Sailor Boris Herrmann: 80 days around the world, and only really enjoyed two

Read the video transcript here arrow up arrow down

Relieved and full of joy to have made it: When Boris Herrmann held his wife and daughter in his arms again after almost three months, the frustration over the unfortunate crash with the fishing trawler was no longer so important.

O-Ton Boris Herrmann Vendée Globe-Segler: »I am happy.

Last night I made something stupid, a little mishap, but I got there anyway.

And the Vendée Globe teaches you every day to stay in the race.

There are many moments when that is the case.

It was a triumphant return.

Herrmann was the first German to make history at the Vendée Globe - even without a place on the podium.

And the 39-year-old has won a lot of sympathy.

O-Ton Jochen Rieker Editor-in-Chief Yacht “Then it took two and a half hours, a good two and a half hours, until he could enter the canal and the port.

And that's where he was left out.

He climbed the deck ropes, which is quite a balancing act.

Whether on the right or on the left, he was on the big tree. I don't know how many smoke pots lit and how many torches.

So he actually really enjoyed this moment in depth.

Alone on the sailing boat, in storms, calm, cold, heat - nothing but water around you.

The hardships that Herrmann and the other participants endured are difficult to imagine.

O-Ton Jochen Rieker Editor-in-Chief Yacht “It is both a physical borderline experience and, simply because of the sheer work and being exposed to it, extreme accelerations that cannot be foreseen.

You don't know, now there is a left turn, it pushes me to the left and at the end of the day the autopilot decides whether it steers briefly to the left or briefly to the right.

And probably in the same way, if not even harder, is to be assessed from my point of view, the psychological burden, i.e. this constant weighing, I have to push harder to stick with it or I have to be more careful to protect my boat and myself .

According to Rieker, Herrmann is first and foremost a seaman and not a regatta sailor.

He has a great love of the sea.

But the Vendée Globe was a borderline experience.

Every day.

O-Ton Jochen Rieker Editor-in-Chief Yacht “When I asked how many of the 80 days he really enjoyed, he said exactly two.

So that already shows what an insane stress he suffered. "

Despite all the stress, Herrmann still found time to answer WhatsApp messages.

He even completed several virtual press conferences for journalists in Germany.

O-Ton Jochen Rieker Editor-in-Chief Yacht »That was the only distraction for him.

For him it was like when others take a cigarette break.

If he takes himself out of the immediate threatening situation for a moment and concentrates on the text, on a voice message or on a repair, if the conditions allow, these were all basically wellness moments for him. "

Herrmann can still not explain the accident with the fishing trawler shortly before the destination.

All warning systems had worked.

O-Ton Jochen Rieker Editor-in-Chief Yacht »From my point of view, the legally unreliable but most likely explanation may also be that he was simply so tired, so exhausted that he overheard the alarm.

That he actually only woke up to the scratching, crushing sound of the fishing vessel. "

But that's just a guess, emphasizes Rieker.

There are still rumors in the room that the fishing trawler switched off its AIS warning system.

After all, the accident went off lightly, the damage within limits.

But what about Boris Herrmann now?

He has so far left it open to participate in the Vendée Globe again in four years.

O-Ton Jochen Rieker Editor-in-Chief Yacht »I would say there is still one bill.

Also from the point of view that this was a really, very hard Vendée Globe. "

Anyone who has observed Boris Herrmann in the past few weeks can well imagine that he is tackling the adventure again.

Fifth at the premiere is a very good result.

If he is able to participate again, he will definitely benefit from his experience.