To give members an opportunity to experience the adventures of Boris Herrmann, its skipper competing in the Vendée Globe aboard Malizia-Seaexplorer, Yacht Club de Monaco is organising regular discussions during the event. Race facts, weather conditions, ranking, strategic choices, a virtual regatta update, etc. are all on the agenda for these gatherings.

On Wednesday it was the turn of Will Harris, substitute skipper of the Monegasque IMOCA, to front the first meeting four days before the start. Speaking from Les Sables d’Olonne, he was more than happy to answer questions from around hundred Club members and young sailors from the Sports Section.

As part of the collective ‘Monaco Capital of Advanced Yachting’ initiative to promote innovation in yachting and inspire young people to consider vocations in this field, the round the world race will be followed with passion by YCM sailors and Monegasque supporters of Team Malizia.

Since its launch in 1989, this non-stop, solo round the world race without assistance, held every four years, has fired the imaginations of sailors. Of the two hundred skippers that have lined up on the start since then, only 114 have completed it. Sunday at 13:02, the 40 contestants competing in this edition will set off on a 24,300 nautical mile odyssey, following a course that has remained unchanged.

They start by crossing the Bay of Biscay before heading south down the Atlantic to cross the infamous Doldrums, bypassing the St Helena High (a high pressure system). Then they have to round three capes: Cape of Good Hope, gateway to the Indian Ocean, Australia’s Cape Leeuwin and finally the legendary Cape Horn to exit the Pacific Ocean and back up the Atlantic to Les Sables d’Olonne.

Boris Herrmann at the helm of Yacht Club de Monaco’s Malizia-Seaexplorer is one of the favourites of this 10th edition.