9e Vendée Globe

Wednesday 25th November 2020. Boris Herrmann’s race on Seaexplorer-Yacht Club de Monaco is being followed closely by Club members and the public alike. After 17 days, the Monegasque boat is in 5th. The skipper was live on the big screen today for the Yacht Club de Monaco’s weekly Wednesday Vendée Globe update

 

 

Neck and neck with Maître Coq IV

Boris is philosophical: “These first two weeks have been good and I’m happy with our ranking”, said the German skipper as he heads for Cape of Good Hope that he should reach quickly. He is currently neck and neck with Maître Coq IV, helmed by Yannick Bestaven. “Yannick is a couple of miles behind me which is great, we’ve been talking on VHF since yesterday. Life is good but I am quite tired. I didn’t sleep well last night as the wind kept shifting round in every direction, I changed sails, it was tough. There was an unforgettable moment yesterday evening, we were very close, the sunset was stunning, we are in the middle of the ocean on a round the world race – it was magical. We were so close he could watch me change sails from his cockpit”.

 Contestants face a headache as the Saint Helena high pressure is proving capricious with light winds and sometimes the opposite. Boris has found his rhythm since the start and is striving to maintain a balance. “I’m going to push the boat, but also pace myself. I think that will be key for the rest of the race and prove invaluable for this Vendée Globe. The boat is in unbelievably good condition – touch wood! But for now there isn’t a problem”.

Boris “has run a pretty steady race since the start, a tactic that is paying off, as today he is 5th”, said  Philippe Monnet, who was at the YCM for the update. Known for his many round the worlds, the 61-year-old sailor took the opportunity to talk about his experiences in the southern ocean towards which the 9th Vendée Globe fleet is headed. “The important thing when entering and exiting the southern seas is not to break anything. The boat must retain all its potential.”

 

Anything can happen

The race continues to throw spanners into the works for some, as evidenced by the jammed halyard on LinkedOut that Thomas Ruyant had to sort out, or the structural damage in the bow area of Hugo Boss skippered by the big favourite, Alex Thomson. The Welshman had to concede his first place, but is back in play after a repair that will be tested to the limits, according to Philippe Monnet. “That’s a huge problem for Alex Thomson. The bow is the part that ploughs through the wave. I don’t know if his repair can hold out for the long-term.”

 

Suspense therefore remains high for this always unpredictable race, with its twists and turns that come under the spotlight every Wednesday at 5.00pm in the Yacht Club de Monaco.