In this week's episode of the Malizia Vendée Show, Holly Cova is joined by Will Harris and Cole Brauer as Boris Herrmann battles extreme conditions in the North Atlantic, closing in on the Vendée Globe finish - First streamed live on 01/27/2025

The brutal weather Boris is facing is the main topic of conversation this week - massive waves, gusts up to 65 knots, and a challenging route to the finish in Les Sables-d’Olonne. Will explains the unpredictable storm systems rolling through, making the final approach a tactical and physical challenge. Cole, still sailing in the Southern Ocean, shares her own experience with wild conditions, including a chaotic moment mid-show when she had to rush off to deal with an autopilot issue.

Despite everything, Boris remains incredibly positive, even asking Cole for Netflix recommendations to pass the time. The team discusses his resilience, the mental game of offshore racing, and the importance of simply finishing after such a demanding race. With uncertainty around when and how Boris will cross the line - especially given rough conditions that could delay his arrival - the team is keeping a close eye on the forecast, ready to welcome him home whenever he makes it in.

Music by Rex Banner from Artist.io
Recorded by Holly Cova, Will Harris & Cole Brauer
Produced by Holly Cova & Dani Devine
Edited by Dani Devine

Copyright Team Malizia SAS and Boris Herrmann Racing GmbH

In this week’s episode of the Malizia Vendée Show host Holly Cova is joined by Will Harris, Cole Brauer and Special Guest Pifou Dargnies, Team Malizia Technical Director - First streamed live on 20/01/2025

It has been an eventful couple of weeks for Boris Herrmann as he approaches the finish line of the Vendée Globe, and this week the team dives into the series of technical challenges he has faced - from a lightning strike that knocked out most of his instruments, to a second demanding mast climb, and finally, the biggest setback - the loss of his starboard foil after a collision with an unknown object.

As always, Will gives a weather update, explaining the difficult upwind conditions ahead, while Pifou provides insight into the foil damage, why Boris chose to secure it rather than cut it away, and the challenges that decision now presents.

Despite everything, Boris remains focused and determined, navigating the North Atlantic in a compromised but still-racing boat. Cole and Will discuss the mental resilience needed to push through setbacks, and Holly reminds viewers to leave messages of support for Boris, who reads every comment. With an intense final week ahead, the team looks toward the finish in Les Sables-d’Olonne, hoping for some smoother sailing in the home stretch.

Pifou Dargnies is the Technical Director at Team Malizia, overseeing the technical aspects of the Malizia-Seaexplorer campaign. With over a decade of experience, Pifou previously led the Charal IMOCA programme, achieving standout results scuh as third place in the 2022 Route du Rhum. His career began as an engineer with Roland Jourdain, and he competed in the 2013 Mini Transat. A longtime friend of skipper Boris Herrmann, Pifou focuses on optimising the yacht’s performance for events like The Ocean Race and the Vendée Globe.

Learn more about Pifou here: www.team-malizia.com/press-releases/pierre-francois-pifou-dargnies-joins-team-malizia-as-technical-director

Music by Rex Banner from Artist.io
Recorded by Holly Cova, Will Harris, Cole Brauer & Pifou Dargnies
Produced by Holly Cova & Dani Devine
Edited by Dani Devine

Copyright Team Malizia SAS and Boris Herrmann Racing GmbH

The team are spread wide in this episode on the Malizia Vendée Show, with Holly Cova dealing in from Tenerife, Will Harris joining from the UK, Cole Brauer joining from the Southern Ocean and Dr. Léa Olivier joining from onboard Polarstern, a German research icebreaker that is used to study the Arctic and Antarctic - First streamed live on 06/01/2025

As always, Will provides updates on Boris’ race strategy, the current fleet positions, and the impact of South Atlantic weather patterns on the race dynamics. Cole shares her recent challenges in the Southern Ocean, including adjusting to lighter winds and preparing her boat for the tougher conditions ahead.

Léa shares the importance of data collected by boats like Malizia-Seaexplorer, explaining how it’s used to track CO2 absorption in the Ocean. Her anecdotes about life on a research ship, spotting penguins and albatrosses, and deploying deep-sea instruments painted an engaging picture of science in action.

Boris was also a big focus, with updates on his mental resilience and an upcoming mast climb to fix a vital component of the running backstay. Will broke down the technicalities of the repair and its significance for Boris’ performance. The conversation turned reflective, with Cole sharing her own experiences of solo mast climbs and the mental strength required.

The show wrapped up on a light note, with everyone sharing their favourite sailing books.

Dr. Léa Olivier is a scientist at the Alfred Wegener Institute, specialising in ocean and climate research, with a focus on the Southern Ocean's carbon sink and its response to climate change. Her work investigates how physical Ocean processes impact CO₂ exchange between the Ocean and atmosphere. Dr. Olivier collaborates with Team Malizia by utilising data collected through their onboard scientific equipment, such as the Ocean Pack, which measures Oceanic CO₂ levels. Her expertise bridges scientific research and offshore sailing, contributing valuable insights to global climate studies.

Music by Rex Banner from Artist.io
Recorded by Holly Cova, Will Harris, Cole Brauer & Dr. Léa Olivier
Produced by Holly Cova & Dani Devine
Edited by Dani Devine

Copyright Team Malizia SAS and Boris Herrmann Racing GmbH