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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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Boris Herrmann and Will Harris will compete as co-skippers onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer in the upcoming Transat Jacques Vabre race later this year. It will be the second participation of the Team Malizia sailors in the 30-year old transatlantic race which is also known as “The Coffee Route”.

Monaco, 4 July 2023 - Team Malizia’s crew

 will compete in the famous transatlantic race this fall onboard their 

 that the duo will sail this race after their participation in 2019, when Will Harris just joined Team Malizia. 

For the 30-year anniversary of the race, over 

 (Class 40, Ocean Fifty, IMOCA, Ultim) are expected on the start line of the race that will see them sail from 

 in Normandie, France, to Fort-de-France on the French island of 

Since the first Transat Jacques Vabre participation in 2019, Team Malizia has achieved many milestones: Boris Herrmann finished in 

. Boris Herrmann and Will Harris are currently in 

 with the rest of the team, for the first time with the new 

 its achievements in the iconic crewed round-the-world race with friends, family and partners.

“Will and I have sailed the Transat Jacques Vabre 2019 and I am very much looking forward to coming back with him, on our new boat 

. “This time, it will be a different route, not to Salvador in Brazil but to Martinique. For the first time, we will confront some of the new boats in the IMOCA class that I will compete against in the Vendée Globe next year. Having sailed around the world with Will, and him having skippered the boat in two legs of The Ocean Race, he is the best pick as co-skipper for this race. I’m really excited to do this with him.”

, with 37,201 nautical miles covered in the iconic Ocean Race alone. Boris Herrmann and Will Harris will therefore enter the competition with a boat that they 

. During Leg 5 of The Ocean Race, Team Malizia has also 

broken the 24-hour distance record in a monohull

“I’m really happy to be announcing that I will do the Transat Jacques Vabre with Boris at the end of this year”, commented 

. “This race marks me joining the team four years ago when I did it with Boris in 2019 and became a Malizian. It’s been a great journey with the team so far, and this race is going to be a fantastic training for Boris ahead of the Vendée Globe next year. With everything we’ve learned from having sailed around the world in The Ocean Race, I think we can really put a strong entry into it and I’m looking forward to seeing how we will do. It’s going to be a good race, good to sail against a lot of other IMOCAs, and I think we have gained a lot of good experience in the last six months that will give us a good advantage.”

Sailing in a crew of four sailors and an onboard reporter might not be a mode for upcoming races, but Team Malizia’s Ocean Race sailors will still get to see each other. 

 for the Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 onboard 

, and it will be a pleasure for Boris Herrmann and Will Harris to not only see their favourite navigator but also compete against “The Brain” across the Atlantic. Dutch sailor 

, who had always planned to stay with Team Malizia in the longer term, is hoping to find a spot on a boat for the race too. 

 is working in the team on electronics and performance, and

 will continue to work on his documentary for French TV. Until fall, Team Malizia’s sailors and shore crew will take a well-deserved 

A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!

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

: EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, and 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. 

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris after winning the final leg of The Ocean Race in Genova just over a week ago

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris after winning the final leg of The Ocean Race in Genova just over a week ago © Ricardo Pinto / Team Malizia

Boris Herrmann (left) and Will Harris (right) in the cockpit of their race yacht that they know in and out after having raced a full lap around the world

Boris Herrmann (left) and Will Harris (right) in the cockpit of their race yacht that they know in and out after having raced a full lap around the world © Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia

The Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 will be the second time the pair participates in the race

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris have both skippered Malizia - Seaexplorer during The Ocean Race

Boris Herrmann and Will Harris have both skippered 

Team Malizia's sailors onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer in Newport last May

Malizia - Seaexplorer arriving in Monaco for the first time

Team Malizia and the third place trophy of The Ocean Race as they arrived in Monaco yesterday

Team Malizia and the third place trophy of The Ocean Race as they arrived in Monaco yesterday © Mesi / Yacht Club de Monaco / Team Malizia