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Boris Herrmann

We compete on the highest level in the toughest races, inspire action & create awareness and highlight solutions to the climate crisis.

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This Monday evening, Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann crossed the Equator and returned to the Northern Hemisphere, ticking off one of the last milestones along the Vendée Globe race course. Sailing over the virtual line in 9th place, the German sailor stays focussed on the 3,200 nautical miles remaining and the battle to break into the top five.

 yesterday evening, on 13 January 2025 at 23:32 UTC, after having raced 64 days, 11 hours, 30 minutes, and 30 seconds in the 

 marks the final leg of his journey in the solo, non-stop, unassisted, round-the-world race, which has taken him across the Equator into the Southern Hemisphere, past three major capes (Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn), past the remote Point Nemo, and again across the Equator back into the Northern Hemisphere. 

“We're passing the Equator, under a beautiful moonlight”, Boris Herrmann said in his toast to Neptune, a tradition for sailors as they sail across the imaginary line. “And therefore, I serve you. A bit of rhum to the boat, a bit of rhum to the Ocean. To a good Northern Hemisphere, please! I’ll give you an extra one if you let me through with less trouble! All right, Malizia, here we go, Northern Hemisphere! First night that it's decent here. We just accelerated. Cheers everyone!”

Since entering the Southern Hemisphere on November 22, 2024, Boris Herrmann has spent 52 days navigating its challenging waters.

 After racing over three-quarters of the Vendée Globe with minimal issues, the past week had been challenging for the German solo sailor who faced an arbalète issue, a nearby lightning strike which damaged several systems onboard, and a broken J2 hook, which prevented him using his most important headsail. Far from being discouraged, Boris Herrmann managed two mast climbs despite his fear of heights, successfully repaired both his rigging issues, and brought crucial systems back to life. 

Even though that led him to losing some nautical miles and to now sail in 9th position, the 

skipper is in good spirits and stays focussed on what lies ahead. 

Now, with 3,200 nautical miles remaining, he is on the home stretch to Les Sables d’Olonne. Despite 

) having won the race this morning and impressively breaking the race record by over 9 days, the competition remains intense. Boris Herrmann is fully focused on the final push, aiming to improve his position and potentially break into the 

This Sunday afternoon, Boris Herrmann had also crossed his own wake from earlier in the Vendée Globe, completing his loop in the Southern Hemisphere. On top of that, 

 – an amazing achievement for Team Malizia, with their boat having now sailed the equivalent of over 4,5 laps around the world.

While the end of his second Vendée Globe is near, Boris Herrmann remains determined, embracing every mile with the same grit and passion that has carried him through this remarkable race. He is showing no signs of slowing down as he pushes through this final stretch, fighting for every nautical mile until the finish.

A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!

mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its 

: Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, and EFG International. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions. 

Watch the video sent by Boris Herrmann during the Equator crossing 

Home stretch for Boris Herrmann in the Vendée Globe

Home Stretch in the Vendée Globe: Boris Herrmann Is Back In Northern Hemisphere And Reaches New Milestone

Another problem solved: Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann has successfully completed the repairs needed to use his J2 sail again. As his most frequently used headsail, restoring it was critical for the German skipper to stay competitive after a broken hook rendered the sail unusable. With less than 4,000 miles remaining in the round-the-world Vendée Globe race, the successful repair, amidst an already strenuous week for the solo sailor, comes as a huge relief.

 a challenging mast climb and repair, allowing him to resume sailing on his J2 headsail. The operation took several hours to prepare and execute but was critical in ensuring his 

 racing yacht remained competitive until the finish of the 

Yesterday morning, Boris Herrmann noticed that the 

 of his J2 headsail had broken. The sail was safe on deck and the integrity of the mast was not at risk, but unless he could create a system to attach his J2, the German

skipper would have had to manage the remaining two weeks or so of the race without his most important headsail. 

