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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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The renowned rope manufacturer Gleistein and the successful German sailor Boris Herrmann, together with his Team Malizia, announce their future collaboration.

17 January 2025, Bremen - With two centuries of history at its founding location in Bremen-Nord, Gleistein produces 

 designed to meet the highest demands – exactly what passionate climate advocate and multiple Vendée Globe competitor Boris Herrmann needs. He grew up less than 20 nautical miles from Gleistein’s research and production site. Now his Team Malizia and the rope experts are joining forces - a perfect connection. 

Boris Herrmann is currently taking on the Vendée Globe – the toughest single-handed, non-stop regatta around the world. In this ultimate endurance test for both people and equipment, every one of the roughly 4,000 metres of rope on a fully equipped IMOCA is crucial. Gleistein already has multiple Vendée Globe campaigns under its belt. The Danish Olympic team, too, has relied on their ropes to achieve victories for many years, and Italy’s Sugar III continues to secure one ORC championship title after another. It’s for these reasons that, 

, Herrmann and his team will place their trust in Gleistein’s ropes.

“The partnership with Gleistein strengthens our mission to inspire people to commit to a healthier planet through innovation and dedication”, comments 

. “Gleistein’s use of modern technologies and the development of tailored solutions using sustainable raw materials are key elements that align perfectly with our campaign. Together, we demonstrate that progress and ecological responsibility can go hand in hand.

Boris Herrmann pairs his sporting ambitions with a constant mission: 

. On his races, he gathers data for climate research. “Boris Herrmann inspires with his dedication to our planet and is an outstanding sailor. His achievements at the Vendée Globe show what passion, endurance, and courage can achieve,” says 

 of Gleistein, who looks forward to announcing the partnership with Team Malizia this weekend at boot Düsseldorf.

A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!

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

: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International,  Zurich Group Germany, and Kuehne+Nagel. 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, skipper of Team Malizia © Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia

Malizia - Seaexplorer during the Défi Azimut 2023

Tying The Knot - Gleistein And Team Malizia Announce Partnership

Der renommierte Seilhersteller Gleistein und der erfolgreiche deutsche Segler Boris Herrmann mit seinem Team Malizia geben ihre künftige Zusammenarbeit bekannt.

 - Mit 200-jähriger Geschichte am Gründungsort Bremen-Nord fertigt Gleistein 

 für höchste Ansprüche – und die kann der leidenschaftliche Klimaschützer und mehrfache Vendée-Globe-Teilnehmer Boris Herrmann gut gebrauchen. Keine 20 Seemeilen vom Entwicklungs- und Produktionsstandort entfernt ist er aufgewachsen. Jetzt bündeln sein Team Malizia und die Tauwerkprofis ihre Kräfte. Eine perfekte Verbindung! 

Boris Herrmann, kämpft sich gerade bei der Vendée Globe, der härtesten Einhandregatta der Welt, ohne Zwischenstopp um den Globus. Bei diesem ultimativen Härtetest für Mensch und Material kommt es auf jeden der rund 4000 Meter Seil an Bord einer voll ausgerüsteten IMOCA 60 an. Auch Gleistein bringt bereits mehrfache Vendée-Globe-Erfahrung mit, aber auch das dänische Olympia-Team siegt schon seit vielen Jahren mit Gleisteins Seilen und die italienische Sugar III holt eine ORC-Meisterschaft nach der anderen. Deshalb setzen Herrmann und sein Team 

“Die Partnerschaft mit Gleistein stärkt unsere Mission, durch Innovation und Engagement Menschen zu inspirieren, sich für einen gesünderen Planeten einzusetzen”, kommentiert 

. “Gleisteins Einsatz moderner Technologien und die Entwicklung maßgeschneiderter Lösungen mithilfe nachhaltiger Rohstoffe sind entscheidende Elemente, die perfekt zu unserer Kampagne passen. Gemeinsam zeigen wir, dass Fortschritt und ökologische Verantwortung Hand in Hand gehen können.”

Boris Herrmann verbindet seinen sportlichen Anspruch mit einer andauernden Mission: 

. Auf seinen Reisen sammelt er Messdaten für die Klimaforschung. “Boris Herrmann inspiriert mit seinem Engagement für unsere Erde und ist ein herausragender Segler. Seine Erfolge bei der Vendée Globe zeigen, was mit Leidenschaft, Ausdauer und Mut möglich ist”, sagt 

von Gleistein und freut sich, die Partnerschaft am Wochenende auf der boot in Düsseldorf gemeinsam mit Team Malizia bekannt zu geben.

