12th Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe

 

Pointe-à-Pitre, 24th November 2022. It took 14 days 15 hours 21 minutes 41 seconds for the German Boris Herrmann to cover the 3,542 nautical miles separating Saint-Malo from Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. After discovering there was a problem with the foil holder on his boat, Malizia-Seaexplorer, which meant he was not able to use the foils, the Yacht Club de Monaco member finished 24th of the IMOCAs in the 12th Route du Rhum. It was a hotly contested category with 38 boats competing, won by Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut).

“I am very happy to be here. It is always special to do a solo crossing. In the end it felt more like a “validation” trip for the boat rather than a transat in full race mode. I was a bit disappointed not to be right in the race all the time. But it’s fine, as we achieved the main objective, which was to qualify for the Vendée Globe,” said Boris on his arrival this morning in Guadeloupe.  A reminder that the 13 skippers on new boats who want to compete in this solo non-stop round the world without assistance have to be on the start of at least two qualifying races between 2022 and 2024 – and finish at least one of them in a time that does not exceed one and a half times that of the winner’s finishing time.

 

First test for Malizia-Seaexplorer

Sailing a brand new IMOCA, which only left the yard in July, this was Boris Herrmann’s first solo offshore race on Malizia-Seaexplorer, the latest addition to Team Malizia founded by Pierre Casiraghi, YCM Vice-President.

Tackling the Route du Rhum on a boat that does not yet have a track record is always tricky and results were not necessarily a priority, as Boris humbly conceded before the start: “If I finish that will already be a victory”.

Although Boris was not in a position to battle it out at the front, he knew how to manage his trajectory to Guadeloupe. After the start, the skipper managed to stay in the leading group before hitting a high pressure barrier. Computer failure and a problem with the J2 were among daily issues that occurred that the skipper had to deal with, but not enough to dampen his enthusiasm: “I’m starting to really get to know the boat and feel more and more at home on her. I’m not where I was with my old boat where I had a fabulous connection, but it’s all going in the right direction. I’m at the bottom of the mountain and there is still a lot to do to progress,” continued Boris Herrmann on the pontoons at Pointe-à-Pitre

 

All systems go for The Ocean Race

The road is still long for Boris whose next challenge is The Ocean Race that starts 15th January 2023. “In a few days, the team will take the boat in training mode to Alicante and prepare her for the start”.  Then Malizia-Seaexplorer will be heading offshore again, this time with a crew, for this round the world in stages.

 

 

 

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