seaexplorer" is still travelling with the c-shaped replacement foils, which were replaced after the Ocean Race leg to South Africa when the original foils cracked.
Watch all the details of the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" from Boris Herrmann and his team in the video above or at YACHT TV explain!
