On November 6, at 13:02 precisely, Team Malizia skipper Boris Herrmann will be at the start line of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. The German sailor will set sail to cross the Atlantic Ocean single-handed aboard his newly built Malizia - Seaexplorer.

The race will be a test for both skipper and boat, as this will be Boris Herrmann’s first solo race since his Vendée Globe debut in 2020 and the first real test for his new race yacht. By crossing the start line he will also be one step closer to the Vendée Globe 2024 selection.

The Route du Rhum, considered legendary in France, is held every four years. The route is 6560 kilometres long and runs from Saint-Malo in the North of France to Pointe-à-Pitre in the French overseas island of Guadeloupe. A total of 138 sailors, both professionals and amateurs, are competing in six classes - including the IMOCA class, which will see 37 sailors cross the Atlantic solo. The race village in Saint-Malo attracts several hundred thousand visitors over the course of two weeks, and over 2 million spectators watch the live start of the race on French television, making it one of the biggest sports events in France and abroad. 

Even before the start, there is a lot on the programme: the beautiful race village in Saint-Malo and the IMOCA parade. For Team Malizia and Boris Herrmann, safety checks and various skipper briefings are the final preparations. In addition, there are events with partners, media appointments and numerous fan interactions.

Besides the sporting competition, the race also has another mission:  As part of the "A Race We Must Win" campaign, Boris Herrmann will continue to collect valuable CO2 ocean data with his mini-laboratory on board his IMOCA and will transmit it to marine researchers on land.

If you are interested in the Route du Rhum race: It can be followed via the race tracker on the main page.

Photo by Antoine Auriol