……. ich hatte bereits viele schöne Erinnerungen
—– Vendée Globe Race 2024/25 —– Vendée Globe Race auf Youtube —–
Liebe Leserschaft,
Montag, 06. Januar: Heilige 3 Könige
7 Uhr
The flying duo
The day after crossing the equator Dalin is already emerging from the doldrums. He passed the edge of the zone and was slowed down by a few clouds and other squalls, which is what Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA, 2nd) is currently enduring. While the gap had reduced (from 130 miles on Sunday to 78 miles this morning), Charlie should regain a slight lead in the coming hours. „He will come out a little earlier so it should increase again“, says Vendée Globe weather consultant Christian Dumard, adding that the finale will “…be played out on speed, on choices, on breakage and on nerves“. Dalin took stock of his race and his state of mind this morning:
„The doldrums always look easier on the map than at sea. I didn’t sleep much last night because of a storm that blocked my route a bit and the winds were unstable in strength and direction. But I’ll manage to get through it soon. We’ll do the math when Yoann has also gotten through it.
“The race will be played out on a set of parameters: the weather situation, the condition of the boat, traffic management, the skippers’ inspiration to make the right choices. It’s quite intense, the pressure is constant but that’s part of the game. All the sailors who come to the Vendée Globe with sporting ambitions would dream of being in our shoes. I’m really enjoying it, I’m more detached and under less pressure than four years ago. And we mustn’t forget that what we’re doing is just a game!“
Charlie Dalin / MACIF Santé Prévoyance
In der letzten Nacht hat sich Boris auf Rang 7 herangekämpft und der Abstand zu Rang 4 ist auf 33 Seemeilen geschmolzen. Das kann ja noch ein respektables Ergebnis für ihn werde, ich drücke ihm die Daumen, natürlich auch allen anderen aus seiner Gruppe der Plätze 4 bis 10. Am Ziel ankommen ist für jeden Regattateilnehmer schon ein Sieg:
Dienstag, 07. Januar:
Ich hab’s getan und bin begeister! Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra mit Tastatur u. Stift.
Das hatte ich mir schon zu meinen Segelzeiten gewünscht,
aber da wares es erst max. 10″ Tablets.
Mittwoch, 08. Januar:
11 Uhr
Er pirscht sich langsam auf die Position 4 vor – mehr wird es wohl nicht mehr werden können.
Ab mittags leichter Schneefall in Sindelfingen, gemischt mit Regen. Spaziergang? Ja, 14 bis 17 Uhr.
Aus dem Spaziergang wurde sogleich ein Galeriebesuch im Schauwerk Sindelfingen:
Burger King
19:15 Uhr
1. Winterkonferenz in 2025 eröffnet:
Donnerstag, 9. Januar:
9:30 Uhr
Ich durfte zu meinem quartalsweisen Kontrollbesuch bei meiner kardiologischen Praxis vorstellig werden. Ruhe-EKG und anschließend Belastungs-EKG. Alles unauffällig – ich soll in einem halben Jahr wieder erscheinen.
Neues Jahr, altes Müll-Problem
Wilder Müll ist Dauer-Aufreger
An der Sindelfinger Stadthalle stapelt sich am 7.Januar der Müll. Gerhild Dickgiesser ist entsetzt über das Ausmaß
Von Julia De Melo Coelho Cardoso und Martina Kuppinger
Donnerstag, 09. Januar 2025
Sindelfingen. Mehrere Müllsäcke und ein Chaos von bunten Plüschtieren, dazu weiterer Müll: Dieser Anblick überraschte Gerhild Dickgiesser am 7. Januar an den Containern auf dem Parkplatz an der Stadthalle. „Ich verstehe die Menschen einfach nicht, die das hinterlasssen. Auch wenn man an Feiertagen Zeit hat aufzuräumen, kann man die Sachen doch nicht einfach vor die Container werfen, wenn diese in der Zeit nicht geleert werden“, sagt die SZ/BZ-Leserin.
17 Uhr
Abendessen: Goldbraune Bratkartoffeln mt Rühr- oder Spiegelei und Curry Ketch-Up. Einfach aber scchmackhaft.
Freitag, 10. Januar:
Broken J2 hook for Malizia – Seaexplorer
This Friday morning, Boris Herrmann, currently in 6th place, reported a broken J2 headsail hook (halyard lock) on Malizia Seaexplorer. The boat and mast are safe, and the sail lashed on deck, but Boris’s ability to use his most crucial headsail is limited. This will significantly impact performance unless a repair is possible.
“If the Vendée Globe was easy, many people would do it,” says Boris. The German skipper woke up to find the J2 sliding down the forestay, its halyard torn. The sail is now lashed on deck, and he is using the smaller J3 sail. “I am losing miles and probably sliding down the rankings,” Boris admitted, estimating he could drop to 10th if unable to repair the sail.