“All the IMOCA boats have by rule a fixed stay, which is a J2 stay”, 

 “Everyone lashes the J2 at the top and the bottom. In the last Vendée Globe, there were a lot of J2 issues and people needed to climb, having a hard time getting them back down and back up to repair them. So after discussion with the IMOCA class, we got permission to develop a hook to get the sail down in case of a problem. We did that over two years ago and have had it since. We discussed that we would only use it in the Vendée Globe if it's reliable and we didn’t have any problems. But nothing compares to the Vendée Globe. The Vendée puts more strain on the boat and now the hook broke, and the J2 slid down the stay, which was still in place.”

After having to climb the mast and the boat being struck by lightning earlier this week, the challenges had been piling up for Boris Herrmann, who, nevertheless tried to stay focussed on finding a solution. After consulting with his team on shore, who worked tirelessly all morning to find a viable solution, a detailed repair plan was made and shared with Boris Herrmann. He spent most of his day preparing himself, his gear, and tools for the

 necessary to put his J2 back up, all while doing short naps and sailing on his J3 sail. 

Despite the sea state, the growing darkness, and his fear of heights, Boris Herrmann was determined to execute the repair as soon as possible. He could have waited until he reached the doldrums to do the repair in a better sea state, but that would have meant losing more nautical miles to competitors such as Sam Goodchild (

). “The plan sounds pretty straightforward, but I’m not so ‘à l’aise’ (comfortable) with it. There’s always a bit of tension climbing in these conditions”, 

But anyway, we will try. Wish me luck.”

As the daylight had already faded, Boris Herrmann started the climb armed with a strobe light for visibility. “

I put up the sail with a halyard and then climbed up to lash the sail in various places”, 

. “In theory, very straightforward and easy, but it took me 3 hours to do everything, because everything takes longer alone on the boat. You need then to undo the sail at the bottom, winch it up 20 times, back and forward to winch a bit, put the zip down on the sail, close the zip that holds the sail around the head, stay, go back, winch up. Everything takes a very long time and then up the rig I had the difficulties to do my lashing correctly and it took me a while to find the perfect height for the sail.”

 Despite his unease, he managed to fix the halyard and ensure the J2 sail was securely in place.

The operation wasn’t without its complications. The J0 halyard had become tangled near the shroud, and Boris Herrmann anticipated having to do another climb in the 

. However, he managed to resolve the issue by climbing on the outrigger. “Job done, that’s good. All problems solved so far! Fingers crossed it stays up!”

Pumping with adrenaline and exhausted at the same time, Boris Herrmann reports that he fell asleep fairly quickly. “I don’t really have a routine for decompressing afterwards”, 

I haven't discussed it with anyone coaching-wise. The best way to get adrenaline out of the body is physical activity and motion and running actually. But I can't do that on the boat. I just sat down and I went fairly quickly to sleep. I actually called a few people afterwards and told them about the events. So that helped a bit.”

 and steaming ahead towards the Equator: “I felt relieved and tired. These things use up your energy. There was a lot of wind this morning so I went back on J3. The upcoming weather looks promising with the trade winds in play, which is nice. We still have quite a while before reaching the doldrums. However, the challenge is my position: I’m too far west, which means more headed than the boats further east. While others can hold a steady 20 knots, I’m managing at best 14, and most of the time around 13 or 12 knots. Conditions here in the west are tougher, and tacking now would essentially mean going backwards, which is hard to do mentally. This morning, my brain is busy thinking whether or not to tack eastward in search of more favorable conditions or to continue the slow battle here."

: EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.

Another successful mast climb for Boris Herrmann (this photo was taken on Day 57) ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Watch the video sent by Boris Herrmann during the repair 

Boris Herrmann has successfully completed the repairs needed to use his J2 again

Boris Herrmann Back Sailing on His J2 After Successful Mast Climb and Repair

This Friday morning, Boris Herrmann noticed that the hook of his J2 headsail had broken. The sail is safe on deck and the integrity of the mast is not at risk, but unless he can create a new hook system, the Malizia - Seaexplorer skipper will have to manage the race without his most important headsail. After having to climb the mast and being struck by lightning earlier this week, the challenges have been piling up for the German solo sailor, who, nevertheless tries to stay focussed on finding a solution.

