Vendée Globe: Why Malizia gets wood paneling - fans worry about Boris Herrmann

Background: Boris Herrmann is the first German to compete in the Vendée Globe

Boris Herrmann is the first German to compete in the Vendée Globe, a single-handed, non-stop sailing race around the world. He is currently in fifth place, but his boat, Malizia, has been damaged. The team has decided to install a temporary wood paneling on the hull to protect it from further damage.

The damage to Malizia

Malizia was damaged on December 10th when it hit a floating object in the Pacific Ocean. The impact caused a hole in the hull, which has been temporarily repaired with tape. The team is now installing a more permanent solution, which is a wood paneling that will be fixed to the hull with screws.

The concerns of the fans

The installation of the wood paneling has raised concerns among some of Herrmann's fans. They are worried that it could slow down Malizia and make it difficult for Herrmann to catch up to the other competitors. The team has said that the paneling is necessary to protect the boat from further damage and that it will not significantly affect its speed.

The Vendée Globe

The Vendée Globe is a single-handed, non-stop sailing race around the world. The race starts and finishes in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France, and takes place every four years. The 2020-2021 edition of the race started on November 8th, 2020, and is scheduled to finish in March 2021. The race is considered one of the most challenging in the world of sailing.

Boris Herrmann

Boris Herrmann is a German yachtsman and the first German to compete in the Vendée Globe. He was born in Hamburg, Germany, in 1981. He started sailing at the age of 10 and has since competed in numerous races, including the Mini Transat and the Route du Rhum. Herrmann is also known for his work in environmental protection. He is the founder of the Malizia Ocean Foundation, which is a non-profit organization that works to protect the oceans.