The Ocean Race Atlantic has officially commenced off the coast of New York, launching an elite fleet of IMOCA racing yachts into a demanding sprint across the North Atlantic toward Lorient, France. Among the headline competitors is German skipper Boris Herrmann, who is putting his newly constructed racing yacht through its first major competitive evaluation against a field of five contending teams.
A Foggy Departure Off Manhattan
Despite the gray conditions, skippers and crews gathered on the Hudson River near the Statue of Liberty to mark the start of the adventure. Elodie-Jane Mettraux, a sailor aboard 11th Hour Racing whose sister Justine is serving as co-skipper alongside Herrmann on the Malizia entry, described the departure as super emotional for the teams before heading out to open water.
Course Logistics and the 145-Mile Offshore Start
While the ceremonial send-off took place near the city, environmental regulations and marine protected areas required race organizers to establish the official starting line further out to sea. The competitive clock officially begins 145 nautical miles—roughly 270 kilometers—off the United States coastline. From that line, the fleet faces an approximate 3,000-nautical-mile journey (about 5,500 kilometers) across the North Atlantic to the finish port in Lorient.
High Speeds and an Impending Heavy Weather Test
Organizers project a race duration of roughly eight to nine days, though competing skippers expect an even faster crossing if conditions hold. Oliver Heer, skipper of the Embrace The Challenge entry, noted that the route appears fast with minimal maneuvers required, stating expectations to reach Lorient in under seven days. However, Boris Herrmann remains cautious about the immediate outlook. Roughly two months after the launch of his new yacht, Herrmann faces a severe test as a strong low-pressure system packing high winds and heavy seas bear down on the fleet. The German skipper noted that the new vessel has not yet been tested in such extreme conditions, describing the upcoming days as a massive adventure filled with both uncertainty and anticipation.
Performance Legacy and the 24-Hour Record Context
The new campaign follows a successful history for the German team, which set a 24-hour distance record for monohull yachts during the previous edition of The Ocean Race in May 2023 by logging 641.13 nautical miles in a single day at an average speed of 26.71 knots. While race organizers suggest conditions at the start of this Atlantic sprint could provide an opportunity to challenge that milestone again, Herrmann has maintained a skeptical view on chasing records given the unproven nature of his current boat in heavy weather.
