Boris Herrmann makes successful start in route du Rhum
German offshore sailor Boris Herrmann has made a promising start in the 13th Route du Rhum. Just one and a half hours after the official start at 1:02 PM, the skipper of «Malizia 4» had secured fourth position with his racing yacht, which is only four months old.
In the Imoca class, the British sailor Sam Goodchild («Macif Santé Prévoyance») currently leads ahead of the Italian Ambrogio Beccaria («Allagrande Mapei»).
A total of 115 sailors participated in six different classes in the prestigious race from Saint-Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre on Guadeloupe, with the course covering 3542 nautical miles.
Boris Herrmann is the only German competitor in the Imoca class. This class is also the venue for the Ocean Race around the world (starting on January 17th) and the Vendée Globe 2028/2029.
The 45-year-old from Hamburg said before the start: «I don’t count myself among the favorites, but I still hope for a place in the top five, top six.»
The sailors are expecting stronger winds in the coming days, which offers the possibility of exceeding the current 24-hour distance records. Herrmann described the conditions as «dream conditions».
However, the participants also face a cold passage. «It is 100 percent certain today that we will choose a northern route. So it will be a cold route», said Herrmann on the day of the start.
The Imoca course record, set in the 12th edition in 2022, stands at 11 days, 17 hours, 36 minutes and 25 seconds.
The Ultim class, consisting of eight trimarans around 32 meters long, holds the course record with a time of 6 days, 19 hours, 47 minutes and 25 seconds. The first arrivals are expected as early as next weekend.
Source
“Herrmann mit gelungenem Auftakt bei der Route du Rhum”
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