Die Mission von Team Malizia „A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!“ ist nur dank des starken und langfristigen Engagements seiner sieben Hauptpartner möglich: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd,  Schütz, Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Gruppe Deutschland und Kuehne+Nagel. Diese Partner stehen hinter Team Malizia und unterstützen die Kampagne, wobei jeder von ihnen in seinem eigenen Bereich Projekte vorantreibt, um innovative Klimaschutz-Lösungen zu entwickeln.

Boris Herrmann, Skipper von Team Malizia © Antoine Auriol / Team Malizia

Gleistein und Team Malizia kündigen Partnerschaft an

 - This morning, on Thursday 16 January 2025, Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann informed his team and race management about serious damage to the port foil of his 

 racing yacht following a collision with an OANI (abbreviation of a French term for “unidentified object or animal” used when the skipper does not know what he collided with). The incident happened at 02:31 UTC during the night as Boris Herrmann was sailing in the Vendée Globe race in the North Atlantic at 10°N and 37°W, approximately 900 nautical miles off the northeast coast of Brazil, and 13,7 knots boat speed. Boris Herrmann is safe and unharmed. After initial inspection of the boat, the German skipper reported severe damage to the port foil. The rest of the boat has no obvious damage and he is able to continue sailing.

After inspection it was clear that the damage is not repairable and the foil rendered unusable. On discussing the situation with his team they agreed if left in place, it could likely compromise the integrity of the hull and the safety of the boat. The team is currently assessing whether, given the extent of the damage and its location, it is feasible to move the foil, to retract it as much as possible, and to keep it secured until the finish. Should this not be safe or possible, Boris Herrmann would be left with no choice but to try to cut the foil from the boat. The team is looking at every option to keep the foil and would only decide to cut it off as a last resort.

However the situation unfolds, Boris Herrmann is hopeful to finish the race, as we have seen with Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil) who lost a foil early on in the Vendée Globe and managed to continue. Losing the use of a foil is a handicap in terms of performance but luckily with a lot of port tack to the finish, the starboard foil will be the one in use for a lot of the rest of the race. This is another setback for the German sailor but securing the boat and continuing to finish the race is the main goal now for the resilient skipper. 

“It’s a another difficult day today”, he said to his team. “But it can always be worse, the boat is safe and I’m unharmed and we keep going. We keep trying our best, as always.”

: Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, and Zurich Group Germany. 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 has reported significant damage to the port foil of Malizia - Seaexplorer following a collision with an OANI (abbreviation of a French term for “unidentified object or animal” used when the skipper does not know what he collided with) at 02:31 UTC. The incident occurred approximately 900 nautical miles off Brazil’s northeast coast while sailing at 13.7 knots. Boris is safe and unharmed, and the boat remains seaworthy.

This 16 January 2025, Boris Herrmann reported a broken port foil onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer in Vendée Globe race

Boris Herrmann Reports Broken Port Foil Onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer In Vendée Globe Race

 - After reporting significant damage to the port foil of his 

 race yacht this Thursday while he was racing in the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, Boris Herrmann has conducted repairs and secured his damaged foil. Following the incident, the boat remained seaworthy, although it was essential to take care of the damaged foil as, if left in place, it could likely compromise the integrity of the hull and the safety of the boat.

Upon acknowledging that the foil was damaged beyond repair, Boris Herrmann and his Team Malizia were hoping to find a solution that would keep the foil attached to the boat and not have to force the German skipper to cut it as a last resort. This afternoon, Boris Herrmann sent some good news from onboard along with videos: “We are back on a north-northwest course, sailing as close to the wind as possible. The port foil is 80% retracted. I used the grinder to cut away a bit of the damaged foil skin on both sides, allowing me to retract the foil. It didn’t fully retract, but at least to 80%, which enabled me to stabilise the movement of the weakened and broken foil with a line secured at the front and back.”

He continues: “This line setup is still a work in progress. The rear line has already come loose again, but the front one is holding up well. At the moment, it’s limiting the foil’s movement quite effectively. For now, I’ll have something to eat and then stop the boat again, bear away from the wind, and try to secure the rear line somehow. That’s not easy because the front of the foil is rounded, and the line keeps slipping backwards.”

