Excited to be back onboard solo: For the first time of the year, Boris Herrmann is sailing alone on his IMOCA race yacht

Last hugs with the technical team - after final checks, Head of Composite Clément Caumont and Rigger Oakley Marsh wished Boris a great race and stepped off Malizia - Seaexplorer

Caribbean colours: After a bit of rain in the morning, the sky offered a beautiful spectrum of colours on the start day

Final checks and briefings before the start: Boris Herrmann and Will Harris are discussing strategy moments before Will Harris stepped off the boat

Boris Herrmann and his Malizia - Seaexplorer competing for the best start

All eyes on deck - Boris Herrmann is now sailing solo again and needs to be even more focussed as he crossed the crowded start line of the Retour à La Base race

The IMOCA fleet of over 30 boats set sail for a 3500 nautical miles solo race across the Atlantic on 30 November 2023. Boris Herrmann took the start in the front row

A crowded start line: With over 30 boats setting off, Boris had to be very concentrated and managed to take a great start at the pin end in the front row

Boris Herrmann hand-steering his Malizia - Seaexplorer race yacht as him and 31 competitors took the start of the Retour à La Base solo race

“I think we have the chance to do very well in this race and I'm keen to go out there", said Boris Herrmann in the days before the Retour à La Base race start

Boris Herrmann is now sailing his race yacht across the Atlantic in solo mode for the first time this year

Malizia - Seaexplorer leading the fleet of about 30 boats at the start of the Retour à La Base race in Martinique

“I feel good today”, said Boris moments before he stepped on board his Malizia - Seaexplorer race yacht on the morning of the race start. “I am looking forward to starting this race. I've really found the hunger to sail alone again."

Malizia - Seaexplorer flying along the coast of Martinique on the start day of the Retour à La Base race

Malizia - Seaexplorer, first boat in the fleet to reach the iconic Diamant of Martinique in the early hours of the race

The conditions in Martinique were perfect for Boris to start his first solo race of the year. With flying boats and beautiful island landscapes as the backdrop, there was a sense of suspense as the fleet crossed the start line of the Retour à La Base yesterday. Here are some of our favorite photos from the day.

The conditions in Martinique were perfect for Boris to start his first solo race of the year. With flying boats and beautiful island landscapes as the backdrop, there was a sense of suspense as the fleet crossed the start line of the Retour à La Base yesterday. Enjoy some of our favorite photos from the day.

Our Favorite Photos From The Retour À La Base Start

The IMOCA fleet at the start of the Retour à La Base on 30 November 2023

Boris Herrmann is back to sailing solo

Malizia - Seaexplorer racing neck-and-neck with Paprec Arkea along the coast of Martinique

Boris Herrmann, moments before taking the start of his first solo race in 2023

Boris Herrmann heading towards the iconic Diamant rock in the lead at the start of the Retour à La Base race on 30 November 2023

This Thursday, Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann crossed the start line of the Retour à La Base race in the front row, and is now back to racing in solo mode on his Malizia - Seaexplorer yacht. The race will see the IMOCA fleet sail 3500 nautical miles across the Atlantic from Martinique to Brittany and is expected to last 8 to 10 days.

Boris Herrmann and his Malizia - Seaexplorer are off to a great start in the Retour à La Base solo race

“I Really Found The Hunger To Sail Alone Again”, Boris Herrmann Is Back to Racing Solo In Retour à La Base

Malizia Races & Events 2023 - 2024 : Check out the races and events Team Malizia will participate or take part on the next 12 months.

Check out the races and events which Team Malizia will participate in during the next 18 months.

Malizia Races & Events 2023/24

Malizia Races & Events 2023-2024

© Antoine Auriol I Team Malizia

Time for Boris to be back on solo mode racing!

Thursday 30th of November, start: 12:00 local time (17:00 CET)  

© Jean-Marie Liot I Alea

The time for the last race of 2023 season has come! Here is everything you need to know to follow the start of the Retour à La Base, on Thursday 30th of November. Boris Herrmann will race onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer against 33 other IMOCAs’ Skippers on a 3500 nautical mile long course across the Atlantic.

HOW TO FOLLOW THE RETOUR À LA BASE

HOW TO FOLLOW THE START OF THE RETOUR A LA BASE 2023

Malizia- Seaexplorer fought an intense battle until the finish line against Teamwork.net, arriving only 1 minute and 5 seconds later

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer after the finish in Martinique

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris

As close as it gets to a photo finish in IMOCA racing - that is how intense it was in today’s Transat Jacques Vabre race arrival in the bay of Fort-de-France, when Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann and Will Harris crossed the finish line in seventh place, only minutes behind some of their closest competitors. 

