Boris Herrmann faces technical issues with foil bearing in the Route du Rhum race
by Team Malizia 18 Nov 2022 17:15 PST
18 November 2022
Boris Herrmann - Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe 2022 © Team Malizia - Boris Herrmann
German skipper Boris Herrmann discovered a technical problem with a foil bearing aboard his race yacht on the 10th day of the Route du Rhum 2022 race. The solo skipper will still sail to the finish line but not as competitively as before as he and his team decided that the best course of action is not to foil until he finishes the race.
This Friday, Team Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann discovered an issue with a foil bearing aboard his Malizia - Seaexplorer yacht that forces him to continue the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe 2022 race at a slower pace.
Inside the starboard foil case, three metal bolts that hold together the top of the foil bearing started to bend and come apart. As these cannot be put back in place by the skipper alone and while at sea, Boris Herrmann and his team decided that he would not risk causing additional damage, and therefore will not foil until he crosses the finish line. The solo sailor is determined to finish the race but it will be at a slower pace.
Boris Herrmann commented: "Of course, it is disappointing not to be in full race mode anymore but spirits are high as I will finish the race, be a competitor in the final ranking and therefore be qualified to the Vendée Globe 2024-25, our ultimate goal. Finding these issues is part of the game when building a new boat and making it reliable. The team and I are actually glad we found the problem now and not later, or during The Ocean Race for example.
"We built a beautiful boat that has shown very good performance so far, with 27-knot surfs, and 20 knots average speeds which weren't possible with our previous boat in these sea states. As a team, we will enjoy the rest of the journey across the Atlantic and continue to share the adventure. I will sail the last 700 miles as efficiently as I can without using the foils, almost like an older boat!"
Boris Herrmann is expected to arrive in Point-à-Pitre in 5 to 5,5 days.
Team Malizia is accompanied by its seven main partners MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, and Kuehne+Nagel, who all support the team's A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now mission!