“So far, so good”, he adds. “I think we’ll be able to make it to the finish without major difficulties. We certainly can’t sail particularly fast, as the foil will act up, but I think a maximum speed of 12–13 knots should be achievable. We’ll have to see how we manage these slower speeds if we encounter strong winds. It’s not an ideal situation, but we’re doing our best. If the foil allows, I’ll sail as fast as possible.”

After reporting significant damage to the port foil of his Malizia - Seaexplorer race yacht this Thursday while he was racing in the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, Boris Herrmann has conducted repairs and secured his damaged foil.

Boris Herrmann has conducted repairs and secured his damaged foil onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer

Team Malizia’s Skipper Boris Herrmann Secures Broken Foil And Resumes Racing In Vendée Globe

This Monday evening, Team Malizia’s skipper Boris Herrmann crossed the Equator and returned to the Northern Hemisphere, ticking off one of the last milestones along the Vendée Globe race course. Sailing over the virtual line in 9th place, the German sailor stays focussed on the 3,200 nautical miles remaining and the battle to break into the top five.

 yesterday evening, on 13 January 2025 at 23:32 UTC, after having raced 64 days, 11 hours, 30 minutes, and 30 seconds in the 

 marks the final leg of his journey in the solo, non-stop, unassisted, round-the-world race, which has taken him across the Equator into the Southern Hemisphere, past three major capes (Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn), past the remote Point Nemo, and again across the Equator back into the Northern Hemisphere. 

“We're passing the Equator, under a beautiful moonlight”, Boris Herrmann said in his toast to Neptune, a tradition for sailors as they sail across the imaginary line. “And therefore, I serve you. A bit of rhum to the boat, a bit of rhum to the Ocean. To a good Northern Hemisphere, please! I’ll give you an extra one if you let me through with less trouble! All right, Malizia, here we go, Northern Hemisphere! First night that it's decent here. We just accelerated. Cheers everyone!”

Since entering the Southern Hemisphere on November 22, 2024, Boris Herrmann has spent 52 days navigating its challenging waters.

 After racing over three-quarters of the Vendée Globe with minimal issues, the past week had been challenging for the German solo sailor who faced an arbalète issue, a nearby lightning strike which damaged several systems onboard, and a broken J2 hook, which prevented him using his most important headsail. Far from being discouraged, Boris Herrmann managed two mast climbs despite his fear of heights, successfully repaired both his rigging issues, and brought crucial systems back to life. 

Even though that led him to losing some nautical miles and to now sail in 9th position, the 

skipper is in good spirits and stays focussed on what lies ahead. 

Now, with 3,200 nautical miles remaining, he is on the home stretch to Les Sables d’Olonne. Despite 

) having won the race this morning and impressively breaking the race record by over 9 days, the competition remains intense. Boris Herrmann is fully focused on the final push, aiming to improve his position and potentially break into the 

This Sunday afternoon, Boris Herrmann had also crossed his own wake from earlier in the Vendée Globe, completing his loop in the Southern Hemisphere. On top of that, 

 – an amazing achievement for Team Malizia, with their boat having now sailed the equivalent of over 4,5 laps around the world.

While the end of his second Vendée Globe is near, Boris Herrmann remains determined, embracing every mile with the same grit and passion that has carried him through this remarkable race. He is showing no signs of slowing down as he pushes through this final stretch, fighting for every nautical mile until the finish.

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

Watch the video sent by Boris Herrmann during the Equator crossing 

Home stretch for Boris Herrmann in the Vendée Globe

Home Stretch in the Vendée Globe: Boris Herrmann Is Back In Northern Hemisphere And Reaches New Milestone

Another problem solved: Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann has successfully completed the repairs needed to use his J2 sail again. As his most frequently used headsail, restoring it was critical for the German skipper to stay competitive after a broken hook rendered the sail unusable. With less than 4,000 miles remaining in the round-the-world Vendée Globe race, the successful repair, amidst an already strenuous week for the solo sailor, comes as a huge relief.

 a challenging mast climb and repair, allowing him to resume sailing on his J2 headsail. The operation took several hours to prepare and execute but was critical in ensuring his 

 racing yacht remained competitive until the finish of the 

Yesterday morning, Boris Herrmann noticed that the 

 of his J2 headsail had broken. The sail was safe on deck and the integrity of the mast was not at risk, but unless he could create a system to attach his J2, the German

skipper would have had to manage the remaining two weeks or so of the race without his most important headsail. 

