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Technological Innovation drives peak performance in the Vendée Globe

Sponsorships • Sailing

2 min read

Technological Innovation drives peak performance in the Vendée Globe

On Tuesday, 14 January, Charlie Dalin, the French skipper of MACIF Santé Prévoyance, crossed the finish line in Les Sables d’Olonne, winning the Vendée Globe after 64 days, 19 hours, and 22 minutes at sea, and breaking the previous race record by an incredible nine days.

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The 10th edition of the Vendée Globe has certainly cemented its status as one of the toughest challenges in sport. The legendary single-handed, non-stop, unassisted race around the world continues to push both the sailors and their boats to the very limits of physical and mental endurance. 

After navigating three quarters of the race with minimal issues, last week was a true test of resilience and teamwork for our partners Team Malizia and their skipper, Boris Herrmann. Whilst locked in a fierce battle for a spot within the top five, Boris had to climb Malizia – Seaexplorer’s 29 metre mast to repair a rigging issue, overcoming his fear of heights in the process.

Then, a freak lightning strike damaged several systems on board during a massive storm at sea. With the support of the on shore team, Boris managed to restore the most critical elements, only to discover the next day that his most important headsail was damaged, limiting its use. This required yet another mast climb, and under the continued guidance of the on shore team, the repair was successfully completed and he is now back on track in the race.

Boris Herrmann has just crossed the equator for the second time, returning to the Northern Hemisphere and despite the numerous challenges, he remains determined and upbeat. As the race approaches its final stages, he is pushing hard to secure a strong position in the top ten. For Team Malizia however, a competitive performance in prestigious offshore races like the Vendée Globe is also about leveraging the state of the art technology onboard Malizia – Seaexplorer.

During this edition of the Vendée Globe, speed records have tumbled, highlighting the relentless pace of technological innovation over the years. IMOCA racing teams invest significant resources in research and development, aiming to build faster, more sustainable boats. Every element of Malizia – Seaexplorer, from the hull shape to the sail configuration, is optimised to deliver peak performance and advancements in technologies such as autopilot systems also enhance safety, allowing sailors to focus more on the race itself.

Many of the same principles - such as risk management, technological innovation and a focus on performance - are also key in finance and professional sailing teams like Team Malizia can serve as a powerful source of inspiration. As technology evolves and competition intensifies, their commitment to innovation and focus on performance encourages us to embrace the spirit of continuous improvement, and push the boundaries of what is possible in our world. 

You can follow Boris Herrmann’s progress via the Vendée Globe race tracker.
 

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