German sailor Boris Herrmann finished the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe solo transatlantic race at 17:47h.30s CET this afternoon to take fifth place in the IMOCA class on his first attempt at the 3,542-nautical mile solo race from Saint Malo in Brittany to Guadeloupe.

The 37-year old three-time circumnavigator from Hamburg, who races Malizia 2 in the colours of the Yacht Club of Monaco, took 13 days, three hours and 47minutes for the race which is run every four years. He finished 16 hours and 24 minutes behind IMOCA division winner Paul Meilhat of France.

Herrmann said: “I am happy with my race, I wanted to finish in the to- five and I am there. I think this result is a good representation of my level. I made some strategic mistakes, I did not push hard enough in the first part, but it is good benchmark where I am and of how I need to push on to keep up with the others.”

routedurhum.com