Finishing in early morning rain, German skipper Boris Herrmann added to his growing list of solo Transatlantic successes today when he took second place in the IMOCA class on the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum Destination, the solo ocean sprint from Saint Malo to Guadeloupe. Herrmann crossed the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre at 08:10.36 hrs UTC (04:10.36 hrs local) finishing 1d 2hrs 56m 27s behind the runaway French winner Corentin Horeau (MACSF).
Concluding his first solo race on his new Malizia 4, just launched in July, Herrmann demonstrated impressive performance among the race’s 22 starters. His journey to the finish showcased his sailing expertise, as he maintained a strong position throughout the race despite initial doubts about his competitiveness due to limited recent solo race experience.
Herrmann’s race statistics provide a clear picture of his achievement: he finished with an elapsed time of 10d 20h 08m 36s and travelled 3887.29 nautical miles at an average speed of 14.494 knots. His experience and preparation paid off as he navigated challenging conditions, managing to hold his position against formidable competitors.
After securing back-to-back second places in 2024’s solo races to and from the USA, his result today marks his best-ever finish on the Route du Rhum course, a race steeped in history that holds significant value to him. The 45-year-old Hamburg native has an ambitious racing schedule ahead, with Malizia 4 already having participated in a crewed Transatlantic in August.
Over the course of the race, Herrmann capitalised on his extensive experience, overtaking heavily favoured competitors like Sam Goodchild. His consistent performance in varying conditions ensured he maintained his second position right through to the finish.
Before the Route du Rhum commenced, many considered Herrmann an outsider for the podium due to the lack of recent competitive solo races and the new boat’s unfamiliarity. However, he once again proved his reliability in solo racing, successfully managing both himself and his equipment.
The performance of Malizia 4 was a testament to the improvements made over his previous IMOCA, indicating a promising future for Herrmann as he prepares for his third consecutive Vendée Globe. His results in the Route du Rhum reaffirm his status as a serious contender in ocean racing.
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