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris finished the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 in seventh place

Intense Racing Until The Finish Line - Boris Herrmann and Will Harris Seventh in the TJV 2023

Intense Racing Until The Finish Line - Boris Herrmann and Will Harris Seventh in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023

Hear from Boris and Will as they race across the Atlantic onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer on Day 10 of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre 2023.

Hear from Boris and Will as they race across the Atlantic onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer and encounter sargassum seaweeds on Day 10 of the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre 2023.

The Sad Story of the Sargassum Seaweed - Day 10 - Transat Jacques Vabre

The Sad Story of the Sargassum Seaweed - Day 10 - Transat Jacques Vabre 2023

Renowned German sailor Boris Herrmann, in collaboration with author Andreas Wolfers, unveiled their latest literary triumph, "Ocean Race Adventure"  which is set to launch on November 15th, 2023, published by C.Bertelsmann.

Boris Herrmann onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer holding his new book co-written with Andreas Wolfers about Team Malizia's Ocean Race

Setting Sail on a New Literary Journey with "Abenteuer Ocean Race"

Boris Herrmann and Andreas Wolfers Set Sail on a New Literary Journey with "Abenteuer Ocean Race"

Which way to go? Boris and Will have had some important strategic decisions to make, and finally decided to shorten their path and follow Thomas Ruyant between Tenerife and Gran Canaria whilst Charal and Paprec Arkea chose for the easier but longer route between Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria.

We are now one week into the Transat Jacques Vabre race which has so far been full of surprises.

Day 6 on the TJV and our duo is catching up with the Class 40 fleet around the Canary Islands. Boris and Will overtaking the Class 40 Everial skippered by Erwan Le Draoulec.

The Race So Far: Big Divide, Clever Moves and What is to Come?

Will and Boris deploying a drifter float in the 2019 Transat Jacques Vabre. 

On day four of the Transat Jacques Vabre race on board Malizia - Seaexplorer, Boris Herrmann and Will Harris deployed a scientific instrument called a drifter buoy off the coast of Portugal at 37 degrees North. The device will live for around 700 days and autonomously sends data on atmospheric pressure, sea temperature and ocean currents to scientists on land. This data is crucial for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and for climate scientists to better understand the future of the weather and the role the Ocean plays in climate change. 

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris Deploy Scientific Instrument off Portuguese Coast 

Malizia merchandising overview

Malizia Shop - Here we have a list of all of our merchandise. Follow each link to make your purchases. 

Here we have a list of all of our merchandising providers. Follow each link to make your purchases. 

Malizia Shop

The First 24 hours of the race saw many IMOCA casualties very early on with top wind speeds of 45 knots and with six boats having to retire or stop for repairs. Our own boat Malizia - Seaexplorer also encountered some technical issues although issues of the electronics kind and not a structural issue with the boat. 

A Tough First 24 Hours for Many in the IMOCA Fleet including Malizia - Seaexplorer

Watch NDR Live and Malizia cockpit live of the Start of the TJV 

From 7th November at 9am watch NDR live start and from 9:15 watch the Malizia Live Cockpit view on YouTube with live chat enabled with Team Director Holly Cova

Watch NDR Live and Malizia Cockpit view of the Start of the TJV 

Watch NDR Live of The Start from 7 November at 9am 

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris with team ready for an early start to the Transat Jacques Vabre

Malizia - Seaexplorer starting the TJV

Malizia at the start of the TJV 

Malizia - Seaexplorer flying into the start

Skipper Boris Herrmann and co-skipper Will Harris eagerly start the Transat Jacques Vabre race after a 9 day delay due to huge storms rolling across the Atlantic. With 40 IMOCA yachts on the start line the race is guaranteed to be exciting. Malizia - Seaexplorer is facing off against some of her newly built competitors for the first time! The race is expected to take between 12 to 14 days.  The start saw the duo set off in 20 to 25 knots of wind with a complicated sea state, the first hours will be relatively upwind which means uncomfortable conditions and not as fast. Boris Herrmann will compete in the solo return race starting on 30th November 2023, which is just over a week after the arrival in Martinique. 

Team Malizia off to a Rough but Good Start in Transat Jacques Vabre

Team Malizia off to a Flying Start in Transat Jacques Vabre

All the IMOCAs Teams working together.

Boris Herrmann & Will Harris sailing.

