With rough seas and high winds behind him, a battered and bruised Boris Herrmann has crossed the finish line off Les Sables d’Olonne to take 12th in the Vendée Globe. The German skipper, who completed the around-the-world race aboard the Monaco-based Malizia – Seaexplorer, had been a favourite going into the event but faced difficult weather and technical issues, which hampered his chances of finishing within the Top 10.

It was just after 11pm on Wednesday 29th January when Herrmann finally crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe, his second consecutive attempt at the iconic event and his sixth race or record passage around the globe. With a race time of 80 days, 10 hours and 16 minutes, Herrmann’s efforts earned him 12th place.

After finishing third in The Ocean Race and the New York-Vendée, Herrmann was among the pre-race favourites, but a tough Atlantic descent and damage to his port foil derailed his ambitions of finishing further up the table. Going into the race, the sailor from Hamburg, a familiar face in Monaco, had said that “anything outside the Top 10 would be a disappointment”.

But the conditions were often against him, and he was forced to battle against significant technical issues and tough weather systems, particularly on his return to Europe, where he experienced 65-knot winds and 10-metre waves.

See more: Vendée Globe: Boris Herrmann proves lightning can strike twice

It was the opposite that held him back initially, with light winds preventing him from reaching the leaders in the early stages. Once in the Pacific, Herrmann put in a massive effort to catch up the best part of 1,000 nautical miles to rejoin the action in the main peloton.

Then, on the return leg across the Atlantic, Herrmann faced a series of technical issues that hindered his chances once again. After rounding Cape Horn, he spent a long time racing near Sam Goodchild, who ultimately finished in ninth, but the British sailor eventually pulled ahead. Herrmann’s hopes of a Top 10 finish were dashed when his port foil was damaged beyond repair.

In all, Herrmann covered a distance of 29,201 nautical miles at an average speed of 15.13 knots and kept his fans and followers abreast of his journey and conservation efforts throughout the race. He remained committed to promoting environmental sustainability and raising awareness about ocean health, despite the challenges of the race, deploying a series of weather buoys to aid in the collection of vital ocean data.

Though he may be disappointed with 12th, his completion of the race, which was won by Frenchman Charlie Dalin in 64 days, 19 hours and 22 minutes, is a testament to his determination and prowess as one of the most experienced and respected sailors in the fleet.

Read related:

Charlie Dalin earns record Vendée Globe win as Boris Herrmann edges closer to the finish line

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: Boris Herrmann Racing, Instagram