The Ocean Race: Happy ending in Genoa - Malizia victory in light wind poker
Tatjana Pokorny
· 27.06.2023
Team Malizia's first circumnavigation together has come to an end with cheers, tears, lots of emotions and a happy ending in Genoa. "Boris brought it all together. We are grateful for that," said co-skipper Will Harris shortly before crossing the finish line of the last leg. Team Malizia won it and thus not only completed the Ocean Race in the best possible way, but also gained the final satisfaction of knowing that "Malizia - Seaexplorer" can survive and win in light winds.
I love the Malizians!" (Fan comment)
The fan comments on social media about the Ocean Race final were overwhelming: "You made a lot of people happy", "I love the Malizians" and "I'll miss being glued to the screen". The applause was dedicated to Team Malizia as a whole, but on this showdown day in Genoa especially to the regular crew with skipper Boris Herrmann, navigator Nico Lunven, co-skippers Rosalin Kuiper and Will Harris as well as on-board reporter and "flight captain" Antoine Auriol.
Much of what Team Malizia has achieved in this Ocean Race is worthy of thought and awards. Including Rosalin Kuiper on her Ocean Race premiere. The plucky Dutchwoman is the only woman in this edition to have completed all seven legs and sailed around the world without a gap. With this and many other great deeds such as the courageous mast repair on the Cape Horn King stage, Rosie Kuiper is likely to be a top candidate for the "Rookie" prize in this edition.
The jury will decide on the overall result after the hearing on 29 June
With the finish of the seventh and final leg of the 14th Ocean Race, all the cards are - almost - on the table. Boris Herrmann's Team Malizia will probably still be in third place overall after their second stage win. Following the collision between Team Guyot and the US team 11th Hour Racing, the jury will decide on the final line-up for the Ocean Race podium on 29 June in Genoa after hearing all the teams.
I have long dreamed of taking part in the Ocean Race" (Boris Herrmann)
For the 42-year-old circumnavigator from Hamburg, the outcome of the jury hearing no longer plays a role in his première conclusion. "It was a great team experience, we harmonised very well and didn't make many mistakes." The Southern Ocean enthusiast will never forget the Cape Horn King's leg, which his team won despite a crack in the mast after heroic repairs and a great fighting performance.
Boris Herrmann remembers it fondly: "I had long dreamed of taking part in the Ocean Race and completing this historically longest, incredible leg through the Southern Ocean. The fact that we were not only able to complete it after all the difficulties we had at the beginning, but also win it, was the crowning glory."
The Imocas have come to the Ocean Race to stay
Boris Herrmann confirms that the Imoca yachts, which were used for the first time in this 14th edition and only brought together five participating teams at the start, have a promising future in the Ocean Race: "They have come to stay. They have proved their worth. There were almost no negative surprises."
According to Herrmann, there have also been mast breakages in previous races. The two mast breaks of Team Holcim - PRB and Team Guyot on the fourth stage were "not due to major design faults", but to material failure of individual components. "Imoca masts are already very solid," says Herrmann.
"Malizia - Seaexplorer" has proved its worth in Herrmann's view
Boris Herrmann describes his own boat, which will take him solo and non-stop around the world once again with the Vendée Globe after further regattas in the coming years 2024/2025, as "good". "We still haven't fully understood how we can do everything perfectly because it takes a long time to learn with such a new boat. But the boat is also good in light winds and is no heavier than the others."
Herrmann believes he is ideally positioned for his second Vendée Globe start: "To be honest, I wouldn't even consider competing in the Vendée Globe with any of the other boats." The family man can very well imagine another Ocean Race campaign: "We would like to take part again, because it was a great team experience. We can't announce an official campaign yet, but I would draw the cautious interim conclusion that we are very, very likely to be highly motivated to compete again."
Twice as many Imocas for the 15th Ocean Race?
The 15th The Ocean Race will take place in 2026/2027. Current participants and experts expect that the small fleet of five boats in this 14th Ocean Race in the transition phase could double by then.