 "If the Vendée Globe was easy, many people would do it”, said a dispirited 

 this Friday morning in a video sent from onboard 

. After racing over three-quarters of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 with minimal issues, this week has been challenging for the German solo sailor who is now facing a 

which prohibits him using his most important headsail. “Hi everyone, it’s January 10th, 08:00 UTC, just after a beautiful sunrise”, said the 

in a video sent from on board a few minutes ago. “I had a good sleep and woke up because I heard some flapping. And in fact the hook of the J2 broke. Therefore, the J2 had slid partway down the forestay, and that ripped also the halyard for that sail.”

As a hook on a J2 sail is not the most common setup, 

 explains: “I'm the only boat with a hook mechanism. It was really me who wanted that for safety reasons, in case the sail broke. Ultimately, I feel it’s my responsibility to be in this situation but I really wanted this hook for added safety and that part broke. We could have just lashed it to the sail like everyone else at the top and then I wouldn't have this problem.” Other skippers have faced hook issues as well in this race. The J2 is a headsail that usually always stays up and supports the mast. When there is an issue with the J2, repairs are often difficult or in worst cases, damages can become very serious. With a hook mechanism, Boris Herrmann wanted to be able to bring down the sail for safety or repairs, with the stay cable still in place and holding the mast secure. Today, the hook broke but the stay has no damage, which means that the integrity of the mast is not at jeopardy. However, it means that Boris Herrmann cannot currently hoist one of his most used sails.

“So now I don't have a J2, it's down on the deck”, comments the 

. “I didn't feel capable of climbing and bringing it up in these conditions. Also I don't know exactly how to do it. The sail is now on deck, lashed, and I'm sailing J3 which is fine at the moment. I lost quite a few miles and probably 10-12 miles going downwind when I was sorting this out. I am not far from Thomas Ruyant, who has the same problem, he has no J2. So we are two companions with a similar problem.”

In close contact with the team, who can assist from shore when there is a technical issue, Boris Herrmann is trying to stay positive and focussing on finding a solution. “The ideal thing would be to hoist the sail”, 

. “That would mean I attach a halyard to the sail, like a halyard of one of the spinnakers, a masthead halyard, and then I would hoist the sail with that, loosen the sail at the bottom to get it high enough, lash it in the top to the swivel, the thing that turns, and then pull it tight at the bottom... All right, yeah, I think that's doable, but not easy. And probably need better conditions than this.”

After overcoming his fear of heights on Monday by 

and fixing a arbalète rigging issue, then being

 shortly after and managing to get crucial systems back to work, this event, on Day 61 of the race, 

. In order to hoist the J2 again Boris will have to climb the mast 

, on realising this he comments “This is pretty much a smack in the face because we had 70% of the remaining route under this sail. As long as I don’t manage to hoist it, we would be probably 30-40% slower I would say. So the question is, really, when can I hoist it? Is it possible maybe in the doldrums or if we get better sea state before and less swell? I would estimate at least I lose this whole pack, including Justine Mettraux, and that I slide down the ranking to 10th place. So the battle should be on to keep 10th place to the finish. Which will not be easy with Samantha Davies, Clarisse Crémer, and Benjamin Dutreux coming. But I will try.”

: the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, and Schütz. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions. 

Boris Herrmann noticed the flapping J2 due to its broken hook this morning on Day 61 of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

The J2 is intact and on deck until Boris Herrmann can repair and hoist it again ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Watch the video sent by Boris Herrmann about the J2 hook issue 

Boris Herrmann reports damage of the hook of his J2, limiting the use of his most headsail

Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann Reports Damage, Limiting Use Of His Most Important Headsail

It seemed impossible and yet it happened: After being struck by lightning in New York last May, Boris Herrmann’s Malizia - Seaexplorer has suffered damage to key systems from a nearby lightning strike. Whilst racing in 6th position during the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, the German skipper experienced on his most intense days of his life in relentless thunderstorms and torrential rain. Despite the chaos, he successfully navigated through the storm, restored some of the essential systems, and kept pushing forward in the round-the-world solo race.