“All the IMOCA boats have by rule a fixed stay, which is a J2 stay”, 

 “Everyone lashes the J2 at the top and the bottom. In the last Vendée Globe, there were a lot of J2 issues and people needed to climb, having a hard time getting them back down and back up to repair them. So after discussion with the IMOCA class, we got permission to develop a hook to get the sail down in case of a problem. We did that over two years ago and have had it since. We discussed that we would only use it in the Vendée Globe if it's reliable and we didn’t have any problems. But nothing compares to the Vendée Globe. The Vendée puts more strain on the boat and now the hook broke, and the J2 slid down the stay, which was still in place.”

After having to climb the mast and the boat being struck by lightning earlier this week, the challenges had been piling up for Boris Herrmann, who, nevertheless tried to stay focussed on finding a solution. After consulting with his team on shore, who worked tirelessly all morning to find a viable solution, a detailed repair plan was made and shared with Boris Herrmann. He spent most of his day preparing himself, his gear, and tools for the

 necessary to put his J2 back up, all while doing short naps and sailing on his J3 sail. 

Despite the sea state, the growing darkness, and his fear of heights, Boris Herrmann was determined to execute the repair as soon as possible. He could have waited until he reached the doldrums to do the repair in a better sea state, but that would have meant losing more nautical miles to competitors such as Sam Goodchild (

). “The plan sounds pretty straightforward, but I’m not so ‘à l’aise’ (comfortable) with it. There’s always a bit of tension climbing in these conditions”, 

But anyway, we will try. Wish me luck.”

As the daylight had already faded, Boris Herrmann started the climb armed with a strobe light for visibility. “

I put up the sail with a halyard and then climbed up to lash the sail in various places”, 

. “In theory, very straightforward and easy, but it took me 3 hours to do everything, because everything takes longer alone on the boat. You need then to undo the sail at the bottom, winch it up 20 times, back and forward to winch a bit, put the zip down on the sail, close the zip that holds the sail around the head, stay, go back, winch up. Everything takes a very long time and then up the rig I had the difficulties to do my lashing correctly and it took me a while to find the perfect height for the sail.”

 Despite his unease, he managed to fix the halyard and ensure the J2 sail was securely in place.

The operation wasn’t without its complications. The J0 halyard had become tangled near the shroud, and Boris Herrmann anticipated having to do another climb in the 

. However, he managed to resolve the issue by climbing on the outrigger. “Job done, that’s good. All problems solved so far! Fingers crossed it stays up!”

Pumping with adrenaline and exhausted at the same time, Boris Herrmann reports that he fell asleep fairly quickly. “I don’t really have a routine for decompressing afterwards”, 

I haven't discussed it with anyone coaching-wise. The best way to get adrenaline out of the body is physical activity and motion and running actually. But I can't do that on the boat. I just sat down and I went fairly quickly to sleep. I actually called a few people afterwards and told them about the events. So that helped a bit.”

 and steaming ahead towards the Equator: “I felt relieved and tired. These things use up your energy. There was a lot of wind this morning so I went back on J3. The upcoming weather looks promising with the trade winds in play, which is nice. We still have quite a while before reaching the doldrums. However, the challenge is my position: I’m too far west, which means more headed than the boats further east. While others can hold a steady 20 knots, I’m managing at best 14, and most of the time around 13 or 12 knots. Conditions here in the west are tougher, and tacking now would essentially mean going backwards, which is hard to do mentally. This morning, my brain is busy thinking whether or not to tack eastward in search of more favorable conditions or to continue the slow battle here."

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

Another successful mast climb for Boris Herrmann (this photo was taken on Day 57) ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Watch the video sent by Boris Herrmann during the repair 

Boris Herrmann has successfully completed the repairs needed to use his J2 again

Boris Herrmann Back Sailing on His J2 After Successful Mast Climb and Repair

This Friday morning, Boris Herrmann noticed that the hook of his J2 headsail had broken. The sail is safe on deck and the integrity of the mast is not at risk, but unless he can create a new hook system, the Malizia - Seaexplorer skipper will have to manage the race without his most important headsail. After having to climb the mast and being struck by lightning earlier this week, the challenges have been piling up for the German solo sailor, who, nevertheless tries to stay focussed on finding a solution.

