Professional Offshore Sailor

Boris Herrmann

Boris Herrmann is a professional offshore sailor currently involved in The Ocean Race, the fully crewed round the world regatta. His team, Malizia, competes on the highest level in the toughest races, inspires action & creates awareness and highlight solutions to the climate crisis.

Boris Herrmanns’ career started in 2001 when he was the youngest (and only German) participant in the Mini Transat race, a single-handed yacht race across the Atlantic. Since then he has competed in many offshore races and has circumnavigated the world 5 times.

In 2020 Boris became the first German to ever compete in the Vendee Globe, a solo non-stop around the world race finishing in 5th place. The race lasted 80 days, with the rules prohibiting any outside assistance.  

Boris Herrmann’s project doesn’t end there: aboard his vessel, Malizia – Seaexplorer the German navigator carries a SubCtech ocean sensor on all his ocean races. This laboratory measures ocean CO2, PH, salinity and water temperature, in partnership with the Max Planck institute for Meteorology, Geomar Kiel and Ifremer this data is used around the world. These twofold sporting and scientific challenges are very important to Boris. Through the award winning Malizia Ocean Challenge, the team also educates children around the world about ocean and climate change, setting an example for future generations who are also part of his A Race We Must Win campaign.“