 - “Yesterday was one of the craziest days I’ve ever had at sea”, says 

, who hasn’t had much rest since climbing the mast and fixing a rigging issue on his 

racing yacht on Monday afternoon. “It started with a massive front and relentless thunderstorms, unlike anything I’ve ever seen in all my years of sailing. It lasted all night and into the day, with pounding rain that I’ve never experienced before.” Currently racing in his second 

, the Team Malizia skipper was sailing near Cabo Frio off the coast of Brazil and heading towards the Equator when he encountered the storm. He explains in a video sent last night, on Day 58 of the round-the-world solo race: “The thunderstorms were intense, with lightning coming from all directions, waves crashing, and the boat struggling to stay upright. A few times, we were lying flat on the sea, and I got thrown around. Thankfully, nothing broke, until lightning struck close by.”

“Immediately, my screen started flashing, went black, and the autopilot shut off along with the instruments. Alarms were blaring, and the boat lost control, lying flat in the water. The wind picked up again, more thunder, more lightning, it was relentless. I think the sea really showed me its teeth yesterday. Whether it was the Vendée Globe or just the weather, it’s a day I won’t forget.” 

With minimal sleep, no time to eat, and adrenaline still pumping, the 

 reflects on this “day of the memories”: “Since then, I’ve been battling to recover. We’ve just come out of the front, and for the last half hour, I’ve finally had some north wind again. Earlier, the south wind made things nearly impossible. The boat could easily hit 30 knots if I wasn’t paying attention, and with the swell coming from the front, it was chaos. I realised I haven’t eaten properly since the mast climb, just a gel from my friend Thomas Theriult and some power snacks. Thankfully, I just managed to have dinner, which is the first proper meal in a while. From the most beautiful evening to the most horrendous weather, it all changed so quickly.” 

Challenging the old adage that lightning never strikes the same place twice, sailors, often guided by both science and tradition, know better than to dismiss such possibilities. Or perhaps the saying doesn't apply when "the place" is moving. After being struck by lightning in New York last May, 

has been unlucky once again, suffering damage from the lightning strike nearby. This time, fortunately, the damage is

than last time. However, quite a few of the electrical elements onboard are no longer functioning and will need to be repaired, swapped out for spares, or Boris will have to make do without. 

“Thanks to the shore team, we’ve been able to recover one autopilot with a working set of wind instruments, which is essential.”, explains 

. “However, a lot of systems are still down. The radar is broken, the main screen doesn’t work, I have no load sensors, no foil rake readings, and the keel system is partially manual now. But I can charge the batteries, use the water maker, and still have Oscar and one functional pilot.” 

Looking ahead to calmer waters, the Team Malizia skipper showcases resilience and knows that even though the storm has passed, the race is far from over: “Six months ago, we were hit by lightning in New York, which was catastrophic, everything was destroyed. This time, it’s not as bad as that, but it was still terrifying. I hope this is the last thunderstorm of the race! We’ll soon be tacking and heading northeast. After that, I’ll eat properly again and try to calm down enough to get some sleep. I still can’t believe what a crazy, crazy day it was. Wow. Just wow.”

: Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Hapag-Lloyd. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions. 

Boris Herrmann's Malizia - Seaexplorer racing yacht

When Lightning Strikes Twice - Damaged Instruments Onboard For Team Malizia's Boris Herrmann in Vendée Globe

Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann faced one of his greatest fears today when he had to climb the 29-meter high mast of his IMOCA racing yacht to address a critical rigging issue. As someone afraid of heights, the task was particularly daunting for the German skipper, who had been haunted by a traumatic mast climb during his last Vendée Globe four years previously. Yet, the solo sailor demonstrated remarkable resilience, overcoming his fear to complete the repair 29 meters above the Ocean.

