Boris Herrmann passes Point Nemo in the Vendée Globe, the most remote location in the ocean
by Team Malizia 23 Dec 2024 13:16 GMT
23 December 2024
A happy Boris Herrmann on Day 40 in the Vendée Globe 2024-2025 © Boris Herrmann / Team Malizia
This Monday morning, Team Malizia's skipper Boris Herrmann reached yet another milestone in the Vendée Globe 2024-2025. Currently racing in 7th place against 35 remaining competitors, he passed near Point Nemo, the place furthest from any land. The German solo sailor celebrated this key passage at 06:43 UTC after approximately 42 days, 18 hours, and 36 minutes at sea.
Team Malizia's skipper Boris Herrmann successfully passed the longitude of Point Nemo onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer this Monday 23 December 2024 at approximately 06:43 UTC. Located in the Pacific Ocean at 48 degrees52.6 South, 123 degrees23.6 West, Point Nemo is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth. This iconic location takes its name from the solitude-loving captain in Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and represents a key moment for round-the-world offshore sailors, especially those competing solo in races like the Vendée Globe.
Also known as the "oceanic pole of inaccessibility", Point Nemo is located about 2,688 kilometers from Ducie Island, which is part of the Pitcairn Islands, a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean with a population of just 35. While passing Point Nemo, Boris Herrmann found himself closer to astronauts of the International Space Station, orbiting just 416 kilometers above Earth, than to any other humans (aside from some of his Vendée Globe competitors). This remarkable location also holds significance for space exploration, serving as the designated crash site for decommissioned spacecraft and satellites due to its extreme isolation.
Despite its untouched appearance, Point Nemo is far from a thriving hub of biodiversity. Known as a biological desert, its waters are low in nutrients, offering minimal support for marine life. As a result, Vendée Globe fans shouldn't expect sightings of dolphins or whales in photos of the sailors near this desolate stretch of Ocean in the coming days.
Now on his sixth circumnavigation, Boris Herrmann has sailed through this remote location of the world multiple times. It is also his second time onboard Malizia - Seaexplorer, having previously crossed the longitude of Point Nemo during Leg 3 of The Ocean Race 2022-2023 with a crew on the same yacht. In the last edition of the Vendée Globe, the German skipper reached this point on his 51st day at sea. Today, he passed it after 42 days, 18 hours, and 36 minutes, underscoring the increased competitiveness of this race compared to the previous one.
Over the past days, Boris Herrmann has been racing in unstable Southern Ocean conditions, jibing along the Antarctic Exclusion Zone. On Saturday evening, the Team Malizia skipper overtook Yannick Bestaven aboard Maître Coq, claiming 7th place from the French sailor who won the last edition of the race. The encounter was a memorable moment for both sailors and fans, as the boats crossed each other's paths closely in the middle of the Pacific. Their mutual joy showcased true seamanship and resulted in a series of captivating photos and videos.
After a snowy day at sea, a first for the German, and a few hours of match racing between the two skippers, Boris Herrmann is now laser-focused on closing the gap to Nicolas Lunven aboard Holcim-PRB and Jérémie Beyou on Charal, currently in sixth and fifth place, respectively. Adding an extra layer of motivation, Boris Herrmann is charging toward his favorite cape, which he will round for the seventh time: Cape Horn.
Team Malizia's A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now! mission is only possible due to the strong and long-lasting commitment from its seven main partners: Kuehne+Nagel, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Hapag-Lloyd, Schütz, the Yacht Club de Monaco, EFG International, and Zurich Group Germany. These partners band behind Team Malizia to support its campaign, each of them working towards projects in their own field to innovate around climate solutions.