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Boris Herrmann plays one of the leading roles in the final thriller of the Vendée Globe.

Three days before the decision, the 39-year-old skipper of the "Seaexplorer - Yacht Club de Monaco" was on a podium after a thrilling solo circumnavigation on Monday afternoon.

He kept his chance to write a chapter of sailing history with a win after 80 days around the world.

After having sailed more than 27,000 miles around the world, the father of a seven-month-old daughter is fighting for the crown of circumnavigators with an armada of virtuoso French sailing soloists.

Never before in three decades of dazzling Vendée Globe history has a non-French won the regatta that sailors compare with the “ascent of Mount Everest by sea”.

Herrmann has long been the new sailing star in his home country.

"Boris has made sailing mainstream in a country where the evening television program usually only consists of football," said Skiff European Champion Susann Beucke.

The sailmaker, 38-time German champion and singer Frank Schönfeldt even dedicated his own song to Herrmann with the title: "Boris, fly!"

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“Boris Herrmann is a godsend for German sailing.

He links his own goals with responsibility for future generations and the environment.

That and his communicative nature make him very likeable in addition to the success, ”said Mona Küppers, President of the German Sailing Association.

Since the start of the Vendée Globe on November 8th, as a committed first-time participant, Herrmann is sure to attract attention.

ARD, NDR, ZDF and other stations report during prime time.

“In the media, it is the best thing that has happened to German sailing in a long time,” said three-time Olympic and two-time America's Cup winner Jochen Schümann.

Born in Oldenburg, he moved out of the East Frisian Wadden Sea to conquer the sailing world.

Herrmann's meticulous preparation for the Vendée Globe adventure, his talent as a regatta sailor and his communication skills inspire sports fans.

He gives you deep insights into life at sea.

"We achieved many of our goals before the final"

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Herrmann never let the flow of gripping pictures, videos and interviews from on board stop, even in dark hours such as when the mainsail tore in a storm off Cape Horn.

At the same time, the man who sailed the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg at the side of his friend and co-skipper Pierre Casiraghi across the Atlantic in 2019 used the marathon to motivate and inspire his fans in the fight against climate change and for the health of the seas.

“We achieved many of our goals before the final.

I'm happy about that, ”said Herrmann.

As the new star of German sailing, the business administration graduate is fighting intensively these days under intensive observation of his own and increasingly many TV cameras for the crowning glory of his adventurous trip around the world.

Immediately after crossing the finish line, he will be able to hug his wife Birte Lorenzen-Herrmann for the first time in three months on board.

"I am most looking forward to that and to seeing our daughter Malou and our family dog ​​Lilli again," said Herrmann, who a few days after his arrival wants to start his journey home to Hamburg's native HafenCity.

Everyday tasks such as putting up curtains and building a baby bed await him there.

"I'm not a very talented handyman," said Herrmann with a smile.

At sea he had shone more than once with repair qualities á la TV character MacGyver.

"Maybe I can take some of this motivation home with me."