Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 TOP

The relaunch of Holcim-PRB marks the final stretch towards the Vendée Globe for Nicolas Lunven

by Team HOLCIM - PRB 14 Aug 2024 06:36 PDT
The relaunch of Holcim-PRB marks the final stretch towards the Vendée Globe for Nicolas Lunven © polaRYSE

The entire Holcim-PRB team gathered today in Port-La-Forêt for the relaunch of the IMOCA that Nicolas Lunven will helm this autumn around the world. After two transatlantic races and a 2-month refit, the green and blue 60' IMOCA returned to the water this morning.

The technical team, led by Sébastien Col, was then able to install one of the new foils, which the Holcim-PRB skipper will test during a three-day offshore training session starting next week. The second foil will be installed tomorrow. Equipped with these new appendages, the IMOCA is expected to gain in performance.

All attention will be on them during the upcoming offshore sailings, as Nicolas Lunven explains: "We hope this new pair of foils will lead to an overall improvement in Holcim-PRB's performance, and therefore more speed. At the moment, we are unable to say in which wind conditions they will be most favorable. What is certain is that they will bring more tolerance in navigation because they are more flexible than the previous ones. This should generate more self-regulation. In terms of shape, these foils have a straighter but also more horizontal tip, with a smaller curvature radius at the elbow. I am really looking forward to sailing to test them. If they give us full satisfaction, I will do the Vendée Globe with this pair of foils. If we have any doubts, I will sail with the old ones that we now know well," said the skipper, pleased to see his boat back in the water.

As for the team, smiles were visible at the end of the day after a quick relaunch and installation of the first foil. For Sébastien Col, the team manager, this end of the refit is a real satisfaction as they approach the final stretch towards the Vendée Globe.

"I am impressed by the commitment of each team member. It was an important refit, the last before the round-the-world race, and everyone gave their best to meet the schedule and allow Nicolas to return to sailing as soon as possible." Rosalin Kuiper, who will take over the helm of the IMOCA after the Vendée Globe, participated in all the operations of this relaunch. The skipper is delighted to see the boat at 100% of its potential and is Nicolas's biggest supporter, who will compete in the Defi Azimut in September before bringing the 60 foot to Les Sables d'Olonne, the departure city for the Vendée Globe, in mid-October.

Related Articles

Tom Dolan takes second place in IMOCA 60 Class
Wrapped up his season with Team Charal on a high note in the Rolex Fastnet Race Irish sailor Tom Dolan, skipper of Figaro 3 Kingspan, wrapped up his season with Team Charal on a high note, securing second place in the IMOCA 60 class at the centenary edition of the prestigious Rolex Fastnet Race. Posted today at 7:48 am
Bonafous scores her first IMOCA class win
After close battle with Charal for Rolex Fastnet Race glory The French sailor Elodie Bonafous' spectacular start to her career in the IMOCA Class continued today as she followed up second place in the Course des Caps earlier this month with her first victory in the Class in the Rolex Fastnet Race. Posted on 29 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race Day 4
Black Jack 100 takes monohull line honours ahead of arch rivals Remon Vos' RP100 Black Jack 100, skippered by Tristan Le Brun, has taken Monohull Line Honours in the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race. Posted on 29 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race Day 3
SVR Lazartigue defends her multihull line honours As dawn was showing its first rays this morning off Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, so the sleek light blue triple-hulled form of the Ultim trimaran SVR Lazartigue sped across the finish line of the 51st Rolex Fastnet Race to collect overall line honours. Posted on 28 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race Start - Jason Ludlow Gallery
A superb gallery of some of the fastest offshore yachts in the world We're used to seeing Jason's photos at SailGP events, and here he concentrated on the fastest yachts in the Centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race. Enjoy these amazing shots of some of the fastest offshore yachts in the world! Posted on 27 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race Day 2
Australian first timers in the chocolates Compared to the morning after the start of the last two Rolex Fastnet Races, this year's special centenary edition has seen just a tiny number of retirements as the frontrunners fan out across the Celtic Sea. Posted on 27 Jul
SVR Lazartigue rounds the Fastnet Rock first
In the Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race The Ultim trimaran SVR Lazartigue was the first yacht to round the Fastnet Rock in the Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race 2025, rounding at 15:22:53 today. Posted on 27 Jul
Be Water Positive retires from Rolex Fastnet Race
Technical issue with one of the boat's key hydraulic control systems Be Water Positive made the difficult decision to retire from the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race following a technical issue with one of the boat's key hydraulic control systems that stabilise the mast, provide mainsail controls and foil adjustment. Posted on 27 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race gets underway with record fleet
Spectators in their thousands swarmed Cowes Green and the shores of the western Solent Spectators in their thousands swarmed Cowes Green and the shores of the western Solent to witness the starts of the 51st Rolex Fastnet Race from 1120 until 1320 BST today. Posted on 26 Jul
Rolex Fastnet Race Start - Tom Hicks Photo Gallery
Stuunning shots from as 444 yachts start the centenary edition of the race! Tom Hicks is out on the Solent for all the major events and has captured some stunning moments from today's start of the Centenary Rolex Fastnet Race. Take a look at the shots below and far more in the gallery above! Posted on 26 Jul
Lloyd Stevenson - AC Alinghi 1456x180px BOTTOMZhik 2024 DecemberPredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 BOTTOM