 "If the Vendée Globe was easy, many people would do it”, said a dispirited 

 this Friday morning in a video sent from onboard 

. After racing over three-quarters of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 with minimal issues, this week has been challenging for the German solo sailor who is now facing a 

which prohibits him using his most important headsail. “Hi everyone, it’s January 10th, 08:00 UTC, just after a beautiful sunrise”, said the 

in a video sent from on board a few minutes ago. “I had a good sleep and woke up because I heard some flapping. And in fact the hook of the J2 broke. Therefore, the J2 had slid partway down the forestay, and that ripped also the halyard for that sail.”

As a hook on a J2 sail is not the most common setup, 

 explains: “I'm the only boat with a hook mechanism. It was really me who wanted that for safety reasons, in case the sail broke. Ultimately, I feel it’s my responsibility to be in this situation but I really wanted this hook for added safety and that part broke. We could have just lashed it to the sail like everyone else at the top and then I wouldn't have this problem.” Other skippers have faced hook issues as well in this race. The J2 is a headsail that usually always stays up and supports the mast. When there is an issue with the J2, repairs are often difficult or in worst cases, damages can become very serious. With a hook mechanism, Boris Herrmann wanted to be able to bring down the sail for safety or repairs, with the stay cable still in place and holding the mast secure. Today, the hook broke but the stay has no damage, which means that the integrity of the mast is not at jeopardy. However, it means that Boris Herrmann cannot currently hoist one of his most used sails.

“So now I don't have a J2, it's down on the deck”, comments the 

. “I didn't feel capable of climbing and bringing it up in these conditions. Also I don't know exactly how to do it. The sail is now on deck, lashed, and I'm sailing J3 which is fine at the moment. I lost quite a few miles and probably 10-12 miles going downwind when I was sorting this out. I am not far from Thomas Ruyant, who has the same problem, he has no J2. So we are two companions with a similar problem.”

In close contact with the team, who can assist from shore when there is a technical issue, Boris Herrmann is trying to stay positive and focussing on finding a solution. “The ideal thing would be to hoist the sail”, 

. “That would mean I attach a halyard to the sail, like a halyard of one of the spinnakers, a masthead halyard, and then I would hoist the sail with that, loosen the sail at the bottom to get it high enough, lash it in the top to the swivel, the thing that turns, and then pull it tight at the bottom... All right, yeah, I think that's doable, but not easy. And probably need better conditions than this.”

After overcoming his fear of heights on Monday by 

and fixing a arbalète rigging issue, then being

 shortly after and managing to get crucial systems back to work, this event, on Day 61 of the race, 

. In order to hoist the J2 again Boris will have to climb the mast 

, on realising this he comments “This is pretty much a smack in the face because we had 70% of the remaining route under this sail. As long as I don’t manage to hoist it, we would be probably 30-40% slower I would say. So the question is, really, when can I hoist it? Is it possible maybe in the doldrums or if we get better sea state before and less swell? I would estimate at least I lose this whole pack, including Justine Mettraux, and that I slide down the ranking to 10th place. So the battle should be on to keep 10th place to the finish. Which will not be easy with Samantha Davies, Clarisse Crémer, and Benjamin Dutreux coming. But I will try.”

: the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, and Schütz. 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 noticed the flapping J2 due to its broken hook this morning on Day 61 of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

The J2 is intact and on deck until Boris Herrmann can repair and hoist it again ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Watch the video sent by Boris Herrmann about the J2 hook issue 

Boris Herrmann reports damage of the hook of his J2, limiting the use of his most headsail

Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann Reports Damage, Limiting Use Of His Most Important Headsail

It seemed impossible and yet it happened: After being struck by lightning in New York last May, Boris Herrmann’s Malizia - Seaexplorer has suffered damage to key systems from a nearby lightning strike. Whilst racing in 6th position during the Vendée Globe 2024-2025, the German skipper experienced on his most intense days of his life in relentless thunderstorms and torrential rain. Despite the chaos, he successfully navigated through the storm, restored some of the essential systems, and kept pushing forward in the round-the-world solo race.

