Boris Herrmann's Malizia - Seaexplorer ready to tackle the final stretch before the Vendée Globe
by Team Malizia 21 Aug 2024 15:16 UTC
Team Malizia's IMOCA race yacht was relaunched on Tuesday afternoon in Lorient after an intense summer refit © Marie Lefloch / Team Malizia
As of yesterday late afternoon, Team Malizia's racing yacht is back at her usual spot in the harbour of Lorient, France, and will resume training in the Brittany waters very soon.
This summer's refit was a special one, as it was the last time Malizia - Seaexplorer was out of the water and in her hangar before the Vendée Globe this November. Over the past two months, the technical team checked every little detail to ensure everything on the boat is ready and in top condition, and even made a few improvements to get Boris Herrmann's IMOCA racing yacht "Vendée ready". The boat re-launch continues into today, but Malizia's technical team is already giving a few insights on what they have been working on.
Getting a boat ready for the Vendée Globe is highly specialised work!
"The Vendée Globe is a unique race", says Team Malizia's technical director, Pifou Dargnies. "It is a non-assisted solo race, so Boris needs to be able to repair almost everything onboard by himself. This means that, as a tech team, we have to rethink everything onboard so it can be easily interchanged."
Over the summer, the IMOCA boat has been fully checked. Co-skipper Will Harris explains: "It's the last time we will get a full check over the boat before the start of the Vendée Globe in just over a couple of months. The main thing the team has really been doing is checking the reliability, replacing all the ropes, and making sure everything is ready to sail around the world. Everything is now kind of ready to go. We were really happy with the performance of the boat after the two transatlantic races so haven't done any huge changes to the boat. We have the same foils and the same layout on the inside. So really it was good to validate during the transats. And now, the mission is really making sure we are really a hundred percent reliable for the Vendée Globe."
The British sailor continues: "There is everything from the ropes to the electronics to the composite system on the boat, and it's just about making sure these systems have been serviced properly. That there is nothing that can potentially be damaged or broken. And once Boris is alone, he's really by himself. So he's got to fix anything that happens. Any minute or hour that he's spending doing these things during the Vendée Globe is time taken away from the racing. And currently, he's focussed on the actual race so the more we can do now, the more he will be able to focus on that. And what the technical team has been doing the last few weeks will hopefully mean a performance increase for Boris during the Vendée Globe."
Electronics
Electronics play a huge role on a racing boat like Malizia - Seaexplorer. All instruments—autopilot, wind sensors, foils sensors, etc.—are electronic. In the past few weeks, Team Malizia ensured everything was functioning correctly, especially after the lightning strike experienced in New York in May. Almost all cables have been replaced and reinforced. The screens and autopilot have been adjusted to ensure everything is easily repairable.
With as much electronics onboard, having a reliable energy and power system is important. And during a race as long as the Vendée Globe, it is even crucial. Boris Herrmann now has spare hydrogenators, so he will be able to replace them if needed. The solar panels have been cleaned and enhanced to generate more energy. The batteries, vital for storing this energy, have also been thoroughly checked.
Communication
When at sea for 80 days, staying in touch with the shore team, friends and family, as well as Malizia fans is essential! Being able to communicate with the race direction and your team on land is also a safety aspect. All the antennas onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer have been tested and repositioned in strategic locations for easy access. The Team Malizia skipper also has a backup system onboard.
Rigging
All the ropes have been replaced. They endure significant strain during sailing, and after two transatlantic crossings this year, it was time for fresh, brand-new ropes. The major task during the upcoming sailing sessions will be to set up these ropes and mark all reference points. Team Malizia's rigger Olivier Cusin comments: "For the rigging part, the goal of this summer's refit was to change and replace as much as possible. In terms of timings, it was not possible to do it all, but most of the running rigging had been replaced and part of the standing rigging had already been changed at the beginning of the year. So we only changed the J2 cable that holds the mast forward. Now, it is time to confirm all the setups and be ready for the training next week."
Foils and composite
Earlier this year, Team Malizia installed a new pair of foils on their IMOCA. Since then, the team has been working on optimising them for greater efficiency and versatility in all conditions. Some parts of the boat have been reinforced by the boat builders to ensure Malizia - Seaexplorer is strong enough to fly through the Southern Ocean once again! Boat builder Clément Caumont explains: "This summer the boat building department has been busy reinforcing the structure of the boat to make sure she was ready for the Southern Ocean. If all goes well, Boris won't have to use some glue and resin during his race!" He added: "We are very happy with this new set of foils, we have tested them, raced across the Atlantic twice, and it's been great to see how well they have been performing early on. We have been working on the set up to makes sure they were out of the water and more versatile in every conditions"
Sails
While some sails are new and reserved for the Vendée Globe, all the older sails have been thoroughly inspected to ensure there are no rips. Team Malizia's Jesse Naimark-Rowse commented: "As part of our summer refit and after the two transatlantic races in the spring, we defined exactly which sails we are going to use for the Vendée Globe. Most of them are new, including the main sail. It is a big job to make a new main and get it fitted to the boat. Almost all the sails are new, the ones that aren't have only been used a very little bit. For the Vendée Globe, you are allowed to carry 8 sails, including the main and the J4 which is like a storm jib. We will be testing everything in the next few weeks."
Ergonomics
There have been minimal changes in this area, as skipper Boris Herrmann was already very happy with the setup and the improvements made during this winter's refit. The cockpit seat now has a new cushion for added comfort, even during long hours. The mattress for the bunk has also been upgraded, and many new storage pockets have been installed to help Boris Herrmann stay organised and quickly find what he needs.
What's next?
Malizia - Seaexplorer is now back in the water, and after tomorrow's final checks, she will be ready to fly again! The next training session is scheduled for the end of the week, so let's hope the Brittany weather plays along and for the ones lucky enough to spend some time nearby, maybe they will even spot Boris Herrmann and his Malizia - Seaexplorer training offshore Lorient!
Team Malizia's A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now! mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its seven main partners: MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, and Kuehne+Nagel. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.