The valuable knowledge gained during the Défi Azimut complements Herrmann’s experience from his first Vendée Globe race and numerous other competitions. He finished fifth in the last Vendée Globe in 2020/2021, making him the first German participant in this race to make a mark. The insights, notched up in over 80 days at sea and including challenging repairs on board, flowed into the design his new boat. The new Malizia – Seaexplorer is a symbiosis of state-of-the-art technology and lessons learned in the southern seas, where the sailor had to battle bitterly challenging weather conditions.

More than just a race: driven by the mission of climate protection

The Vendée Globe is more than just a sporting adventure for Team Malizia. Since 2018, the “A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!” campaign has been at the centre of the team’s mission. On board, the Malizia includes a scientific laboratory to collect important data on CO₂ levels, temperature and salinity of the ocean, all of which is valuable information for climate research from the remotest parts of the world which is rarely collected. In this race, Herrmann will also use a drifter buoy to gather even more research data and focus on climate protection.

The crucial phase kicks off now: the final preparations are underway, the boat has been trimmed for maximum performance, equipment has been organised and tactics have been planned in detail. Boris has embraced the philosophy that “80 percent of a race is won on land” and is more than ready to face the elements. We wish the team every success and hope that they can build on their previous successes in the tenth edition of the Vendée Globe.

Fans and supporters can follow the race live on the Team Malizia website: https://www.team-malizia.com/live