 - “Yesterday was one of the craziest days I’ve ever had at sea”, says 

, who hasn’t had much rest since climbing the mast and fixing a rigging issue on his 

racing yacht on Monday afternoon. “It started with a massive front and relentless thunderstorms, unlike anything I’ve ever seen in all my years of sailing. It lasted all night and into the day, with pounding rain that I’ve never experienced before.” Currently racing in his second 

, the Team Malizia skipper was sailing near Cabo Frio off the coast of Brazil and heading towards the Equator when he encountered the storm. He explains in a video sent last night, on Day 58 of the round-the-world solo race: “The thunderstorms were intense, with lightning coming from all directions, waves crashing, and the boat struggling to stay upright. A few times, we were lying flat on the sea, and I got thrown around. Thankfully, nothing broke, until lightning struck close by.”

“Immediately, my screen started flashing, went black, and the autopilot shut off along with the instruments. Alarms were blaring, and the boat lost control, lying flat in the water. The wind picked up again, more thunder, more lightning, it was relentless. I think the sea really showed me its teeth yesterday. Whether it was the Vendée Globe or just the weather, it’s a day I won’t forget.” 

With minimal sleep, no time to eat, and adrenaline still pumping, the 

 reflects on this “day of the memories”: “Since then, I’ve been battling to recover. We’ve just come out of the front, and for the last half hour, I’ve finally had some north wind again. Earlier, the south wind made things nearly impossible. The boat could easily hit 30 knots if I wasn’t paying attention, and with the swell coming from the front, it was chaos. I realised I haven’t eaten properly since the mast climb, just a gel from my friend Thomas Theriult and some power snacks. Thankfully, I just managed to have dinner, which is the first proper meal in a while. From the most beautiful evening to the most horrendous weather, it all changed so quickly.” 

Challenging the old adage that lightning never strikes the same place twice, sailors, often guided by both science and tradition, know better than to dismiss such possibilities. Or perhaps the saying doesn't apply when "the place" is moving. After being struck by lightning in New York last May, 

has been unlucky once again, suffering damage from the lightning strike nearby. This time, fortunately, the damage is

than last time. However, quite a few of the electrical elements onboard are no longer functioning and will need to be repaired, swapped out for spares, or Boris will have to make do without. 

“Thanks to the shore team, we’ve been able to recover one autopilot with a working set of wind instruments, which is essential.”, explains 

. “However, a lot of systems are still down. The radar is broken, the main screen doesn’t work, I have no load sensors, no foil rake readings, and the keel system is partially manual now. But I can charge the batteries, use the water maker, and still have Oscar and one functional pilot.” 

Looking ahead to calmer waters, the Team Malizia skipper showcases resilience and knows that even though the storm has passed, the race is far from over: “Six months ago, we were hit by lightning in New York, which was catastrophic, everything was destroyed. This time, it’s not as bad as that, but it was still terrifying. I hope this is the last thunderstorm of the race! We’ll soon be tacking and heading northeast. After that, I’ll eat properly again and try to calm down enough to get some sleep. I still can’t believe what a crazy, crazy day it was. Wow. Just wow.”

: Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Hapag-Lloyd. 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's Malizia - Seaexplorer racing yacht

When Lightning Strikes Twice - Damaged Instruments Onboard For Team Malizia's Boris Herrmann in Vendée Globe

Team Malizia’s Boris Herrmann faced one of his greatest fears today when he had to climb the 29-meter high mast of his IMOCA racing yacht to address a critical rigging issue. As someone afraid of heights, the task was particularly daunting for the German skipper, who had been haunted by a traumatic mast climb during his last Vendée Globe four years previously. Yet, the solo sailor demonstrated remarkable resilience, overcoming his fear to complete the repair 29 meters above the Ocean.

 - “Unfortunately, it looks like the sea state is good enough to do the climb”, 

 on Monday morning. The German skipper, currently competing in his second 

, has often spoken openly about his two greatest challenges during his previous round-the-world solo race: loneliness and climbing the 29-meter mast of his IMOCA racing yacht. This time, Boris Herrmann has been dealing with loneliness remarkably well, and he can now proudly say he has also conquered his fear of heights.

 noticed that a crucial piece of rigging was 

. The “arbalète” (French word literally meaning 

 but that doesn’t really have a translation) is a retaining line which allows one to modify the anchor point of the boat’s backstay position, a part of the rigging that supports the mast. That position is changed to match a fractional headsail setup, meaning that when Boris Herrmann uses certain sails, he is putting tension on the arbalète and relies on it to keep his mast secure. 

explains: “On IMOCA boats, there are two positions for the backstay. The high backstay position, with the arbalète eased, is used when sailing under a headsail. The second is the hooked backstay position, with tension on the arbalète and used when sailing under staysails like the J1.5, FRO, J2, or J3. The arbalète is operated from the cockpit and hooks into the middle of the mast. It enters the mast at the level of the J2, into a sheave. This sheave has a 90-degree angle, which tends to wear the arbalète quite a lot.”

