Since 2021, the Défi Azimut has been an essential stage on the 60-foot IMOCA circuit, particularly in a Vendée Globe year like 2024. Just a couple of months away from the non-stop solo round the world without assistance race it was a great opportunity for skippers to see how their racing machines measured up to the competition.

The Tour de l’île de Groix, the final event in the five-day Défi Azimut, was won on Sunday 15 September by Jérémie Beyou (Charal). The Lorient based skipper was followed by Louis Duc (Fives Group – Lantana Environnement) and then Boris Herrmann (Malizia – Seaexplorer) from Yacht Club de Monaco. The day before the German skipper had crossed the finish of the Défi Azimut 48h at 12:52 in tenth position after an intense race in variable weather conditions in the Bay of Biscay. He covered 605.42 nautical miles at an average speed of 13.2 knots making a race time of 1 day 21 hours 52 minutes 13 seconds.

The Malizia – Seaexplorer skipper used this last event to get back into race mode and test a few sail configurations without putting too much pressure on himself. Like many of his fellow IMOCA contestants Boris Herrmann was racing in quasi-solo mode with the American sailor Cole Brauer as look-out and Antoine Auriol as the reporter.

“It was intense but a great race”, said Boris on his arrival in Lorient. “It really all comes down to slight wind shifts. There were times when it felt that it was just a question of finesse. Personally, I tried out some sails that were perhaps not ideal for this race but was to make sure I learned something for the Vendée Globe. The meeting really served its purpose as it helped me make some final decisions on choices (…) I feel good onboard. I didn’t put myself under any pressure apart from the start which went well. In the end, the result was not amazing but I wasn’t at all worried about it, maybe my mind is already on the Vendée Globe”.

As for the next stages before the start, Boris commented with a big smile: “The boat is now ready. It’s perfect. All I have to do is finish the final preparations and keep fit – I think we’re in pretty good shape”. Next time the IMOCAs meet will be on the start of the Vendée Globe off Les Sables-d’Olonne on Sunday 10 November 2024.