The Ocean Race: The finish line is where it's all said and done - Malizia wins the queen's stage
Tatjana Pokorny
· 02.04.2023
They already had their end in sight when they discovered a crack in the mast of the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" at the end of week one of the queen's stage of the 14th Ocean Race. This was followed by a horrendous repair marathon, the fighting comeback, the Cape Horn triumph, Rosie Kuiper's accident and now the magical happy ending. After 14,714 miles sailed, Team Malizia crossed the finish line of the royal stage of the 14th Ocean Race at 2.20 a.m. local time in the dark of night.
Sovereign victory after days of a bug-to-bug duel
34 days, 17 hours, 10 minutes and 28 seconds was the duration of the ultimately irresistible run by the team led by 41-year-old Hamburg skipper Boris Herrmann. The strong-wind rocket "Malizia - Seaexplorer" was able to demonstrate its great potential once again, especially in the stormy winds of the last few days. After a long and tough bow-to-bow duel with Kevin Escoffier's Team Holcim, Team Malizia took a commanding lead in the final sprint of the mammoth stage. At the finish of the third Ocean Race leg, Herrmann's sailing quartet had a lead of around 80 nautical miles.
With this triumph, Boris Herrmann, Will Harris, Nico Lunven and Rosalin Kuiper have moved up to second place behind Kevin Escoffier's Team Holcim PRB after three of the seven legs of the round-the-world race. The Swiss overall leaders were expected to cross the finish line a few hours after Team Malizia. Boris Herrmann's first words after a dynamic leap onto the Brazilian dock: "We'll settle the accounts at the finish. As Tim Kröger, one of the German sailors, once wrote ..."
This stage is a bit like a fairy tale that has come true." (Boris Herrmann)
With his commentary, Herrmann was referring both to the course of his own leg, which resembled a sporting, technical and emotional rollercoaster ride and ended so happily, and to the book of the same name by two-time circumnavigator Tim Kröger, which inspired him as a teenager. On a beautiful Brazilian half-moon night, Team Malizia had completed the last nautical miles in smooth seas and light winds in the spotlight of many press and fan boats with J2 and full mainsail. The crew moored the astonishingly undamaged-looking "Malizia - Seaexplorer" at the dock to a sea of cheers.
"We all still can't quite believe it. This stage is a bit like a fairy tale that has come true. Because at the beginning we even considered giving up with a big crack in the mast. To win here at the end is something we would never have dreamed of," said Boris Herrmann.
The repair of the mast will go down in the history of Team Malizia." (Boris Herrmann)
The skipper, whose tired face reflected so much joy, happiness and relief, continued: "We had a few big challenges: the mast, Rosalin's injury, we had problems with our alternator and all sorts of other difficulties too. That's part of our sport. It's a mechanical sport and you have to get to grips with the technology and not let it get you down. Sometimes you have to find MacGyver solutions. This mast repair will go down in the history of Team Malizia. It really was a MacGyver operation."
Because his boat held out so reliably to the finish after the repair, Boris Herrmann and his crew dedicated a "minute's silence", shortened to 15 seconds, to the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" in Itajaí to show their respect. They then made their way to the podium, where crew and shore team enjoyed the award ceremony and rapturous applause. With a huge Brazilian flag in their hands, they thanked the enthusiastic Brazilian audience. At the same time, hymns of praise and congratulations flooded the social networks. The fans paid homage to their dream team with "You are heroes", "You did it!" and "Great teamwork".
A jersey swap and the best moment
A Brazilian fan persuaded Boris Herrmann to swap shirts during the victory ceremony: Team Malizia's shirt for a Brazilian one. From then on, Boris Herrmann gave his interviews in yellow and green colours. He didn't have to think long about the best moment of the stage: "That was Cape Horn!"
In addition to the stage trophy, Team Malizia also received the Roaring Fourties Trophy. The last time the German "illbruck" won the Cape Horn stage was 22 years ago in 2001 and later also the overall classification of the race around the world. Now Boris Herrmann's team Malizia is fighting for success in the Ocean Race, the most important team race around the world. "It's a dream come true for us. Now we want to see if we can challenge Team Holcim - PRB in the battle for the top position," said Will Harris in the stage harbour of Itajaí. Around 60 per cent of the Ocean Race points are still up for grabs ...