 - “Unfortunately, it looks like the sea state is good enough to do the climb”, 

 on Monday morning. The German skipper, currently competing in his second 

, has often spoken openly about his two greatest challenges during his previous round-the-world solo race: loneliness and climbing the 29-meter mast of his IMOCA racing yacht. This time, Boris Herrmann has been dealing with loneliness remarkably well, and he can now proudly say he has also conquered his fear of heights.

 noticed that a crucial piece of rigging was 

. The “arbalète” (French word literally meaning 

 but that doesn’t really have a translation) is a retaining line which allows one to modify the anchor point of the boat’s backstay position, a part of the rigging that supports the mast. That position is changed to match a fractional headsail setup, meaning that when Boris Herrmann uses certain sails, he is putting tension on the arbalète and relies on it to keep his mast secure. 

explains: “On IMOCA boats, there are two positions for the backstay. The high backstay position, with the arbalète eased, is used when sailing under a headsail. The second is the hooked backstay position, with tension on the arbalète and used when sailing under staysails like the J1.5, FRO, J2, or J3. The arbalète is operated from the cockpit and hooks into the middle of the mast. It enters the mast at the level of the J2, into a sheave. This sheave has a 90-degree angle, which tends to wear the arbalète quite a lot.”

He adds: “This has been a known issue with the standard (one-design) mast since the beginning and during previous races, we noticed that the arbalètes wore out very quickly.” Knowing that the arbalètes wouldn’t last for a whole round-the-world race, a lot of new versions of the sheaves had been tested, with the most recent version of the one-design piece, standardised for all IMOCA yachts, being introduced last winter. 

“Our boat captain Stuart Mclachlan did a lot of work on the mast last winter, as we added reinforcements and fitted these new sheaves. However, after the two transatlantic races, we saw that the issue still wasn’t resolved unfortunately", adds 

. “So, this summer, we polished the sheaves and created arbalètes with double sheathing. There are two layers of sheathing: the core, which is grey, is covered by a first red sheath and then a second black sheath. The advantage of this system is that you can immediately see when the black sheath is damaged because the red underneath becomes visible.” 

And this Sunday, as he changed his sails from the J2 to J0, Boris Herrmann noticed 10 cm of red flashing near the top of the mast, immediately understanding that the external sheath of the arbalète was damaged. As he notified his team on land, it soon became clear that he would likely have to climb the mast - no matter if he wanted to or not.

“We’ve been brainstorming multiple solutions and working on it with our rigger Olivier Cusin, Cocoche, and Simon Troel, who supply the one-design backstays, to come up with different ideas”, comments Pifou Dargnies. “We considered several options, including completely replacing the backstay, but that seemed too risky, too time-consuming, etc. Instead, we suggested a temporary fix. Using tape and creating a new sheath made from 3Di, the material we use for the sails.”

details: “Even though we obviously cannot discuss weather and strategy with Boris, everyone is well aware that there will be very little port tack sailing under staysail configurations until the finish. So, we are hoping he won’t need to use it much. That said, we rather played it safe, knowing that today was probably the only opportunity with sea conditions suitable to make the repair.”

This Monday, while competing in seventh place on Day 57 of the race, Boris Herrmann meticulously prepared all the necessary gear and tools for the climb and repair. Co-skipper 

highlighted the importance of this preparation on today’s 

: “You really need to make sure that you have everything you need from the start. Boris is doing this solo, and you can’t just be going back and forth.” Will Harris, who famously dangled off

’s cracked mast for repairs during The Ocean Race 2022-2023, added insight into the updated equipment on board: “Boris has new climbing gear which he tested before the race and that should make things a bit easier, benefiting from the strength of his legs rather than pulling on his arms and also freeing his arms a bit more to work on the repair.”

