He may be ultra-friendly, committed to the planet - he had transported the Swedish activist Greta Thunberg to New York - few are those to wish the success of the German Boris Herrmann in the 2020 edition of the Vendée Globe.
Except perhaps the organizers who would welcome the first victory of a foreigner over a rather Franco-French event.
This close friend of Pierre Casiraghi, Caroline of Monaco's son, could yet win on the green carpet.
Like Yannick Bestaven (Maître Coq) and Jean Le Cam (Yes we cam), he has bonus hours in his pocket (six hours concerning him), for having, at the request of the race director, diverted his search by Kevin Escoffier, then shipwrecked in the Indian Ocean.
When the jury decided on the time recoveries, no one could fault it.
PODCAST. The shipwreck, the rescue, his passion for sailing: Kevin Escoffier tells his story
However, the Vendée Globe did not really go as planned.
Blocked by depressions, the skippers at the head of the fleet - in particular Charlie Dalin and Thomas Rettant - were never able to make the break.
The fleet did not stop making the elastic, until this unprecedented situation where, less than three days before the finish, five sailors vied for victory.
Estimates (especially those of the skipper Yoann Richomme) predict an arrival in a pocket handkerchief between Charlie Dalin and Louis Burton (about an hour apart).
Boris Herrmann would arrive four hours after Dalin, but would take the victory thanks (or because, it depends) of his bonus.
"Winning without having led is a shame"
A few days ago, Thomas Rettant threw a (small) pavement into the pond by suggesting tied places rather than post-arrival demotions.
With the world of sailing being generally well polished (and bonuses were given for rescuing an endangered sailor), no one had dared to bounce back.
However, some teeth are starting to creak, especially since during these 80 days at sea, Herrmann never led the race.
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Unlike a Yannick Bestaven who, with ten hours of bonus, can also upset the ranking.
“Winning without leading, it's a bit of a shame but these are the rules of the game and you have to accept it,” the German told Ouest-France.
We all received our compensations, it was well thought out by the jury, I find it correct and fair.
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These bonus hours, which no one had imagined could decide the winner after 80 days at sea, are nevertheless now questionable.
Officially, the race management does not plan to change the rule, especially as the jury's decision (taken more than a month ago) is final.
This arrival will be like no other.
Even more if the one who crosses the line as the winner is forced to give up his trophy.
But Herrmann still has one option to get everyone to agree: cross the finish line first.