Sailing - Top sailor Herrmann struggles with problems at the Transat-Solo
After a strong few days in the Retour à La Base transatlantic race, top German sailor Boris Herrmann is struggling with technical problems. A water ingress on board the "Malizia - Seaexplorer" posed an additional challenge for the Hamburg native. After a tough night, he also had to scoop the seawater out of the boat by hand on St. Nicholas Day. On Wednesday, his team Malizia announced that he would have to recover from the exertions before he could implement an elaborate repair idea. Herrmann wanted to try and defend his fifth place.
The problems had already started for Herrmann on Tuesday evening. The 42-year-old was already among the top five sailors of the 31 soloists when he had difficulties starting the engine. The engines of racing yachts are not used for propulsion in regattas, but to generate energy for the systems on board. While Herrmann was dealing with the engine and consulting his shore team, he suddenly noticed water ingress in the cockpit.
The five-time circumnavigator identified the cause as a torn cover on one of two cockpit drains. It was no longer draining out of there, but coming back into the boat. The double problem: the other drain cover had already been torn off in the early stages of the race. With both drains now damaged, the water could no longer drain anywhere without the risk of returning. Herrmann therefore initially fitted the drains with a ring of special adhesive - and scooped out the water running in over the deck by hand.
Retour à La Base, live tracker with intermediate results
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Despite the setbacks, Boris Herrmann aims to sail back towards Lorient, France, once the technical issues are resolved on his vessel, the "Malizia - Seaexplorer." Due to the water ingress and the lost engine functionality, Herrmann's return to base has been delayed.
Source: www.stern.de
