Regatta: Hunter or hunted? Boris Herrmann's Vendée Globe opponent

Andreas Fritsch

, Lars Bolle

· 03.11.2020

Regatta: Hunter or hunted? Boris Herrmann's Vendée Globe opponent

Photo: Montage

Boris Herrmann (right) and the other 10 top favourites

Who are the favourites in the battle for the one-handed crown? These ten contenders will make life difficult for Boris Herrmann. The form guide

The first German at the Vendée Globe, which starts on Sunday, 8 November, has strong competition. A brief portrait of the ten toughest opponents and their boats.

Photo: Jean-Louis Carli/Alea/VG2020 Boris Herrmann

Boris Herrmann (GER) | "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco"
39 years old, 1st participation, boat: VPLP/ Verdier, shipyard: Chantier Multiplast, 2015
The professional skipper from Hamburg enjoys worldwide recognition and is also respected by his competitors. Thanks to his intensive preparation, he is currently leading the Imoca class rankings. He holds numerous ocean records, including on the Volvo 70 "Maserati". With Francis Joyon, he narrowly missed out on the Jules Verne Trophy on the trimaran "Idec" four years ago. He finished fifth in his Imoca debut in the Barcelona World Race in 2011. He won the Portimão Global Ocean Race in 2009 with the Class 40 "Beluga Racer"

Click through the gallery to get the most important information about the skippers and their boats.

Alex Thomson (GBR) | "Hugo Boss"

46 years, 5th participation, boat: VPLP Design, shipyard: J. Carrington, August 2019

Third in 2012, second in 2016, now it is to be the long-awaited victory for the Brit - as the first non-Frenchman. Thomson has created a strong team and a radical boat: aerodynamically optimised, with an inside steering position, gigantic foils and solar cells instead of a diesel engine. Designer Vincent Lauriot-Prévost believes that "Hugo Boss" is currently the fastest Imoca. The boat flashed its potential at the Transat Jacques Vabre last year, but then the keel broke after a collision. Thomson is mentally strong. The top favourite.

Jérémie Beyou (FRA) | "Charal"

44 years, 4th participation, boat: VPLP Design, shipyard: CDK, August 2018

After his third place at the last Vendée with an older boat, the Breton is aiming for victory this time with his very fast new boat. "Charal" was already finished in 2018, shortly before the Route du Rhum. There was plenty of time for optimisation and further development. The first set of foils turned out extremely well, and the lavishly equipped team is bringing a third version to the Vendée. Beyou is regarded as an extremely ambitious, tactically adept sailor and has already won various transatlantic races. But he is also under pressure. If he can withstand it, he will be sailing for 1st place.

Charlie Dalin (FRA) | "Apivia"

36 years, 1st participation, boat: Verdier Design, shipyard: CDK/Mer Concept, August 2019

The Frenchman, who matured in the Mini-Transat and Figaro, only joined the best-equipped Imoca team (ex-"Macif") with this project. He is regarded as a huge talent, but has no experience of racing around the world. "Apivia" is a top boat, built by a top shipyard, developed by top architect Guillaume Verdier and co-developed by former Vendée Globe winner François Gabart - a strong starting point. The filigree foils, which initially had ventilation problems, have since been modified. Third top favourite.

Armel Tripon (FRA) | "L'Occitane En Provence"

45 years, 1st participation, boat: Manuard Design, shipyard: Black Pepper, January 2020

The penultimate boat completed for the race is an eagerly awaited newcomer, as it is the first Open 60 by designer Sam Manuard. The mini and Class 40 specialist relies on the wide scow bow. This is not so extreme due to the class rules, but the boat should still be almost unbeatable on half-wind courses and out of the wind. Only completed at the beginning of the year, it is not yet fully developed. The risk of breakage is therefore very high. Tripon is also a newcomer to the Imoca class, coming from Tris and Class 40.

10 Images

Photo: Alex Thomson Racing; Vincent Curutchet/IMOCA

This article is part of a large special on the Vendée Globe in YACHT 23/2020, which is available at newsagents until 17 November or can be ordered digitally here.

Andreas Fritsch

Editor Travel

Andreas Fritsch was born in Buxtehude in 1968 and has been sailing since childhood, first in a dinghy and later on his own keelboats on the Elbe and later the Baltic Sea. After studying political science, German and history in Münster, he began working as a journalist and joined the YACHT editorial team in 1997. Since 2001, he has focussed on travel and charter and has travelled to almost all areas of the world and regularly charters in the Mediterranean, with Greece being his favourite area. He has written two cruising guides for the Mediterranean (Charter Guide Ionian Sea and Turkish Coast). In addition to travelling, he is a fan of the Open 60 and Maxi-Tri scene and regularly writes about these topics in YACHT. He has been sailing a classic GRP Grinde on the Baltic Sea for several years.

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Regatta: Hunter or hunted? Boris Herrmann's Vendée Globe opponent

This article is part of a large special on the Vendée Globe in YACHT 23/2020, which is available at newsagents until 17 November or can be ordered digitally here.

Andreas Fritsch

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