The hook system for the J2 is an unusual safety feature Boris chose for the ability to lower the sail for repairs. A solution would likely require calmer seas and another climb up the mast, a daunting task after this week’s earlier mast repair and lightning strike.
Despite these setbacks he remains determined to find a solution and continue the race.
ETA for the first skippers January 14
Here are the latest arrival estimates for the first Vendée Globe competitors.
(ETA : Estimated Time of Arrival)
ETA:
Charlie Dalin (MACIF Santé Prévoyance): January 14, 2025
Yoann Richomme (PAPREC ARKÉA): January 14, 2025
Sébastien Simon (GROUPE DUBREUIL): Between January 16 and 17, 2025
Thomas Ruyant (VULNERABLE): Between January 22 and 24, 2025
Jérémie Beyou (Charal): Between January 22 and 24, 2025
Sam Goodchild (VULNERABLE): Between January 22 and 24, 2025
Boris Herrmann (Malizia – SeaExplorer): Between January 22 and 24, 2025
Justine Mettraux (Teamwork – Team SNEF): Between January 22 and 24, 2025
Paul Meilhat (Biotherm): Between January 22 and 24, 2025
Nicolas Lunven (HOLCIM – PRB): Between January 22 and 24, 2025
Benjamin Dutreux (GUYOT environnement – Water Family): Between January 24 and 26, 2025
Clarisse Crémer (L’Occitane en Provence): Between January 24 and 26, 2025
Samantha Davies (Initiatives-Cœur): Between January 24 and 26, 2025
Jean Le Cam (Tout commence en Finistère – Armor-lux): Between January 27 and 30, 2025
Romain Attanasio (Fortinet – Best Western): Between January 27 and 30, 2025
Damien Seguin (Apicil): Between January 27 and 30, 2025
Alan Roura (Hublot): Between January 27 and 30, 2025
These ETAs are drawn up by the Race Direction and will be updated daily.
Jede freie Minute nutze ich, um mich auf meinem neuen 14.6″ Tablet einzufuchsen.
Die helle Freude, ein solches Hig-End Tablet zu bedienen und einzurichten:
Jetzt klingelt es Jan (SY EISWETTE) gleich in den Ohren.
Endlich habe ich erneut zu Jans Instergram-Account gefunden
und 2 nette Sachen darauf entdeckt:
Das war ein toller Abenteuerspielplatz!
eine Reinkarnation erfahren, denn MEYLINO ist Chinesische Lautschrift und bedeutet:
Weiße Magnolienblüte.
Jan, da hast Du eine nette Metapher kreiert!
Jan, der Spaziergang über Deinen Instagram-Account, auf meinem neuen Tablet,
hat mir wieder sehr gefallen.
17 Uhr
Abendessen:
So geht‘s:
Pasta in kochendem Salzwasser nach Packungsangabe al dente kochen. Grünen Bohnen separat weich kochen.
Olivenöl in einer Pfanne erhitzen. Knoblauch und Pancetta im heißen Öl anrösten. Tomatenmark dazugeben und die Hitze reduzieren. Mehlieren und alles noch einmal gut durchrühren.
Ca. 150 ml Sahne nach und nach angießen, alles verrühren und die Hitze wieder etwas erhöhen. Alles kurz köcheln lassen und mit Chilisalz, Gewürzsalz und Pfeffermix würzen. Rest Sahne angießen und alles noch mal kurz köcheln lassen.
Pfanne von der Hitze nehmen Pasta und Bohnen über einem Sieb abgießen, abtropfen lassen und zur Sauce in die Pfanne geben.
Pfanne wieder auf die Hitze stellen, das Ganze gut durchrühren, noch mal kurz aufkochen und anschließend auf zwei Tellern anrichten ————————————-
Einkaufsliste für 2 Personen: 250 g HENSSLERS Pasta Rollini ,Salz, 1 Handvoll grüne Bohnen,
1 Knoblauchzehe, 80 g Pancetta oder Speck, HENSSLERS Olivenöl, 2 EL Tomatenmark, 1 TL Mehl, 200 ml Sahne, HENSSLERS Chilisalz, HENSSLERS Gewürzsalz, HENSSLERS Pfeffermix
Wir haben leichte Änderungen vorgenommen: Nur 150 g kurze Macaroni oder Spirelli, dafür 400 g grüne Bohnen, 2 EL Olivenöl, 2 Knoblauchzehen durchgedrückt, 100 g feinste Schinkenspeckstreifen, 10 Kirschtomaten halbieren und mit unterheben.
Obendrauf kann man, wer möchte, ein wenig Parmesankäse streuen.
Samstag, 11. Januar:
(Harvey ist JG 1950)
Nein, 1951, wie mich Harvey einige Tage später aufklärt – merci.
