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Status: 27.01.2021 11:05 pm
Drama about Boris Herrmann in the Vendée Globe: the Hamburg skipper collided with a fishing boat shortly before the destination during the solo circumnavigation.
The 39-year-old was fighting for his historic podium in the toughest solo race in sailing when he was thwarted by the serious collision almost 90 nautical miles from the finish. Herrmann was unharmed, but lost a lot of time: the damage to his ship only allowed for significantly less speed. In theory, victory would still have been possible. But all possibilities disappeared after the incident.
“It is a catastrophe. The worst that can happen to you. But he is the winner of hearts. That he participated, that he took us all with him to the sea, that is a gigantic achievement.”
Tim Kröger, offshore professional
Dalin crossed the finish line first, but he’s probably not the winner
Before that, Frenchman Charlie Dalin was the first to cross the finish line in front of Les Sables-d’Olonne on Wednesday night. It has yet to be determined whether the 36-year-old, who took 80 days and 6:15.47 hours, will also be able to celebrate victory in the race around the world due to the time credits of three opponents, including Herrmann.
After 50,000 kilometers of hardships in the world’s oceans, after a fight against loneliness and with disastrous weather conditions, the nuances should decide the victory and the first places in the prestigious race. Herrmann (6:00 am) as well as the French Yannick Bestaven (10:15 am) and Jean Le Cam (4:15 pm) were possibly decisive time bonuses for the rescue operation of the castaway Kevin Escoffier. This would have put the first German entrant in the Vendée Globe in an excellent position.
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Either way, a huge success for Herrmann
The tension grew from hour to hour. Climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was brought across the Atlantic to New York by Herrmann in 2019, also saw the final. “A true hero” is Herrmann, the 18-year-old wrote on Twitter. Herrmann, for whom the regatta is a great success shortly before the end regardless of the location and the drama, enthusiastically entered the final hours of the greatest challenge of his life. “It’s more exciting than I want or need,” he said. “I’m like a kid at Christmas. I don’t know if I’ve ever been this excited.”
Family meeting
The summit had chosen different routes for the final leg of the race. Herrmann followed the leader Dalin on his way from the east, while Bestaven, among others, relied on the more northerly winds and approached the top from time to time. Herrmann was looking forward to the end of the long career, not just driven by the prospect of a good position. “Some friends and my wife are already at Les Sables-d’Olonne,” he said. And also that he is really expecting his little daughter. The reunion, albeit a bit delayed, after 80 days at sea should be a consolation to Herrmann, who, despite the latest setback in his fantastic Vendée Globe debut, made German sailing history.