For the IMOCAs a big start is confirmed for Tuesday 7th November at 09:30 am (CET). Following the passage of storms Ciaran and Domingos, a suitable weather window is set to open which will allow all of the record fleet of 40 IMOCAs to start the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre two handed race to Martinique on Tuesday morning. Boris Herrmann and Will Harris will race onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer against 39 boats in a 3,750 nautical mile long course across the Atlantic.

HERE WE GO AGAIN!  HOW TO FOLLOW THE START OF THE TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE 2023

HOW TO FOLLOW THE START OF THE TRANSAT JACQUES VABRE 2023

Teams helping each other in Le Havre

The Fleet during the Route du Rhum start 

Malizia flying in the Ocean Race

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris have a new start date confirmed for 7th November 2023 - the duo will sail on Malizia - Seaexplorer in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre 2023. The start was postponed last Sunday due to extreme weather conditions. This is the second time the pair will compete in this race and the first time they will confront all the new IMOCA boats. As they race from northern France to Martinique, the pair will deploy scientific instruments and collect valuable Ocean data to further climate research.

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris have a new start date confirmed for 7th November 2023 - the duo will sail Malizia - Seaexplorer in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre 2023. The start was postponed last Sunday due to extreme weather conditions. This is the second time the pair will compete in this race and the first time they will confront all the new IMOCA boats. As they race from northern France to Martinique, the pair will deploy scientific instruments and collect valuable Ocean data to further climate research.

Storm Ciaran Forces A New Start Date for Team Malizia and Boris Herrmann in The Transat Jacques Vabre

A Voyage Of Discovery: The Ocean Race

I’m super excited about the documentary. It was very special to be part of it and I shared my feelings and thoughts like I would with my family and that was special.

The new three-part documentary A Voyage of Discovery: The Ocean Race follows the crews of the IMOCA vessels in the toughest test in team sport. Premiering on 3rd November 2023, it features Team Malizia’s Ocean Race sailor Rosalin Kuiper and shows never before seen footage of some of the most extreme and exciting moments of the race.

New WBD Documentary Featuring Rosalin Kuiper Onboard Team Malizia

A Voyage Of Discovery: The Ocean Race - New WBD Documentary Featuring Rosalin Kuiper Onboard Team Malizia

Speakers at the Erasmus Marie Conference 2023 in Valencia

When most of Team Malizia is busy with the last Transat Jacques Vabre preparations in Le Havre, it doesn’t mean that everything else in our campaign is put on hold: Our education manager Els went to the first Erasmus Maris conference in Valencia to discuss synergies between Team Malizia’s My Ocean Challenge programme and other great initiatives for Ocean Literacy.

Participants Erasmus Maris Conference Valencia

Teaming Up For Climate Impact & Ocean Literacy

Teaming Up For Climate Impact & Ocean Literacy - Erasmus Maris Conference in Valencia

IMOCA teams helping each other to secure the boats before the storm in Le Havre

IMOCA teams helping each other out in Le Havre before the storm

All Hands On Dock - IMOCA Teams Help Each Other As Big Storm Approaches

Everything was ready but a big storm building up in the Atlantic led the race organisers to postpone the start for the IMOCA fleet. Boris Herrmann and Will Harris, as well as the 39 competing teams, will therefore have to wait patiently until a safer weather window opens to start the double-handed race towards Martinique.

Still on the dock: Malizia - Seaexplorer and the 39 other boats of the IMOCA fleet will have to remain in Le Havre and wait for a postponed start of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023

Until The Storm Passes: Postponed Start of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 for the IMOCA Fleet

My Ocean Challenge Newsletter 7 - Learn more about corals!

My Ocean Challenge Newsletter 7 - Learn More About Corals!

Malizia - Seaexplorer in the race village of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023

Boris Herrmann showing the many possible routings to journalists at the Malizia virtual press conference on Wednesday

The harbour in Le Havre, France

The crowded race village of the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris are about to embark on Malizia - Seaexplorer and race in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre 2023. The Team Malizia duo is competing for the second time in the challenging transatlantic race, which will see them confront the new boats of the IMOCA fleet for the first time.

Boris Herrmann (right) and Will Harris (left) are ready for their second Transat Jacques Vabre race together

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris are about to embark on Malizia - Seaexplorer and race in the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre 2023. The Team Malizia duo is competing for the second time in the challenging transatlantic race, which will see them confront the new boats of the IMOCA fleet for the first time. As they race from northern France to Martinique, the pair will deploy scientific instruments and collect valuable Ocean data to further climate research.

D-2 to the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 - Ready to Race Across the Atlantic

D-2 to the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 - Boris Herrmann and Will Harris Ready to Race Across the Atlantic

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