– Houston, We Have A Problem –
The Power Of Teamwork In The Vendée Globe
The Vendée Globe may be infamous for being a solo race, but sailors actually rely on their team to make it to the finish line. When a skipper faces a technical challenge in the middle of the Ocean, it triggers a coordinated response from the shore crew, whose teamwork becomes crucial in overcoming these obstacles. Take a closer look behind the scenes at how Team Malizia manages these high-stakes situations and works together to support their skipper Boris Herrmann throughout the race.
by Hélène Katz
The Vendée Globe is the toughest solo race in offshore sailing. Our skipper Boris Herrmann, like many others, has often called it the “ultimate challenge”: a single-handed, non-stop, and unassisted race around the world that pushes both boats and sailors to their physical and mental limits. Yet, despite the solitary nature of the race, no skipper can overcome this tremendous challenge alone. Behind every competitor is a dedicated team, working tirelessly, driven by passion, and, particularly in the case of Team Malizia, united by one guiding principle: teamwork. While the spotlight shines on the sailor navigating the open seas, the contributions of the team remain crucial even during the race, albeit in less visible ways.
Although skippers must sail unassisted, managing strategy, weather routing, and navigation by themselves, they are permitted to seek guidance in cases of technical or medical issues. This creates a unique dynamic where shore crews must balance providing assistance with respecting the rules of autonomy. Their role demands precision, quick thinking, and creativity to ensure that any advice or solutions are not only effective but also practical, as sailors must execute the repairs alone, with limited resources, all while continuing the race under challenging conditions.
After racing over three-quarters of the Vendée Globe with minimal issues, this week has been particularly strenuous for our skipper Boris. On Monday, he had to climb the 29-meter mast of his IMOCA racing yacht to repair a rigging issue, despite his fear of heights. Shortly afterward, a nearby lightning strike damaged several systems on board, but Boris managed to get crucial systems running again. As if that weren’t enough, he woke up this Friday morning to find his J2 sail flapping. Its hook had broken, prohibiting him to use his most important headsail until he could fix the issue, something he is currently working on. For every one of these challenges, Boris relied on the support of his shore team. But how does Team Malizia organise themselves behind the scenes?
During each race, our team uses a dedicated WhatsApp “watch group” created to ensure seamless and streamlined communication between Boris and certain team members on shore. This group includes Team director Holly Cova, Technical director Pifou Dargnies, Boat captain Stuart Mclachlan, and Head of communications Helene Katz who are all “on watch” when Boris is racing. Additional members, such as Co-skipper Will Harris, are also part of the group, ensuring a well-rounded response team. When Boris sends a message to the group, typically to report a technical issue, he receives an immediate response. To maintain constant availability, Pifou and Stuart alternate travel schedules, as do Holly and Helene, who need to manage communications and liaise with race organisers in the event of a crisis. So, what happens on shore when Boris sends a message in the “watch group”?
“When Boris informs us of a technical issue, several scenarios are possible,” explains Pifou. “If it’s a part that broke and we have a spare on board, we guide him on which bag the spare is in and how to replace the part, or how to operate the spare system. In such cases, Stuart and I usually communicate directly, as we know the boat well enough and don’t need to involve more specialised technicians.”
Another scenario arises when the issue is more serious and can’t be resolved by simply replacing a part. In such cases, repairs are necessary. “This might involve using composite materials or rigging that Boris has on board,” describes Pifou. “In these situations, we rely on the expertise of team members who specialise in boat building, rigging, electronics, or design, as well as input from manufacturers. For example, if it’s a sail issue, we would create a dedicated group including Jesse Naimark-Rowse from our team, who oversees sails, Will, a specialist in using our boat and sails, and our contact at North Sails. Together, we develop a repair solution, such as determining the weight of the patch required. Once the plan is established, we send Boris a PDF or annotated photos showing the patches and providing clear instructions.”
Teamwork is essential in these situations, with everyone focused on what is best for Boris and his race, and working together to find a viable solution as quickly as possible. The onshore team brings together their collective expertise to assess options, and provide a clear practical solution to Boris, while acting efficiently but without rushing. If the weather is expected to worsen, time-sensitivity increases as Boris may need to carry out the repair promptly. However, the decision on when to make the repair rests entirely with him, as it was the case on Monday, and will be again when he climbs the mast to fix the J2 issue. The onshore team’s role is limited to providing the necessary information and cannot involve any discussion on strategy or weather. With repair instructions at hand, Boris can seize what he thinks is the best window for the repair using material he has already onboard and can hopefully resume racing at full capacity as soon as possible.