With the right tools and determination, Boris Herrmann approached the challenging task with a somewhat newfound confidence. “Who knows, maybe it’ll be a fun distraction for me!”, he joked in a message to his team on Monday morning. However, in a video he sent just before the climb hours later, he could be seen chewing gum to calm his nerves, apologising for it with a tense smile that betrayed his apprehension.

Not long after, the mood shifted. After taking some deep calming breaths and reminding himself of his training the selfies and photos began pouring in, showcasing a well-executed repair and a smiling - although not particularly relaxed-looking Boris Herrmann perched at the top of the mast, high above his now-tiny-looking boat. The images testified to both the success of the climb and another major fear and challenge tackled. Once safely back on deck, the German sent a message to his team: “Thanks for the support, guys. I’m so relieved it went well, and the race can proceed."

: Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions. 

Gear and tools packed, only thing left is to climb the mast and attempt the repair ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Undertaking a repair job 29 meters above the Ocean, damaged arbalète visible (top left, red) ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Damaged arbalète ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Repaired arbalète ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

skipper high above the Ocean ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Boris Herrmann conquered his fear of heights to repair his rigging 29 meter above the Ocean on Day 57 of the Vendée Globe

Boris Herrmann Conquers Fear of Heights to Successfully Repair Mast at Sea during Vendée Globe

This Saturday, Boris Herrmann crossed the longitude of the infamous Cape Horn at 10:51 UTC after 

47 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds of racing in his second Vendée Globe. Having passed the third of the race's three major capes in 7th place, the Team Malizia skipper celebrates his seventh Cape Horn rounding, a milestone that also marks his exit of the Pacific and that is he now on the home stretch. 

On the 28th of December 2024, at 10:51 UTC, Boris Herrmann of Team Malizia achieved a significant milestone in the Vendée Globe non-stop, around-the-world sailing race. After 47 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds at sea, he rounded Cape Horn - his seventh time conquering this legendary landmark. This moment signifies the end of just under a month navigating the treacherous Southern Ocean and marks the beginning of the final sprint toward the finish line.

Cape Horn is the last of the three capes sailors must pass when sailing the Vendée Globe. Towering 425 meters high on the Chilean coast and visible from sea, is the ink-black cliff, greatly anticipated by sailors. “Unfortunately, I can’t see the Horn, a great disappointment”, said the German skipper who rounded Cape Horn in 7th place, 31 seconds ahead of Paul Meilhat on 

. “However, I am ahead of my goal: the wish I expressed at the start of the race to round Cape Horn before the New Year. I have achieved that, even three days earlier than planned.”

Nestled at the southernmost tip of South America in Chile, Cape Horn sits on a continental shelf where the cold Antarctic currents collide with the temperate Pacific. This confluence creates some of the most volatile and unpredictable seas, with winds frequently gusting at over 70 knots. These ferocious conditions have forged Cape Horn’s reputation as the ultimate challenge for racing sailors, with its dangers inspiring countless stories of disaster and survival. To avoid becoming the protagonists of such tales themselves, many sailors follow age-old superstitions, like toasting to Neptune, the god of the sea, or piercing their ear on the side corresponding to their direction around the Horn

For Boris Herrmann, passing Cape Horn may evoke memories of the 2023 edition of The Ocean Race, where he rounded the Cape in first place after a challenging month in the Southern Ocean. During that leg of the race, his crew faced significant setbacks, including crew member Rosalin Kuiper suffering a head injury from a fall in the bunk and a heroic hours-long team mast repair effort - and they ultimately won the leg. 

, was the first to round Cape Horn on Christmas Eve, completing the feat in just 43 days, 11 hours, 25 minutes, and 20 seconds. Close on his heels, Charlie Dalin followed only 9 minutes later. This blistering pace shattered the previous record for rounding Cape Horn, set by Armel Le Cléac’h, by more than four days. 

Meanwhile, the competition behind them remains fierce. The pack of racers from fifth place (Jérémie Beyou) to eleventh (Yannick Bestaven), in which Boris Herrmann is tightly nestled, is sailing in close proximity, with all seven boats expected to round Cape Horn today. Among them, Boris Herrmann stands out as the most seasoned sailor in these waters, with six prior passages of the legendary cape under his belt. 