He adds: “This has been a known issue with the standard (one-design) mast since the beginning and during previous races, we noticed that the arbalètes wore out very quickly.” Knowing that the arbalètes wouldn’t last for a whole round-the-world race, a lot of new versions of the sheaves had been tested, with the most recent version of the one-design piece, standardised for all IMOCA yachts, being introduced last winter. 

“Our boat captain Stuart Mclachlan did a lot of work on the mast last winter, as we added reinforcements and fitted these new sheaves. However, after the two transatlantic races, we saw that the issue still wasn’t resolved unfortunately", adds 

. “So, this summer, we polished the sheaves and created arbalètes with double sheathing. There are two layers of sheathing: the core, which is grey, is covered by a first red sheath and then a second black sheath. The advantage of this system is that you can immediately see when the black sheath is damaged because the red underneath becomes visible.” 

And this Sunday, as he changed his sails from the J2 to J0, Boris Herrmann noticed 10 cm of red flashing near the top of the mast, immediately understanding that the external sheath of the arbalète was damaged. As he notified his team on land, it soon became clear that he would likely have to climb the mast - no matter if he wanted to or not.

“We’ve been brainstorming multiple solutions and working on it with our rigger Olivier Cusin, Cocoche, and Simon Troel, who supply the one-design backstays, to come up with different ideas”, comments Pifou Dargnies. “We considered several options, including completely replacing the backstay, but that seemed too risky, too time-consuming, etc. Instead, we suggested a temporary fix. Using tape and creating a new sheath made from 3Di, the material we use for the sails.”

details: “Even though we obviously cannot discuss weather and strategy with Boris, everyone is well aware that there will be very little port tack sailing under staysail configurations until the finish. So, we are hoping he won’t need to use it much. That said, we rather played it safe, knowing that today was probably the only opportunity with sea conditions suitable to make the repair.”

This Monday, while competing in seventh place on Day 57 of the race, Boris Herrmann meticulously prepared all the necessary gear and tools for the climb and repair. Co-skipper 

highlighted the importance of this preparation on today’s 

: “You really need to make sure that you have everything you need from the start. Boris is doing this solo, and you can’t just be going back and forth.” Will Harris, who famously dangled off

’s cracked mast for repairs during The Ocean Race 2022-2023, added insight into the updated equipment on board: “Boris has new climbing gear which he tested before the race and that should make things a bit easier, benefiting from the strength of his legs rather than pulling on his arms and also freeing his arms a bit more to work on the repair.”

With the right tools and determination, Boris Herrmann approached the challenging task with a somewhat newfound confidence. “Who knows, maybe it’ll be a fun distraction for me!”, he joked in a message to his team on Monday morning. However, in a video he sent just before the climb hours later, he could be seen chewing gum to calm his nerves, apologising for it with a tense smile that betrayed his apprehension.

Not long after, the mood shifted. After taking some deep calming breaths and reminding himself of his training the selfies and photos began pouring in, showcasing a well-executed repair and a smiling - although not particularly relaxed-looking Boris Herrmann perched at the top of the mast, high above his now-tiny-looking boat. The images testified to both the success of the climb and another major fear and challenge tackled. Once safely back on deck, the German sent a message to his team: “Thanks for the support, guys. I’m so relieved it went well, and the race can proceed."

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

Undertaking a repair job 29 meters above the Ocean, damaged arbalète visible (top left, red) ©️ Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia

Boris Herrmann conquered his fear of heights to repair his rigging 29 meter above the Ocean on Day 57 of the Vendée Globe

Boris Herrmann Conquers Fear of Heights to Successfully Repair Mast at Sea during Vendée Globe

This Saturday, Boris Herrmann crossed the longitude of the infamous Cape Horn at 10:51 UTC after 

47 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds of racing in his second Vendée Globe. Having passed the third of the race's three major capes in 7th place, the Team Malizia skipper celebrates his seventh Cape Horn rounding, a milestone that also marks his exit of the Pacific and that is he now on the home stretch. 

