Overture to the Vendée Globe: "Everyone has one goal: Don't jeopardise the Vendée!"

The new solo race Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne is the first and last big test for the ninth edition of the single-handed classic Vendée Globe starting in November, and not just for Boris Herrmann. The entire fleet of 22 registered starters will prepare for the single-handed circumnavigation over the 3600 nautical miles from Les Sables d'Olonne up to the Arctic Circle, back down to the Azores and back to the start and finish harbour, and in some cases collect the last necessary qualifying miles. Boris Herrmann has already cleared the Vendée qualification hurdles and can concentrate fully on testing his Imoca yacht, which is equipped with new foils, in the upcoming test for boat and skipper. He was only able to test it for six days before the start after several months of refitting. These were his first ever sailing days this year after a long forced break due to the coronavirus.

Nevertheless, the young father, who witnessed the birth of his daughter Marie-Louise in Hamburg on 13 June and only returned to his boat in Lorient, Brittany, a few days later, is confident ahead of the start of the Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne: "It will be a good test. It's an exciting dress rehearsal for us on a new route that we don't know yet." Other routes, he says, have been studied thousands of times. They are almost more competitive because they are almost fully studied. The "new territory" of the upcoming race appeals to the 39-year-old single-handed skipper: "We are sailing through regions that we are rediscovering as sailors."

For Herrmann, the main focus of the upcoming test is "more on speed, handling and set-up, less on weather strategy before Iceland". In plain language: Herrmann wants and needs to become one with his boat, put it through its paces and get the best out of it in preparation for its Vendée premiere. The first few days of testing over the past few weeks have already put the Hamburg native in the right frame of mind: "We did two trips, including one together with the other boats. We were able to keep up well. That was a positive surprise. Of course, you still have to learn to master the new 'gear shift' of the boat. Some others are perhaps still a little ahead of me in that respect."

From 4 July, Herrmann will have 3600 nautical miles of space and time to explore the ideal settings of his "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco". That's why he describes the upcoming race as "very good training". A top result is not yet his number one goal, even though he considers his team to be highly competitive. His assessment of the favourites: "'Apivia' looks the most solid, 'Charal' appears to be the second strongest and 'Linked-out' is right behind. That's the current top group, in which 'Apivia' has a small lead." However, there are also "a whole series of question marks" before the start of the race. "L'Occitane" is probably a fast boat, but has not really been seen yet. Paprec" has also not yet been assessed.

Herrmann says of his own team: "We can play a role. We are not quite as far along as the first three in terms of the overall package. It really is a test for us too. I'm happy with the boat so far and feel well prepared." He has learnt over the past few weeks that the foiling Imocas need to be tamed well downwind. "They now sail at 60 degrees on the wind at 18 knots instead of the previous 13 knots. With that potential, you can easily destroy the boats." But that's exactly what we don't want to happen. "One goal unites us all in this new race," says the German participant, "The rule is: don't jeopardise the Vendée! But you also don't want to sail too softly and then possibly experience the first breakage in the Vendée. If something is going to break, it's better to do it now. So I assume that some of the people will be sailing pretty hot."

Does he have coronavirus concerns before the start? "Yes, of course. But you just push them aside. There's not much you can do. I don't eat in restaurants, only at home. I don't shake hands or walk around all the time. Otherwise we work as usual. We can only hope that no one in our group is infected. The blood test for all of us is due 24 hours before the start on Friday. If even one person carries the virus, we won't be able to start. But I'm optimistic that everything will work out." The starting signal for the new Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne will be given on Saturday at 3.30 pm.

Here it goes further information on the homepage of the Imoca class association.