With less than 30% of the race remaining, Boris Herrmann is now turning north, signaling the start of the home stretch. Reflecting on recent challenges, he remarked: “The last days in the Pacific were tough – hard work tacking against the wind in really difficult conditions. I’m glad to be done with the Pacific. I’ve had enough. It was challenging, and I’m done. It was okay, but enough is enough.”

However, the Atlantic won’t offer much respite. “The next two weeks will be very complicated as we head north, mostly upwind”, explains the 

 skipper. “It feels like a slap in the face. The forecast is like, ‘Haha, you think you’ve done the worst, but now we’ll show you what can come.’ The South Atlantic can be really, really nasty. We’ve seen that in the last Ocean Race. I need to prepare myself mentally for the next big mountain to climb.”

Whilst crossing the longitude of Cape Horn and advancing from the Pacific into the Atlantic, Boris Herrmann explains: “I am ready for something new. For me, this transition will materialise in improved living conditions, which are very complicated at the moment. This should signal a little break – 24 hours of lighter wind conditions – and I am very much looking forward to it. It is much needed, as the South Atlantic will demand a lot from us, with two big low-pressure systems forecast.”

In a race like the Vendée Globe, celebrating little as well as big milestones is incredibly important. Looking back, the fleet has had some awful conditions and the speeds show how there must have been little time to rest. So, to celebrate this great milestone, the exit of the Pacific and the 24 hours of calm before the storm, Boris Herrmann will now celebrate with a glass of champagne and a few winks of sleep. “After that, we’ll make our way north to the Falklands and further onwards into the challenging conditions we expect starting tomorrow evening.”

: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, and Kuehne+Nagel. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions. 

This Saturday, Boris Herrmann crossed the longitude of the infamous Cape Horn at 10:51 UTC after 47 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds of racing in his second Vendée Globe. Having passed the third of the race's three major capes in 7th place, the Team Malizia skipper celebrates his seventh Cape Horn rounding, a milestone that also marks his exit of the Pacific and that is he now on the home stretch. 

Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann Rounds Iconic Cape Horn In Vendée Globe Solo Race

This Monday morning, Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann reached yet another milestone in the Vendée Globe 2024-2025. Currently racing in 7th place against 35 remaining competitors, he passed near Point Nemo, the place furthest from any land. The German solo sailor celebrated this key passage at 06:43 UTC after approximately 42 days, 18 hours, and 36 minutes at sea.

this Monday 23 December 2024 at approximately 06:43 UTC. Located in the Pacific Ocean at 48°52.6 South, 123°23.6 West, Point Nemo is the 

on Earth. This iconic location takes its name from the solitude-loving captain in Jules Verne’s 

 and represents a key moment for round-the-world offshore sailors, especially those competing 

Also known as the “oceanic pole of inaccessibility”, Point Nemo is located about 2,688 kilometers from Ducie Island, which is part of the Pitcairn Islands, a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean with a population of just 35. While passing Point Nemo, Boris Herrmann found himself closer to 

 of the International Space Station, orbiting just 416 kilometers above Earth, than to any other humans (aside from some of his Vendée Globe competitors). This remarkable location also holds significance for space exploration, serving as the designated crash site for decommissioned spacecraft and satellites due to its extreme isolation.

Despite its untouched appearance, Point Nemo is far from a thriving hub of biodiversity. Known as a 

, its waters are low in nutrients, offering minimal support for marine life. As a result, Vendée Globe fans shouldn’t expect sightings of dolphins or whales in photos of the sailors near this desolate stretch of Ocean in the coming days.

, Boris Herrmann has sailed through this remote location of the world multiple times. It is also his second time onboard 

, having previously crossed the longitude of Point Nemo during Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022–2023 with a crew on the same yacht. In the last edition of the Vendée Globe, the German skipper reached this point on his 51st day at sea. Today, he passed it after 

, underscoring the increased competitiveness of this race compared to the previous one.

