The Ocean Race: Stroke of luck as Team Malizia say replacement foils are 'faster' than damaged originals
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ByEurosport
Updated 12/01/2023 at 14:30 GMT
Team Malizia came out on top in a thrilling In-Port Race Alicante, despite having to fit last-minute replacement foils after the originals were damaged. Skipper Boris Herrmann rued his team's bad luck, but has now admitted that the unwanted change could be a blessing in disguise as the new foils are “faster than before on some angles”.
Highlights: Malizia seize maximum points at In-Port Race Alicante
Team Malizia’s thrilling victory in the In-Port Race Alicante was only possible thanks to last minute replacement foils the team was able to fit ahead of the start of The Ocean Race which have turned out to be "faster on some angles" than the damaged originals, according to skipper Boris Herrmann.
A frenetic race was won by Malizia after four of the five IMOCAs held the lead at some point, with the team skippered by Herrmann coming from fourth place to lead, and ultimately win, a fraught encounter.
The victory came with the team debuting new foils - the wings out the side of the boat that allow it to lift out of the water at speed.
All this after Malizia’s foils were damaged in the build up to the race.
"That was some really bad luck, a real downer before coming here. I think the whole team deserves today’s win after what they’ve been through, a little bit of a lift for the spirit," Herrmann said.
A last minute replacement of non-customised foils would usually be seen as a worst-case scenario, given they are designed to fit a specific boat, but Sunday’s victory left Herrmann questioning whether they are better off with the unexpected new set-up.
“It seems like the new foils are working well for us,” said Herrmann.
“We went out the day before the In-Port Race in about 25 knots of wind and the foils felt very good. On some angles they were faster than before and I haven’t found anything worse than before. So it might be a happy accident.
“If there is another strong wind day between now and the Leg 1 start, we will ask permission to go out again and see what else we can learn about these foils.”
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