The need for people on shore to assist Boris on technical or medical issues – the only cases when outside assistance is allowed in the Vendée Globe – can happen at any time in the race, from the moment the start gun goes off to when he crosses the finish line 80 days later. Or, like this week unfortunately, several times in a row. “As is often the case in the Vendée Globe, the rounding of Cape Horn feels like a point of relief”, comments Pifou, who’s been involved in five Vendée Globe campaigns, including three as technical director. “That is because, at that stage, there’s an opportunity to stop and save both the boat and the skipper in case of major issues. But it’s also often the start of big problems because, during the Southern Ocean leg, there aren’t many moments to thoroughly check the boat. As a result, there’s significant wear and tear. Sometimes skippers discover them before entering the Southern Ocean and at other times later on, as this week when Boris noticed the worn backstay arbalète cover.”
Pifou continues: “The first thing is always to assess the situation. That means gathering photos and information. Then I send a quick message to one of our experts in the team, in the case of the arbalète it was to our rigger Olivier Cusin. He checks that my understanding and notes of the situation are correct, whether we’re dealing with that particular toggle, its type of covering, double sheath, etc. Next, I set up a group and contact the supplier, asking if they’ve seen similar damage on other boats, what the risks are, how much strain it can handle if we continue sailing in this state, and so on. Once we have a plan for the repair and the supplier confirms their view, I share the updates with Stuart, so that everyone can give their input.”
When everyone agrees, and only then, Pifou creates a group with everyone involved, including Boris. “That way, Boris isn’t overwhelmed by back-and-forth messages, and we’re all on the same page. The goal is always to find the best and simplest option for Boris and his race, that’s what matters. For example, with the arbalète issue, everything went really well. Boris provided live feedback and even shared videos in the group”, notes Pifou. Unfortunately, the arbalète issue wasn’t the only challenge this week. Boris and the team had to repeat this workflow twice more to address other technical problems, including one that, for now, remains unresolved as they work to restore the use of his J2 sail. While those events bring the team together, they also involve a lot of stress and adrenaline, not only for the skipper but also for the team on shore. “That’s the challenge of being on land, it can be tough to handle too, as you feel powerless to take action. It’s also a learning curve to manage that”, concludes Pifou.
When Boris messages in the “watch group”, it not only triggers a response by the technical team. Working around the clock to share Boris’ journey during the race, the communications team also displays a great team effort to rapidly update partners, media, and fans. Always eager to communicate authentically, Boris usually sends very informative videos or voice messages explaining the situation, more often than not when the issue is still ongoing. Occasionally, the communications team will ask the technical team to double-check or provide a further explanation, always making sure the general public can understand too. “There’s a whole process that needs to happen with the content Boris sends”, explains Holly. “Our media, social media, and content team consists of two to four women that are well-coordinated and doing a great job in bringing Boris’ story to the public”, explains Holly. “Should a crisis arise, Helene and I would make sure that the certain required extra steps are taken before communicating, but otherwise things are shared very quickly and authentically, like this morning with the J2 issue for example.”
Teamwork lies at the heart of both our sailing endeavours and the operations of our partners in industries like logistics, finance, and insurance. Just as Boris relies on a well-coordinated team to overcome challenges during the Vendée Globe, our partners depend on collaboration to navigate their own high-stakes environments. Whether it’s managing complex supply chains, ensuring financial stability, or mitigating risks, these industries thrive on seamless communication, shared expertise, and mutual trust to provide innovative solutions and expertise that enable success in their fields. This shared commitment to teamwork underscores the universal value of collaboration, whether on the open sea or in the business world.
Even though the Vendée Globe is a solo race, every message in the “watch group” represents the collective effort of a dedicated team working seamlessly behind the scenes. Each Malizian contributes their unique expertise to ensure Boris can continue the race with confidence and tell his story, proving that even in a challenge designed for one, success is truly a team effort.
Um Platz 4 segelt Boris nun wohl nicht mehr mit.
– aber warten wir die Ziellinie ab –
Große Trauer um Sam Moore: Der Sänger, der mit Hits wie „Soul Man“ und „Hold On, I’m Comin'“ Musikgeschichte schrieb, ist im Alter von 89 Jahren verstorben.
Sam Moore, Teil des ikonischen Soul-Duos Sam & Dave, ist Freitagmorgen in Coral Gables, Florida, nach Komplikationen einer Operation verstorben. Das gab sein Sprecher bekannt, wie unter anderem das US-Magazin „Variety“ berichtete.
Moore wurde 89 Jahre alt.
Sam Moore und sein Musikkollege Dave Prater waren in den Sechzigerjahren mit Hits wie „Hold On, I’m Comin'“ und „Soul Man“ äußerst erfolgreich gewesen. Letzterer Song erhielt einen Grammy Award für die beste R&B-Gruppenperformance.
17:30 Uhr
Abendessen: Frische grobe Bratwurst mit Sauerkraut, Röstzwiebeln und Kartoffelpüree:
Sonntag, 12. Januar:
das heutige Geburtstagskind (JG 1972),
diese nette Geburtstagskarte geschickt.
Seitdem verwende ich sie bei jeder Gelegenheit.