"When the race was announced, everyone quickly turned their attention to this leg. It's the big thing," says Charlie Enright, skipper of the US team 11th Hour Racing. Biotherm skipper Paul Meilhat nods: "When I announced our project and said that I was looking for fellow sailors, everyone wanted to sail this leg. It's the leg that everyone - the public and the media - is talking about because it's almost half of the race in nautical miles."
"Malizia - Seaexplorer" was designed with the Southern Ocean in mind
Boris Herrmann shares the conviction of how important the third leg is for the Ocean Race. Team Malizia's skipper makes no secret of the fact that his boat was designed with the Southern Ocean in mind: "You can't build a boat that is good in all wind and wave conditions. We and our designers at VPLP have designed this boat for downwind conditions in strong conditions. I hope we can capitalise on that on this third leg and prove that our boat is good for such conditions in the Southern Ocean."
As Boris Herrmann puts it, "the summit storm of this Ocean Race" lies ahead of the fleet. The leg is very different from others, almost a different type of regatta: "In the Atlantic, we have become accustomed to close races and to constantly paying attention to performance. But sailing in the Southern Ocean is also a great adventure," says the 41-year-old from Hamburg. He knows: "If we need to be rescued, it can take a ship ten days to reach these regions. We sail thousands of kilometres away from the closest land."
The Ocean Race summit storm counts double
The fleet will pass all three legendary capes non-stop on the "monster stage": first the Cape of Good Hope, then Cape Leeuwin in Australia and finally Cape Horn - the summit of the Ocean Race. The finish line of the almost 24,000-kilometre race around around three quarters of Antarctica lies off the Brazilian stage port of Itajaí. Important to know for the overall standings: the result of this imperative stage counts double, meaning it is worth as much for the classification as the previous two stages combined. The first points packages are distributed when crossing the longitude 143° East, the second at the finish.
Boris Herrmann wants to master Cape Horn for the sixth time on his fifth circumnavigation. The legendary landmark also marks the high point of circumnavigations for him. "When you see the iconic shape of the cape, you know that you have mastered a very difficult passage," says Herrmann, describing the powerful signal strength of Cape Horn, which inspired authors such as Herman Melville, Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe to write impressive stories.
Cape Horn as the "forecourt to hell"
Wind speeds of 250 kilometres per hour have been measured at Cape Horn. Professional sailor Jörg Riechers from Hamburg once described the subpolar area off the southernmost point of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago as the "forecourt of hell". Those who survive here can count themselves among the greats of the sport. "This third leg is the soul of the Ocean Race," says Berlin "Guyot" skipper Robert Stanjek. The 2012 Olympic sixth-placer in the Star boat is highly motivated for his Cape Horn premiere: "It's this leg that I want the most."
A look back at Boris Herrmann's Vendée Globe mission a good two years ago, which is about sailing in the Southern Ocean and Cape Horn:
Boris Herrmann, who is well aware of what awaits him and his team Malizia, is also more than ready: "I'm looking forward to the very special impressions of the Southern Ocean," he said. "The very long swell, long sunrises and sunsets, the short nights, it's kind of cold, it reminds me of northern Germany. And there are the albatrosses that fly with us." The brutal course is characterised by storms, towering wave crests, frosty temperatures, ice hazards and competition with the rivals. Just think of the epic gybing duels along the ice edge in the last Ocean Race.
The dangers are numerous - and can cost lives
Not long ago, in the merciless climes of the Southern Ocean 2018, Britain's John Fisher was left at sea in the 13th The Ocean Race. The likeable sailor from the Sun Hung Kai/Scallywag team had gone overboard in a storm. Despite a desperate search operation, his team was unable to find him again in the raging sea with its five-metre-high wave crests.
The start of the "monster stage" also brings back memories of the accident of Kevin Escoffier, whose boat dramatically broke through and sank in the Southern Ocean during the 2020 Vendée Globe. The Frenchman was only just able to make an emergency call and jump into his life raft in his survival suit. Eleven and a half anxious hours later, he was miraculously discovered and rescued in the waves by his compatriot Jean Le Cam.
Boris Herrmann: "It's great to be competing in this stage as a team now"
Boris Herrmann was also involved in the rescue mission in the dark, stormy night as a solo skipper. Like his team-mates, he will never forget it. Now Herrmann and Escoffier are no longer fighting alone, but with their teams for the best possible result in the "Roaring Forties". The region of the westerly wind zone between 40 and 50 degrees south latitude is known as the "Roaring Forties" because the winds here are often thunderously loud.
Even the world's best sailors look forward to the endurance test with a mixture of deep passion and respect. Three-time circumnavigator Abby Ehler is one of the most experienced women in the 14th The Ocean Race. Nevertheless, she had initially turned down her skipper Kevin Escoffier for the Queen's leg. The potentially wild five-week ride on the new Imoca Ocean Race foils seemed too dangerous for the Brit after the first Atlantic crossing.
Two Germans in the race, two paused
She has since changed her mind after better experiences on stage one and under the "positive influence" of her skipper Escoffier: "I really want to do this stage. I would be angry with myself if I didn't." Abby Ehler's comeback meant the end of Susann Beucke's dream of competing in the heart of the 14th Ocean Race. In his decision in favour of Abby Ehler, Escoffier gave preference to the more experienced Southern Ocean veteran. Beucke signalled her understanding and is continuing her own Figaro campaign in Lorient for the time being. In the Guyot Environnement - Team Europe, Phillip Kasüske from Berlin is retiring as planned on leg three. Boris Herrmann and Robert Stanjek are flying the German flag on the Cape Horn course.
The start of the queen stage on TV: Eurosport 1 will broadcast the opening stage before Cape Town on Sunday (26 February, from 12.30 pm) live and free of charge via cable and satellite.
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
