Transatlantic Return to Base

After nine days 20 hours two minutes 41 seconds, Malizia-Seaexplorer helmed by Boris Herrmann from Yacht Club de Monaco finished 4th in this selective, qualifying solo challenge for the Vendée Globe 2024-2025.

Sunday 10th December 2023. After a 7th place clinched a few weeks ago at the end of the 16th Transat Jacques Vabre, Boris Herrmann from Yacht Club de Monaco crossed the line in 4th on the Return to Base race to add to an already impressive list of achievements. Aboard Malizia-Seaexplorer, the latest IMOCA of Team Malizia founded by YCM Vice-President Pierre Casiraghi, the German sailor arrived in Lorient today, Sunday 10th December at 13:02:41.

1st Return to Base

A total of 30 solo sailors, including Boris Herrmann, tackled the North Atlantic for this first Return to Base from the Antilles to Lorient having started on Thursday 30th November 2023. Contestants left the heat of the Caribbean behind to race solo back to the Old Continent. The boats headed north from the start in search of depressions forming off the coast of Newfoundland.

“The most important thing for me, apart from the ranking, is to learn more about the boat and myself. Knowing where I am with it, that the boat is reliable, that I feel good on board. This winter, before the season resumes in April with two new solo transatlantic races, we have four months to make the most of what we’ve learned and develop those achievements with a view to the Vendée Globe,” explained Boris before the start.

Beyond expectations

Accustomed to being up with the leaders, Boris once again defied predictions with a result beyond expectations. After taking the offshore option at the start, he worked his way up the fleet to go beyond his top ten objective to finish a superb 4th after 9 days 20 hours 2 minutes 41 seconds of racing. He therefore covered the theoretical 3,500 nautical miles as the crow flies at an average speed of 14.82 knots. In reality, he covered 4,490nm at an average speed of 19.02 knots despite some minor damage.

“I’m very satisfied with the race, I just had a small technical problem and a lot of water that got into the boat at the end. I had to bail it out so I’m more tired than usual on arrival but otherwise everything went well”.

The result bodes well for a man preparing for his second crack at the Vendée Globe, a non-stop solo without assistance round the world scheduled to leave Les Sables d’Olonne on 10th November 2024.