On the 28th of December 2024, at 10:51 UTC, Boris Herrmann of Team Malizia achieved a significant milestone in the Vendée Globe non-stop, around-the-world sailing race. After 47 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds at sea, he rounded Cape Horn - his seventh time conquering this legendary landmark. This moment signifies the end of just under a month navigating the treacherous Southern Ocean and marks the beginning of the final sprint toward the finish line.

Cape Horn is the last of the three capes sailors must pass when sailing the Vendée Globe. Towering 425 meters high on the Chilean coast and visible from sea, is the ink-black cliff, greatly anticipated by sailors. “Unfortunately, I can’t see the Horn, a great disappointment”, said the German skipper who rounded Cape Horn in 7th place, 31 seconds ahead of Paul Meilhat on 

. “However, I am ahead of my goal: the wish I expressed at the start of the race to round Cape Horn before the New Year. I have achieved that, even three days earlier than planned.”

Nestled at the southernmost tip of South America in Chile, Cape Horn sits on a continental shelf where the cold Antarctic currents collide with the temperate Pacific. This confluence creates some of the most volatile and unpredictable seas, with winds frequently gusting at over 70 knots. These ferocious conditions have forged Cape Horn’s reputation as the ultimate challenge for racing sailors, with its dangers inspiring countless stories of disaster and survival. To avoid becoming the protagonists of such tales themselves, many sailors follow age-old superstitions, like toasting to Neptune, the god of the sea, or piercing their ear on the side corresponding to their direction around the Horn

For Boris Herrmann, passing Cape Horn may evoke memories of the 2023 edition of The Ocean Race, where he rounded the Cape in first place after a challenging month in the Southern Ocean. During that leg of the race, his crew faced significant setbacks, including crew member Rosalin Kuiper suffering a head injury from a fall in the bunk and a heroic hours-long team mast repair effort - and they ultimately won the leg. 

, was the first to round Cape Horn on Christmas Eve, completing the feat in just 43 days, 11 hours, 25 minutes, and 20 seconds. Close on his heels, Charlie Dalin followed only 9 minutes later. This blistering pace shattered the previous record for rounding Cape Horn, set by Armel Le Cléac’h, by more than four days. 

Meanwhile, the competition behind them remains fierce. The pack of racers from fifth place (Jérémie Beyou) to eleventh (Yannick Bestaven), in which Boris Herrmann is tightly nestled, is sailing in close proximity, with all seven boats expected to round Cape Horn today. Among them, Boris Herrmann stands out as the most seasoned sailor in these waters, with six prior passages of the legendary cape under his belt. 

With less than 30% of the race remaining, Boris Herrmann is now turning north, signaling the start of the home stretch. Reflecting on recent challenges, he remarked: “The last days in the Pacific were tough – hard work tacking against the wind in really difficult conditions. I’m glad to be done with the Pacific. I’ve had enough. It was challenging, and I’m done. It was okay, but enough is enough.”

However, the Atlantic won’t offer much respite. “The next two weeks will be very complicated as we head north, mostly upwind”, explains the 

 skipper. “It feels like a slap in the face. The forecast is like, ‘Haha, you think you’ve done the worst, but now we’ll show you what can come.’ The South Atlantic can be really, really nasty. We’ve seen that in the last Ocean Race. I need to prepare myself mentally for the next big mountain to climb.”

Whilst crossing the longitude of Cape Horn and advancing from the Pacific into the Atlantic, Boris Herrmann explains: “I am ready for something new. For me, this transition will materialise in improved living conditions, which are very complicated at the moment. This should signal a little break – 24 hours of lighter wind conditions – and I am very much looking forward to it. It is much needed, as the South Atlantic will demand a lot from us, with two big low-pressure systems forecast.”

This Saturday, Boris Herrmann crossed the longitude of the infamous Cape Horn at 10:51 UTC after 47 days, 22 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds of racing in his second Vendée Globe. Having passed the third of the race's three major capes in 7th place, the Team Malizia skipper celebrates his seventh Cape Horn rounding, a milestone that also marks his exit of the Pacific and that is he now on the home stretch. 