Boris Herrmann of Team Malizia Rounds the Cape of Good Hope in Vendée Globe
by Team Malizia 2 Dec 12:40 PST
2 December 2024
Boris Herrmann of Team Malizia Rounds the Cape of Good Hope – 2024 Vendée Globe © Boris Herrmann
Boris Herrmann, skipper of Malizia – Seaexplorer, rounded the historic Cape of Good Hope on Monday, December 2, at 14:33 UTC during the 2024-2025 Vendée Globe. This offshore sailor, competing solo, non-stop, and unassisted around the world for the second time, was the 12th to cross the longitude of this famous landmark after spending 22 days, 2 hours, and 31 minutes at sea.
“Hello everyone,” the German skipper stated in a voice message from onboard. “Today, at 14:33, we passed the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope. The conditions here are typical, with the Agulhas Current often creating choppy seas. Handling the boat in these situations is challenging. I worked hard today and am now quite tired. Fortunately, I won’t need to jibe for a while and can continue my current southeast course. However, I might need to reef and change sails later tonight if the wind strengthens. For now, I’m allowing myself a brief moment of rest.”
As Boris Herrmann nears Cape Agulhas, which marks the southernmost point of Africa, he is set to officially depart the Atlantic Ocean and enter the Indian Ocean: “The Indian Ocean will certainly be quite demanding. It seems there will be strong winds, and I will feel relieved once we reach the Pacific. Many sailors and skippers often dislike the Indian Ocean due to its chaotic seas compared to the Pacific.” He adds: “I’ve aimed to round Cape Horn no later than January 1. Yesterday was December 1, so the month of December is what I refer to as my ‘Southern Month’, my journey across the Southern Ocean.”
Returning to the Southern Ocean for the first time since The Ocean Race 2022-2023, Boris Herrmann looks forward to two things: observing his favorite bird, the albatross, and showcasing the capabilities of his Malizia – Seaexplorer yacht. “I saw some albatrosses yesterday, and it was fantastic. It’s still quite warm here due to the current, and we enjoyed some sunshine today, although the wind was quite variable at times.”
He describes the conditions in the southern waters: “They are severe, with showers and gusty winds. Overall, it’s very challenging to sail. The boat bounces around considerably in the swell, and even with our well-built vessel, we’ve had instances of small nose dives and water splashing over the deck. It’s very turbulent onboard. You’re tossed back and forth. Conditions are tough at the moment, and if they worsen, we’ll need to slow down and find a safe way through. That’s the status onboard for now.”
Despite predicting it over the last few days, the current 1,300 nautical miles behind the fleet leader isn’t the position Boris Herrmann hoped for as he ventures into the Southern Ocean. Nevertheless, resilience runs in his and his team’s DNA—evident from their last experience at these latitudes during The Ocean Race 2022-2023. After discovering and fixing a crack in the mast shortly after leaving Cape Town during Leg 3, Team Malizia found themselves over 600 nautical miles behind the leaders. Yet, by the time they reached Cape Horn, they had overtaken all the boats and rounded the landmark first, securing the Roaring Forties Trophy for the fastest team from Cape of Good Hope to Cape Horn. “There is still a long way to go in this race,” said Boris Herrmann. “And like Francis Joyon said to me during our Trophy Jules Verne journey years ago, you never know when a pleasant surprise may come your way. So, I’ll remain patient for any opportunities ahead and seize the moment.”
An opportunity could arise soon, as Team Malizia’s co-skipper Will Harris explains: “The major event of the week is a low-pressure system south of Boris’s position that is building. It’s a robust, proper Southern Ocean low. It’s intensifying as it moves eastward and will soon catch up with the boats ahead of Boris’s position. In 24 hours, while leaders will still be ahead of the low, the second group from 6th to 9th positions will be engaged in 30-knot winds with gusts up to 40 knots. Consequently, the waves will grow to 4-5 meters by tomorrow.”
The British sailor adds: “In three days, by Thursday afternoon, the low will have substantially developed, and winds at its trailing edge could reach 50-60 knots. Thankfully for Boris and Justine Mettraux, their positions allow them to stay just behind the low, bypassing its harshest conditions. We also anticipate many boats heading north to escape the strongest winds and waves. However, the strategies of the leaders will be intriguing: they could head north, take a risky route through the center of the low, or venture south into upwind conditions. It’s a complicated scenario that will be exciting to monitor. The first real trial for the boats will be on Friday, as wave heights are expected to swell further, potentially reaching 10 meters. However, all three groups should then find themselves in the same weather system, which is promising for Boris. The race leaders are expected to reach Cape Leeuwin in 6-7 days, with Boris trailing by 1.5 days. This presents him with an opportunity to close the gap—hopefully, everything will proceed smoothly. At this point, it’s critical for sailors to balance performance and safety, making wise choices to navigate through these demanding conditions.”
Team Malizia’s mission, A Race We Must Win – Climate Action Now!, relies on the steadfast support from its seven main partners: EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, and the Yacht Club de Monaco. These partners unite with Team Malizia to promote its campaign while pursuing projects in their respective fields that aim to innovate solutions for climate issues.
