Port Foil Breaks on Boris Herrmann's Malizia - Seaexplorer in the Vendée Globe

This morning, on Thursday 16 January 2025, Team Malizia's skipper Boris Herrmann informed his team and race management about serious damage to the port foil of his Malizia - Seaexplorer racing yacht following a collision with an OANI (abbreviation of a French term for "unidentified object or animal" used when the skipper does not know what he collided with). The incident happened at 02:31 UTC during the night as Boris Herrmann was sailing in the Vendée Globe race in the North Atlantic at 10 degreesN and 37 degreesW, approximately 900 nautical miles off the northeast coast of Brazil, and 13,7 knots boat speed. Boris Herrmann is safe and unharmed. After initial inspection of the boat, the German skipper reported severe damage to the port foil. The rest of the boat has no obvious damage and he is able to continue sailing. After inspection it was clear that the damage is not repairable and the foil rendered unusable. On discussing the situation with his team they agreed if left in place, it could likely compromise the integrity of the hull and the safety of the boat. The team is currently assessing whether, given the extent of the damage and its location, it is feasible to move the foil, to retract it as much as possible, and to keep it secured until the finish. Should this not be safe or possible, Boris Herrmann would be left with no choice but to try to cut the foil from the boat.