Nicolas Lunven sets off on his first Vendée Globe aboard Holcim-PRB
by Team HOLCIM - PRB 10 Nov 2024 08:19 PST
10 November 2024
Nicolas Lunven aboard Holcim-PRB starts the 10th Vendée Globe © polaRYSE
This morning, even before sunrise, crowds gathered along the iconic channel of Les Sables d'Olonne, ready to experience an intensely emotional moment.
In the still thick darkness around 7 a.m., Nicolas Lunven joined his technical team for final preparations. After a few last words exchanged with his partners and team, the skipper of Holcim-PRB headed towards his boat, boarding the vessel that will be his only companion for the coming months.
At exactly 8:12 a.m., Holcim-PRB's technical team released him from the dock, where he had been moored for three weeks, allowing the IMOCA to point its bow and begin an emotional journey up the channel. Standing alone at the front of the mast, Nicolas was able to take in all the encouragement from the hundreds of thousands of people who came to see the forty skippers of the Vendée Globe. He shared this moment with several members of his technical team and with his wife, who was present on board for this unforgettable moment. "It's hard to sum up the Vendée Globe in one word, but I'd say 'teamwork.' If I'm able to participate in the Vendée Globe, it's thanks to the commitment of an entire team around me and the support of exceptional partners. If I had one word to say to them today, it would be simply, THANK YOU," Nicolas said before leaving the docks of Les Sables d'Olonne.
Showing none of the emotion that filled him, the skipper of Holcim-PRB already seemed determined to face the challenge he has been preparing for: "Participating in the Vendée Globe is a dream that will begin to come true at the start. But in reality, this dream began a year ago. The preparation phase has also been thrilling. The race course is incredible, marked by legendary places that I look forward to seeing or discovering. I've already rounded Cape Horn once in competition, and I hope to see it again in a few weeks. But what draws me just as much are the unique lights of the Southern Hemisphere, with their deep and shifting hues. Down there, every sunrise and sunset has a special atmosphere."
A reliable boat and a determined skipper
This Vendée Globe departure marks the end of several months of hard work by the Holcim-PRB team, who dedicated all their expertise and energy to preparing for this moment. The green and blue IMOCA has already proven its capabilities by completing a round-the-world tour—with a crew—during last year's The Ocean Race, covering thousands of miles and testing its limits in every possible condition. This experience allowed the boat to be fully optimized to face the immense challenge of a solo, nonstop, and unassisted round-the-world journey. Nicolas Lunven knows this IMOCA inside out. Over the past year, he has crossed the Atlantic four times aboard it. These accumulated miles have given him complete confidence in his boat. Today, he embarks on this journey with a genuine desire to give his best and fight at the front: "The field is extremely competitive. The battle will be fierce and interesting right from the start, both strategically and tactically, as we're setting off in favorable conditions. I hope this will mark the beginning of an extraordinary competition. I have full confidence in my boat. It's tested and reliable. I've already crossed the Atlantic four times with it. We understand each other well. I know I'll have to take care of it throughout these 24,000 miles. I'm excited to embark on this adventure and push performance to the maximum."