Over the past days, Boris Herrmann has been racing in unstable Southern Ocean conditions, jibing along the Antarctic Exclusion Zone. On Saturday evening, the Team Malizia skipper overtook

 from the French sailor who won the last edition of the race. The encounter was a memorable moment for both sailors and fans, as the boats crossed each other's paths closely in the middle of the Pacific. Their mutual joy showcased true seamanship and resulted in a series of captivating photos and videos. 

at sea, a first for the German, and a few hours of match racing between the two skippers, Boris Herrmann is now laser-focused on closing the gap to 

, currently in sixth and fifth place, respectively. Adding an extra layer of motivation, Boris Herrmann is charging toward his favorite cape, which he will round for the seventh time: 

: Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, and Zurich Group Germany. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.

Competitors up close in the middle of the southern Pacific Ocean: Yannick Bestaven on 

All is good onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer in the Vendée Globe 2024-2025

Boris Herrmann Passes Point Nemo, The Most Remote Location In The Ocean

This Thursday afternoon, Boris Herrmann crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin at 16:22 UTC after 

32 days, 4 hours, 20 minutes, and 54 seconds of racing in his second Vendée Globe. Having passed the second of the race's three major capes in 10th place, the Team Malizia skipper celebrates this milestone while keeping his sights set on reaching his favorite cape, Cape Horn, by January 1st.

12 December 2024, Cape Leeuwin longitude, Southern Ocean - 

“Hello everyone! Another memorable moment onboard 

 in a video sent minutes ago from the Southern Ocean as he is racing on Day 32 of the 

 adds: "You know what this means. If the rhum bottle comes out, it means that we have passed a major cape." 

Pointing at a vertical line on his computer screen, he explains: "This line goes all the way north to the southwesternmost tip of Australia, to 

. And we passed it exactly on December 12th, at 16:22 UTC. This is second out of the three big capes to round in the Vendée Globe: Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn which is next. We are just passing the corner of the ice gate’s "Australian bump", as I call it.” 

Boris Herrmann rounded Cape of Good Hope ten days ago but he feels differently about reaching this new milestone today, after 32 days, 4 hours, 20 minutes, and 54 seconds at sea and in 

 out of 38 competitors still in the race. “C

ape Leeuwin feels more significant than Cape of Good Hope”, he explains. “That is because it feels like we are almost halfway through the Southern Ocean, and now the Vendée Globe appears gradually in a different perspective: a bit over two weeks and we might be rounding Cape Horn and out of the thick of this Vendée Globe. Things appear more manageable in terms of being almost halfway through.”

, and I just did a routing for fun and it seems possible that I will reach it on time, maybe even a bit earlier, let’s see.” 

He adds: “Thank you all for your support, it's a great success for Team Malizia to be here. Massive thanks to the team, to our partners, and to everyone that makes this possible. We have a reliable boat, we are in mostly full capacity with the boat. I'm feeling great, and more than ready to tackle the next cape!”

The German solo sailor has been enjoying 

the past days at sea, describing them as grey but beautiful Southern Ocean days with flat seas, and being able to do some fast reaching with the J2 and one reef along the Australian “buckle” of the 

earlier today. However, the Southern Ocean is notorious for its powerful low pressure systems and Boris Herrmann is keeping his eye on one coming next week: “

We have a major storm coming up on Monday south of New Zealand, potentially with strong winds up to 45-50 knots! So wish us luck next Monday when you go to the office! And keep following. We are almost halfway around the globe, and here's a cheer to Cape Leeuwin!”

This Thursday afternoon, Boris Herrmann crossed the longitude of Cape Leeuwin at 16:22 UTC after 32 days, 4 hours, 20 minutes, and 54 seconds of racing in his second Vendée Globe. Having passed the second of the race's three major capes in 10th place, the Team Malizia skipper celebrates this milestone while keeping his sights set on reaching his favorite cape, Cape Horn, by January 1st.