Thrilling finale on the king’s stage in the Ocean Race: Boris Herrmann’s Malizia and Holcim – PRB fight for victory. Arrival is expected on Sunday or Monday.
It has been 33 days since the Imoca fleet left Cape Town and made the long journey to the stage destination in Itajai/Brazil. And then this: A few days before arrival, the top duo Holcim – PRB and Malizia – Seaexplorer separate about one and a half nautical miles. For a long time, Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann and his crew were able to just about maintain their lead in front of Kevin Escoffier’s Swiss team, which won all three previous rankings – but never outpaced the stubborn opponent. Holcim is now a hair’s breadth ahead.
Partially within sight, the top duo is struggling for the prestigious triumph on the king’s stage. “This is so crazy after 12,000 nautical miles,” said Malizia co-skipper Rosalin Kuiper. And the fight goes on, at least for a little longer. After a three-quarter lap around the southern hemisphere, the two top boats still have 680 nautical miles to master.
Herrmann is expecting a lot of wind and is hoping for a lead
In the showdown, Herrmann relies on conditions that suit the good strong wind properties of his robust Malizia. “Over the course of today, the high pressure area will disappear. A low pressure area will come from land. We’re expecting quite a lot of wind. We hope that we can gain a lead again,” said the man from Hamburg on Friday. The 41-year-old’s hope is “that on Sunday, when the wind gets lighter again towards the finish line, we’ll have a few miles ahead and then finish first”.
Many difficulties, but also feelings of happiness
That would be an outstanding achievement anyway, but even more so when you consider the difficulties the boat under the German flag has had in recent weeks. First the team lost the large headsail, which can only be repaired in Brazil, then they had to repair a long tear in the mast in a spectacular repair operation and finally Kuiper was thrown out of the berth so violently in the raging sea that she suffered a laceration and a sustained concussion. Cape Horn nevertheless rounded the Malizia as the first boat. There were no points for this, but the “Roaring Forties Trophy” and lots of happiness.
Kuiper is doing better now, Herrmann reported on Friday. For days, the native of Oldenburg and co-skipper Will Harris have been taking turns sailing, an additional strain as both get little sleep. The Dutchwoman also sailed a bit recently, but had to give up. “I’m exhausted and still sleeping a lot,” she said.
11th Hour Racing and Biotherm with a big deficit
Regardless of all the hurdles, the focus is on the finale in the sailing thriller. It will probably remain a duel, 11th Hour Racing and Biotherm can hardly intervene in the top duel with a deficit of around 300 and 400 nautical miles.
Herrmann even spoke to his competitor Escoffier via radio: “Kevin also seems to be in a good mood and relaxed. We have a certain sympathy for each other.” In the gripping head-to-head race, the four-time circumnavigator is still considering reaching into his bag of tricks: “Just to check: can we throw banana peels?” tweeted the skipper with a wink – and posted a picture of Holcim – PRB close.
This topic in the program:
sports club | 04/02/2023 | 10:50 p.m
