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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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Malizia - Seaexplorer skippered by 29-year-old Briton Will Harris arrived in Cape Town at 15:16:49 UTC on 12 February in fourth position after an elapsed time of 17 days 21 hours 6 minutes and 49 seconds, marking the end of a second leg of The Ocean Race which was full of suspense.

, Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia took an 

 in Cape Town, crossing the finish line this Sunday afternoon only 2 hours and 6 minutes behind Leg 2 winner Team Holcim-PRB.

 said: “Everyone raced their hearts from the word ‘Go’, but the result was down to a bit of luck. In the end it wasn’t the 6500 racing miles that counted, it was the last 100 that did. We tried a different option, aiming to go for glory rather than nothing at all, and in the end it didn’t pay off unfortunately. The winners must have sailed a great race to get to the finish.” 

On taking the role of skipper earlier on than planned, the British sailor added: “The great thing about this leg was to have a really good team. I know the crew very well, and thanks to Rosalin’s energy, Nico’s navigational skills, Yann’s experience and Antoine’s humour we had a great spirit onboard. Even after a slow start we stayed motivated, we kept pushing, we didn’t let it get us down, and we managed to come back into the lead, leading almost all the way to the finish. For sure my learning curve was very steep in terms of responsibility. It’s a lot of boat, we have to do a lot of miles with it and I was definitely nervous and cautious at times, wanting to look after it, but the crew made it really easy and I enjoyed the experience.”

Off to a slow start in Cabo Verde, Team Malizia suffered early on from not having their spinnaker in the light to moderate downwind conditions. This coupled with a furler issue requiring a mast climb by 

 left them trailing the leading team by as much as 180 nautical miles. Knowing that the 

 lay ahead with some opportunities to regain the lost miles, the team placed themselves 

, resulting in a quicker passage and allowing them to catch up.

around the bottom of the infamous Saint Helena high pressure

, Team Malizia first encountered the north side of a South Atlantic low pressure the team

was able to keep their speed up in the fast conditions to pull themselves back into the pack and eventually 

into the lead following a series of perfectly timed gybes

The unusually disturbed South Atlantic weather meant the quickest route to Cape Town would take them all the way south to the ice gate. Another perfectly timed gybe by Team Malizia put them into an 

directly between their competitors and the finish. At this point it looked as if the race was theirs but unfortunately a ridge of light winds was blocking their way to Cape Town about 500 nautical miles from the finish. Team Malizia placed themselves slightly further south of the fleet

 hoping to take advantage of the increased pressure

. This strategy was working perfectly until the very last miles of the race where the 

Up until the last hours of the leg it was anybody's race to win and Team Malizia unfortunately lost on this occasion. Despite their fourth place finish, the team are in 

 the boat is fast and their strategic decisions proved themselves

. They were unlucky on this occasion, however, the race is not yet over. In Leg 3 the lap of the Southern Ocean counts for double points, the team will be sailing in conditions best suited to 

 said: “The last hours of the race weren’t in our favour but the team fought on. We are so proud of them and this great racing and even though we’d have loved them to win - we couldn’t have asked for more. They pushed till the end, took us on this journey with them and also showcased the amazing sport of sailing engaging people around the world. The final score is fourth but they won in many ways. Will taking over as skipper showcased his talent as a leader and he made the team proud. To come back from 5th, take the lead, and maintain the energy and spirit of the team is amazing! This is only Leg 2 and there is still a long way until the Grand Finale in Genoa. We have learnt a lot and we will come back to Leg 3 even stronger. I am excited to be back on board with crew for the next leg which will start on 26 February.”

 Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, and EFG International strongly supported the team throughout Leg 2, sending encouraging messages to the crew. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its 

A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!

 mission, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.

Team Malizia's sailing crew for Leg 2 as they arrived in Cape Town, from left to right: Yann Eliès, Will Harris, Nico Lunven, Rosalin Kuiper, Antoine Auriol

Team Malizia's sailing crew for Leg 2 as they arrived in Cape Town, from left to right: Yann Eliès, Will Harris, Nico Lunven, Rosalin Kuiper, Antoine Auriol © Alec Smith / The Ocean Race