Portugal Colonial - Boris Herrmann Claims Second Place in IMOCA Class at Route du Rhum

German sailor Boris Herrmann has secured second place in the IMOCA category of the 2026 Route du Rhum, delivering a major result for the Monaco-linked Team Malizia in one of offshore sailing’s most demanding solo competitions.

The 45-year-old crossed the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, on Thursday, November 12, at 09:10 Monaco time. He completed the transatlantic race aboard his new yacht, Malizia 4, in 10 days, 20 hours, eight minutes and 36 seconds.

Herrmann finished just over 26 hours behind French skipper Corentin Horeau, who claimed victory aboard MACSF. The race began in Saint-Malo, Brittany, on Sunday, November 1, following a challenging Atlantic crossing.

The result represents Herrmann’s best performance in the Route du Rhum, improving on his previous fifth-place finish in 2018. It also provides an encouraging early demonstration of the capabilities of Malizia 4.

Launched in July, the new IMOCA racing yacht was developed over two years and represents the latest chapter for Team Malizia, the international sailing project co-founded by Pierre Casiraghi, Vice-President of the Yacht Club de Monaco. The vessel sails under the Monegasque flag and carries the sail number MON1297, a reference to the year Francesco Grimaldi captured the Rock of Monaco.

Herrmann’s performance was particularly notable given his limited solo racing experience aboard the new boat. Despite being among the newest yachts in the 22-strong IMOCA fleet, Malizia 4 proved competitive throughout the Atlantic crossing.

After a relatively cautious opening, Herrmann moved into contention during the first days at sea, benefiting from his positioning as changing weather conditions disrupted several of the early leaders.

He subsequently battled Franco-British skipper Sam Goodchild for second place, eventually establishing an advantage as his rival encountered technical difficulties, including problems with a foil and damage to his mainsail.

Herrmann maintained his position through demanding conditions, balancing speed with the need to protect his yacht and equipment during the remainder of the crossing.

His second-place finish also extends a remarkable sequence of results in solo transatlantic racing, following runner-up performances in The Transat and the New York Vendée in 2024.

Beyond competition, Team Malizia continues to combine offshore racing with environmental research. Its yachts carry scientific equipment designed to collect oceanographic information, including measurements of surface-water carbon dioxide, temperature and salinity, contributing to a better understanding of the world’s oceans.

The result provides valuable encouragement ahead of the team’s next major challenge, The Ocean Race, the crewed round-the-world competition scheduled to begin in January 2027.

For the Monaco-linked sailing team, Herrmann’s podium finish represents both a sporting achievement and an important milestone in the development of its newest racing yacht.

F.Santana--PC