It may not have been a "Bum-Bum-Boris" yet, but it was a promising start to the most famous ocean marathon for teams: Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia has completed the first leg of the 14th The Ocean Race in third place. The new "Malizia - Seaexplorer" completed the 1,900 nautical miles from Alicante to Mindelo on the Cape Verde Islands in 5 days, 16 hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds. Perhaps one of the most important realisations: The new foils initially delivered what Boris Herrmann and his crew had hoped for.
Kevin Escoffier's Swiss team Holcim - PRB secured the stage win in the early hours of 21 January after 5 days, 11 hours, 1 minute and 59 seconds. Just under three hours later, Charlie Enright's US team 11th Hour Racing crossed the finish line.
Stage one: first loud and brutal, then champagne sailing
The intense opening leg was characterised by heavy weather in the Mediterranean and on the way to the Strait of Gibraltar. After that, Team Holcim - PRB had a commanding lead over the Ocean Race fleet of five Imoca yachts. Boris Herrmann's team was the fastest boat in the fleet at times, but was unable to close the gap from the initial phase.
"I'm super happy with the performance of our boat and my team," said Boris Herrmann in the harbour of Mindelo on the Cape Verde Islands. The 41-year-old from Hamburg continued after the successful start to his fifth circumnavigation: "It took almost three days before we could talk to each other properly because it was so loud and brutal on board after the start in the tough conditions. After that, we enjoyed almost champagne conditions, pretty fast and beautiful sailing."
Together with their skipper, Nico Lunven (France), Will Harris (Great Britain) and Rosalin Kuiper (Netherlands) powered the boat flying the German flag. For third place, Team Malizia will receive three points for the Ocean Race classification.
The skippers praise their crews - Kevin Escoffier: "I don't regret any of my decisions"
Kevin Escoffier's Holcim quartet scored five points for the stage win. The Frenchman, who had lost his boat at the last Vendée Globe and was rescued by Jean Le Cam after a dramatic rescue operation, expressed his satisfaction with his new Imoca, as did Boris Herrmann: "The boat is great. We were always fast upwind and downwind and also when reaching. I'm very happy about a start like this. This was our first time sailing together as a full crew. I don't regret any of my decisions. Everyone is a great sailor. Together we have achieved this victory." This refers to Escoffier's team-mates Sam Goodchild, Tom Laperche and Briton Abby Ehler on their fourth circumnavigation.
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Charlie Enright was also positive: "I think the competition is good! We have fast boats and good sailors. The boats have different strengths and weaknesses. Everyone will have their day. So we don't take anything for granted. But if we concentrate on what we can control, then things should go well. To this end, we will utilise all the opportunities that the next leg offers us."
Repairs on the Cape Verde Islands are only permitted on your own initiative
With the first three boats across the finish line, the podium places on leg one of the race around the world have been decided. The French team Biotherm and the French-German Guyot Environnement - Team Europe with the Berlin co-skipper Robert Stanjek are still on their way to the finish after a breakage on board set them back. The teams were only allowed to carry out repairs during the first short stopover without the help of their shore crews. The starting signal for the second of seven legs from Mindelo to Cape Town will be given on 25 January.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
