Written by : Christophe Var\u00e8ne – Photos : Marie Lefloch \/ Ricardo Pinto \/ Jean-Marie Liot \/ PolaRYSE \/ Team Malizia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Will the second attempt<\/strong> be the right one? Four years ago, Boris Herrmann came within a whisker of winning the 2020-2021 Vend\u00e9e Globe – or rather, collided head-on with a trawler less than 100 miles from the finish. However, the fine fifth place he achieved at the time enabled us to get to know this German sailor, who has sailed an exemplary race: never far from the front, he has taken great care of his boat, Malizia-Seaexplorer and himself to complete his circumnavigation of the globe with flying colours. His experience of the southern seas, including his participation in the Barcelona World Race and the Ocean Race, is one of his major assets, as is his boat that he has had built to his own exacting standards: perhaps less aesthetically pleasing than those of some of his rivals, his IMOCA meets his criteria and requirements, such as a living area with a high headroom and a hull adapted to rough seas with a curved bow and substantial freeboard. But he is up against 39 competitors, men and women, talented, motivated and ready to live this adventure without restraint. Around ten sailors, including Boris Herrmann, make up the group of favourites, yet on this event that is so hard, so demanding, so long, all the racers have their chance, whether they are newcomers – there are fifteen of them setting off for the first time, including Violette Dorange, the youngest entrant in the race – or experienced sailors like Jean Le Cam (6th<\/sup> entry), Arnaud Boissi\u00e8res (5th<\/sup> entry and no retirements) or J\u00e9r\u00e9mie Beyou (5th<\/sup> entry). They may be on new boats (13) or old ones, foils (25) or daggerboards (15). <\/p>\n\n\n\n 13 New boats<\/strong> built especially for this demanding race. The IMOCA boats are built to a set of rules, including an overall length of 20.12 metres, a beam of 5.85 metres and an air draught of 29 metres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/yachtclass.mc\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/vg2024-2409261553-240926bhm-1jml8296hd-haute-definition-700x467.jpg\")
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\n\n\n\nThe Vend\u00e9e Globe in figures<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Yacht Class n\u00b039 (dec 2024\/jan-feb 2025) Team malizia seaexplorer The German skipper Boris Herrmann set off on 10th November for his second Vend\u00e9e Globe in the hope of erasing the disappointment of the last edition. Provided he can overcome adversity… and 39 rivals. Written by : Christophe Var\u00e8ne – Photos : Marie Lefloch \/ Ricardo Pinto \/…