Boris Herrmann is excited before the start of the Vendée Globe

Sailing at the limit – and lots of sea: Boris Herrmann has already sailed around the world five times. Now the sixth adventure is about to begin. The 43-year-old is starting his second solo around the globe this Sunday. With the 10th Vendée Globe, the toughest regatta in international sailing begins off Les Sables-d’Olonne on the French Atlantic coast.

And to his own surprise, the skipper from Hamburg has stage fright despite all his experience: “I’m more excited than I thought. It’s still a journey into the unknown.”

The signs for his second solo in the “Everest of the Seas”, as the race is also called, are different than at the premiere. Four years ago, Herrmann was the first German Vendée Globe starter. During the Covid pandemic, he shared his adventure with an ever-growing audience. His struggles with himself, the boat, the competition and the elements fascinated people. With refreshingly open reporting, he brought them on board from the sofa with powerful words and images.

Left to his own devices, he was often further away from the mainland than the astronauts on the ISS. “Sharing my adventure was natural for me. I discovered during the Vendée Globe that sharing my experiences helped me a lot mentally. I felt less alone, more connected to the world, more motivated,” recalls Herrmann.

At the end of 80 days, 14 hours, 59 minutes and 45 seconds at sea, an audience of millions watched on their screens on the night of January 28, 2021 how the German sailing hero dramatically collided with a fishing boat. As a result, he lost his chance of victory and his place on the podium, and finished fifth the morning after. The last-minute misfortune has only brought him even more fan affection.

Back on land, guest appearances on all the major TV talk shows followed. The media was all over the sailor with the great storytelling talent, and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also invited. The Herrmann book “Alone Between Sky and Sea” became a bestseller. For the second Vendée Globe launch, the documentary “Boris Herrmann – Sailing at the Limit” produced by Beetz Brothers and ARD will be released and will be broadcast on Das Erste on November 16th (7:10 p.m.).

During all missions, the slogan “A race we must win” is written in huge letters on the sail of the racing yacht “Malizia – Seaexplorer”. And Herrmann is also implementing it in the fight against the climate catastrophe. He promotes the protection of the oceans, which for him are not just an adventure playground, but the basis of humanity’s livelihood.

An onboard laboratory collects data for scientific research. The educational initiative “My Ocean Challenge”, founded with his wife, is aimed at young people and has been translated into twelve languages.

With two second places in the most recent transatlantic races and second place in the world rankings, Herrmann is one of the favorites ahead of the second solo around the world. “In terms of the homework we’ve completed, we’re in the top places. So we can’t deny ourselves co-favorite status,” he says himself.

Herrmann sees “six to ten people who can fight for victory and the podium places” and can thus break into the phalanx of the French offshore elite. Since the Vendée Globe premiere in 1989/1990, no non-French person has ever won the most difficult test in international sailing.

The top favorites this time are Charlie Dalin, Thomas Ruyant, Yoann Richomme and Jérémie Beyou. Dalin says: “Boris is sailing at a very high level now. He is very consistent and an opponent to keep an eye on.”