Potential revealed 

Défi Azimut – Lorient – 13-18 September

Sunday 18^th September 2022. The 12^th Défi Azimut has just finished. This year’s event attracted some 30 boats and proved an ideal challenge for new boats to face competition, like Yacht Club de Monaco’s Boris Herrmann aboard Malizia-Seaexplorer.

First time racing with crew

The event which comprised three challenges, was open to solo and crewed entrants, with the German skipper opting for the latter to compete in the 48H Azimut.

Having occupied 2^nd place for a long time, they eventually finished 3^rd in 1 day 22 hours 25 minutes 5 seconds. Buoyed by the experience, the sailor said: “It was a very satisfactory result given that we’re still working to perfect the boat which was only recently launched (19^th July 2022)”.

Supported by co-skippers Will Harris, Rosalin Kuiper and Nicolas Lunven, and reporter Antoine Auriol, Malizia-Seaexplorer revealed all her potential. “It was a proper qualifier as we were in race mode for 48 hours for the first time, and with other contestants, which gives us a lot of useful information. Are we at the right angle? Is the speed right? Is the boat really fast or not? I am very happy as it seems this IMOCA has loads of potential and now it’s up to us as a team to exploit that”.

Sunday 18^th September, the IMOCAs completed the final event, round Groix island (Chrono Tour du Groix) that Malizia-Seaexplorer did in 1 hour 59 minutes 40 seconds to come 4^th. It will be the last crewed race for Boris Herrmann before the start of The Ocean Race on 15^th January 2023 in Alicante, Spain. Until then, the 60-footer continues training sessions from Port La Forêt before the start of the Route du Rhum on 6^th November 2022 in Saint Malo.