Vendée Globe: Herrmann's Christmas coup: "I would never have dreamed of this!"

Boris Herrmann could hardly believe it himself on Christmas Day when he looked at the updated tracker statuses: "Unbelievable! Third on the tracker after halfway round the world. I would never have dreamed of that. That's a very nice Christmas present for all of us!" By "everyone", the 39-year-old skipper of the "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco" meant his family, friends and supporters. Hundreds of emails, Christmas greetings, voice messages and cheers had already reached the skipper from Hamburg on Christmas Eve. And the wave continues, similar to the intermediate sprints that allow the sailors to enjoy the thrill of foiling in freshening winds from time to time.

A visibly moved and happy Boris Herrmann enjoys foiling on Friday morning, but also describes the ups and downs in the changeable winds. The "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco" skipper reports on the match race with Jean Le Cam and thanks everyone for their Christmas greetings

The leading group of 27 Vendée Globe matadors still in the race continued to struggle under high pressure over the course with its moving invisible walls. Thomas Ruyant, who had finished third the previous day, was the last to experience what it feels like to have made an expensive decision; the Frenchman had opted for an extreme northern course to avoid the windless zone, accepting a longer route. Ingratitude was his reward: the "LinkedOut" skipper initially dropped back to seventh place, while at the very front "Apivia" skipper Charlie Dalin reaped the rewards of his persistent course along the ice edge and replaced Yannick Bestaven as leader. However, Boris Herrmannn reckons that Ruyant will still be able to make a comeback after the investment.

The Christmas thriller in the Southern Pacific continues to keep its participants and observers on tenterhooks. 15,000 kilometres away from Boris Herrmann's home port of Hamburg, the skippers are playing "cat and mouse" with each other. Boris Herrmann fought a thrilling duel with Escoffier rescuer Jean Le Cam on Friday morning. At nine o'clock in the morning, just one nautical mile separated the 39-year-old German première participant and the experienced 61-year-old Frenchman on his fifth Vendée Globe on course for Cape Horn. At the end of the 47th day at sea, Damien Seguin also continues to hold his own against the best. Born with only one hand, the Paralympics winner continues to amaze in fifth place overall with his modified but nevertheless aged Finot-Conq boat from 2008. The 41-year-old from Nantes was only 20 nautical miles behind Herrmann and Le Cam in fifth place on the morning of Christmas Day.

At the back of the chasing pack, Jérémie Beyou is attracting more and more attention. The Frenchman, who restarted the race nine days after the field after breaking and being repaired, has now worked his way up to 19th place and could overtake Stéphane Le Diraison on "Time for Oceans", who is only 45 nautical miles ahead of him in 18th place, before Christmas. Although Beyou was still 2950 nautical miles behind leader Charlie Dalin on the 47th day of the race, which in reality was only the 38th day for Beyou, what he has achieved so far is impressive. Although it is unlikely that Beyou will be able to push all the way to the front, his chances of setting the fastest time in this Vendée Globe are impressive, especially at Christmas.