Team Malizia's Boris Herrmann reports damage, limiting use of his most important headsail
by Team Malizia 10 Jan 02:12 PST
10 January 2025
The J2 is intact and on deck until Boris Herrmann can repair and hoist it again © Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia
This Friday morning, Boris Herrmann noticed that the hook of his J2 headsail had broken. The sail is safe on deck and the integrity of the mast is not at risk, but unless he can create a new hook system, the Malizia - Seaexplorer skipper will have to manage the race without his most important headsail.
After having to climb the mast and being struck by lightning earlier this week, the challenges have been piling up for the German solo sailor, who, nevertheless tries to stay focussed on finding a solution.
10 January 2025, South Atlantic - "If the Vendée Globe was easy, many people would do it", said a dispirited Boris Herrmann this Friday morning in a video sent from onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer. After racing over three-quarters of the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 with minimal issues, this week has been challenging for the German solo sailor who is now facing a problem with the hook of his J2 sail, which prohibits him using his most important headsail. "Hi everyone, it's January 10th, 08:00 UTC, just after a beautiful sunrise", said the Team Malizia skipper in a video sent from on board a few minutes ago. "I had a good sleep and woke up because I heard some flapping. And in fact the hook of the J2 broke. Therefore, the J2 had slid partway down the forestay, and that ripped also the halyard for that sail."
As a hook on a J2 sail is not the most common setup, Boris Herrmann explains: "I'm the only boat with a hook mechanism. It was really me who wanted that for safety reasons, in case the sail broke. Ultimately, I feel it's my responsibility to be in this situation but I really wanted this hook for added safety and that part broke. We could have just lashed it to the sail like everyone else at the top and then I wouldn't have this problem." Other skippers have faced hook issues as well in this race. The J2 is a headsail that usually always stays up and supports the mast. When there is an issue with the J2, repairs are often difficult or in worst cases, damages can become very serious. With a hook mechanism, Boris Herrmann wanted to be able to bring down the sail for safety or repairs, with the stay cable still in place and holding the mast secure. Today, the hook broke but the stay has no damage, which means that the integrity of the mast is not at jeopardy. However, it means that Boris Herrmann cannot currently hoist one of his most used sails.
"So now I don't have a J2, it's down on the deck", comments the Team Malizia skipper. "I didn't feel capable of climbing and bringing it up in these conditions. Also I don't know exactly how to do it. The sail is now on deck, lashed, and I'm sailing J3 which is fine at the moment. I lost quite a few miles and probably 10-12 miles going downwind when I was sorting this out. I am not far from Thomas Ruyant, who has the same problem, he has no J2. So we are two companions with a similar problem."
In close contact with the team, who can assist from shore when there is a technical issue, Boris Herrmann is trying to stay positive and focussing on finding a solution. "The ideal thing would be to hoist the sail", he says. "That would mean I attach a halyard to the sail, like a halyard of one of the spinnakers, a masthead halyard, and then I would hoist the sail with that, loosen the sail at the bottom to get it high enough, lash it in the top to the swivel, the thing that turns, and then pull it tight at the bottom... All right, yeah, I think that's doable, but not easy. And probably need better conditions than this."
After overcoming his fear of heights on Monday by climbing the mast and fixing a arbalète rigging issue, then being struck by lightning shortly after and managing to get crucial systems back to work, this event, on Day 61 of the race, is hard to take in. In order to hoist the J2 again Boris will have to climb the mast again, on realising this he comments "This is pretty much a smack in the face because we had 70% of the remaining route under this sail. As long as I don't manage to hoist it, we would be probably 30-40% slower I would say. So the question is, really, when can I hoist it? Is it possible maybe in the doldrums or if we get better sea state before and less swell? I would estimate at least I lose this whole pack, including Justine Mettraux, and that I slide down the ranking to 10th place. So the battle should be on to keep 10th place to the finish. Which will not be easy with Samantha Davies, Clarisse Crémer, and Benjamin Dutreux coming. But I will try."
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: the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, Zurich Group Germany, Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, and Schütz. 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.
Watch the video sent by Boris Herrmann about the J2 hook issue: