Lightning damaged Herrmann’s boat

Boris Herrmann got a real shock at the Vendée Globe. A nearby lightning strike damaged some of his equipment. “Oh God, I’ve never seen anything like that in my entire life,” said the experienced five-time circumnavigator on his second solo mission.

Before rainstorms and thunderstorms repeatedly threw his boat “Malizia – Seaexplorer” onto its side off the Brazilian coast, the 43-year-old had already mastered another personally frightening task. Despite his fear of heights, he climbed the 29-meter-high mast on Monday to carry out necessary repairs. “It was a safe operation that was successful,” said Herrmann proudly afterwards.

Radar device on board damaged

What followed was the eerie encounter with lightning, which damaged various electronic equipment on board, including the radar device. “I have to do a lot more manually than usual,” said Herrmann, explaining the consequences. In the competition for places four to ten, on race day 60 he defended sixth place in the fleet of 35 boats that are still active after five tasks.

The final phase has already begun for the Vendée Globe leaders: The French leader Charlie Dalin still had around 2,200 nautical miles to go to the start and destination port of Les Sables-d’Olonne on Wednesday afternoon, and will be there on January 14th in a new record time ahead of his compatriot Yoann Richomme. Boris Herrmann could reach the goal between January 22nd and 24th.