Boris Herrmann started the twelfth edition of the Route du Rhum three days late. In bright sunshine off Saint-Malo in Brittany, 137 other single-handed sailors tackled the legendary transatlantic regatta in addition to the man from Hamburg – more than ever before.
The solo sailors, who are starting in six classes, set off at the same time on Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. on the 3,542 nautical miles (6,562 kilometers) long journey to Pointe-à-Pitre on Guadeloupe. The start of the record fleet, originally planned for last Sunday, had to be postponed due to a severe storm warning. The route first leads through the English Channel along the Brittany coast, Herrmann is expected to reach the open sea on Monday morning.
conditions have it all
The 41-year-old can expect challenging conditions, especially in the first half of the race. Especially since the native of Oldenburg has not yet tested his new high-tech boat “Malizia-Seaexplorer” from the Imoca class, which was only christened in September, and has not yet tested it under extreme conditions. “Now I’m at 40 percent,” said Herrmann: “We don’t know what will happen, what will break, who will do what.”
Accordingly, the experienced offshore sailor does not feel any pressure to deliver a top ranking. “It’s all about the further development of the boat and the arrival,” said the native of Oldenburg, who finished fifth at his Route du Rhum premiere four years ago with the predecessor. “If I can get to the other side, it’s a big win for me and the team. And if we’re even better than, say, 15th, I’m happy and I’ll accept it.”
Herrmann wants to arrive in less than 14 days
He wants to make the long journey to the Caribbean in less than 14 days. If he finishes, he will already qualify for his second Vendée Globe participation in 2024/2025 – then with a well-engineered boat. At his premiere, only a collision with a fishing trawler just before the finish prevented him from even better than fifth place.
For the fastest trimaran giants in the Ultim class, the leap across the pond will only take about a week. Favorite is Ocean Race winner Charles Caudrelier on the “Maxi Edmond de Rothschild”. The “Macsf” skipper Isabelle Joschke, who was born in Munich and lives in France, also started under the German-French flag in the “Queen of the Transats” on the Route du Rhum. Like Herrmann, she is fighting for a top result in the Imoca class, in which long-term winner Charlie Dalin (France) is the top favorite with “Apivia”.
Ocean Race in January the next big goal
The next challenge for Herrmann is already on January 15, 2023: Herrmann will then be sailing in the Ocean Race for the first time. The most important team race around the world with a flying visit to the Kiel Fjord leads around the world in seven stages. “In the Ocean Race we should then also be in a position to approach the race in a competition-oriented manner. We’re all looking forward to that,” said the Hamburg native.
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sports club | 11/13/2022 | 10:50 p.m
