Herrmann starts the transatlantic race eager to attack
Boris Herrmann got off to a good start in the Retour à La Base transatlantic regatta. The 42-year-old Hamburg skipper was in the lead half an hour after the start at 5 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The course, which is around 3500 nautical miles long, now takes the 32 skippers on their Imoca racing yachts back from the Caribbean to France after the recently completed Transat Jacques Vabre.
Herrmann is expecting a fast Atlantic crossing: "We could reach the finish in as little as eight or nine days." The race favorites for the first and toughest solo stage of the year are three French riders: Transat Jacques Vabre winner Thomas Ruyant ("For People"), Transat runner-up Yoann Richomme ("Paprec Arkéa") and Jérémie Beyou ("Charal").
Herrmann has set himself the minimum target of the top ten: "I would be disappointed if I didn't finish in the top ten." After sailing around the world with his team in the Ocean Race and double-handed races such as the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Retour à La Base will be Herrmann's first solo challenge on board the "Malizia - Seaexplorer", christened 2022.
Despite his lead, Herrmann vows to maintain his rallying pace during the sailing journey back to base. Upon returning to La Base, he plans for a much-needed rest before embarking on his next challenge.
Source: www.dpa.com
