Please select your home edition
Edition
Hyde Sails 2024 - One Design

Nico Lunven in the Vendée Globe: Pitiless Atlantic!

by Team HOLCIM - PRB 3 Jan 21:07 UTC 3 January 2025
Nico Lunven on Holcim-PRB during the Vendée Globe Race © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE

After passing Cape Horn 6 days ago, Nicolas Lunven is sailing in 6th place in his first Vendée Globe, battling within a group of competitors, including Paul Meilhat, Jérémie Beyou, Boris Herrmann, and Sam Goodchild. These five boats are separated by just 150 miles. All are trying to escape the depression center, which brings extremely unstable and unpredictable winds.

Holcim-PRB, Biotherm, Charal, and Malizia contend with extremely challenging winds and seas."Right now, I'm in the storms. We're crossing a stormy depression center. Last evening was more than intense. We got shaken up quite a bit with lots of maneuvers. Last night was the same—sail changes, tacking... I'm still trying to get through this zone of light, erratic winds and a choppy sea. It feels like I'm in the witch's cauldron!" describes Nicolas.

Facing challenging circumstances, the masthead cap gave way, resulting in the loss of antennas and wind instruments. For several hours, the skipper of Holcim-PRB has been sailing nearly blind, without reliable wind data.

"To top it all off, today isn't great. After being tossed around so much, the masthead cap got torn off, along with all the antennas (VHF, Oscar, etc.) and the wind instruments. So now, I don't have any wind instruments. In these storms, with erratic winds and messy seas, it's hard to find the right course, know how to trim the boat, or decide which sail to use. I have a backup wind vane, but for now, it's too imprecise to be effective. I'm not giving up on improving the situation, but for now, it's a bit of a setback," explains Nicolas, who hopes to see light at the end of this tunnel soon.

"For the past 24 hours, I haven't had much sleep, so I'm really looking forward to finding stable conditions and possibly getting the backup wind vane working so I can finally get some rest."

Earlier this week, in similar conditions, Thomas Ruyant, in 4th place, tore a crucial sail for the final stretch toward Les Sables d'Olonne—his J2. The skipper described sudden, impressive gusts that slammed into him, nearly capsizing his boat. The result: a shredded sail after a stressful battle with the elements lasting several long minutes. Paul Meilhat shares a similar sentiment, admitting he hasn't slept in 36 hours! "It's impossible to rest with constantly shifting winds that require relentless maneuvers to avoid putting the equipment at risk. Under such conditions, extreme vigilance is necessary to prevent damage."

In the meantime, the two leaders, Charlie Dalin and Yoann Richomme, approaching the Brazilian cape, are beginning to feel the positive effects of the trade winds, while their pursuers endure tough conditions.

Related Articles

Holcim-PRB crew aiming for podium
Condifent ahead of final leg in The Ocean Race Europe The final leg of The Ocean Race Europe will set off tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. local time. From Genoa, the fleet will set sail to Boka Bay, Montenegro. This finish promises to be intense for the Holcim-PRB crew, who are aiming for a podium finish. Posted on 6 Sep
Holcim-PRB scores 4th place in Genoa
They now stand 3rd overall, just 1 point behind Paprec-Arkéa in 2nd Known for its tricky, unpredictable conditions, the Gulf of Genoa lived up to its reputation, and delivered exactly what the sailors in The Ocean Race Europe had feared for. The Holcim-PRB crew for this fourth leg paid the price. Posted on 3 Sep
All to play for on Leg 4 for Team Holcim-PRB
Set off from Nice in The Ocean Race Europe The fleet of The Ocean Race Europe had only two days of rest in Nice before setting off again for Leg 4. The pace of the race quickens, the demands of the race are starting to take a toll, but the battle remains intense and thrilling. Posted on 31 Aug
Another wonderful 2nd place in Nice for Holcim-PRB
In The Ocean Race Europe Holcim-PRB finished second on the leg between Cartagena and Nice. It's yet another remarkable achievement for the Swiss IMOCA (already 2nd in Cartagena) after an exceptional duel with Biotherm right up to the final miles in the Baie des Anges. Posted on 29 Aug
Holcim-PRB The Ocean Race Europe Leg 3 Update
Locked in a thrilling front-of-fleet battle Having left Cartagena on Tuesday afternoon, Holcim-PRB is delivering a remarkable fight at the front of The Ocean Race Europe fleet. Posted on 28 Aug
Holcim-PRB starts The Ocean Race Europe Leg 3
The shortest leg of the race from Cartagena to Nice via the Giraglia Rock The fleet of The Ocean Race Europe left Cartagena this afternoon for Nice. Holcim-PRB will first head towards the Balearic Islands, then to the southeast of Porquerolles, and finally around the Giraglia Rock before reaching the port. Posted on 26 Aug
Team Holcim-PRB awarded redress
After their Leg 1 start collision in The Ocean Race Europe The International Jury, appointed by World Sailing, on Sunday afternoon ruled in favor of Team Holcim-PRB, after a collision at The Ocean Race Europe start in Kiel, Germany on August 10 that forced them to retire from the first leg. Posted on 24 Aug
Holcim-PRB, second in Cartagena
Arriving this morning at the end of The Ocean Race Europe Leg 2 Just before sunrise, at 6:19 a.m. local time, the IMOCA Holcim-PRB entered the port of Cartagena. On board, Rosalin Kuiper, Franck Cammas, Nicolas Lunven, Alan Roberts, and onboard reporter Anne Beaugé were all smiles. Posted on 23 Aug
Team Holcim-PRB returns to racing
A highly emotional moment as Leg 2 of The Ocean Race Europe starts The start of the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe in Portsmouth, was one full of emotions for Team Holcim-PRB. Posted on 17 Aug
Holcim-PRB arrives in Portsmouth
Race against time to make the start of the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe The IMOCA Holcim-PRB arrived today at 6:35 p.m. local time (7:35 p.m. French time) in Portsmouth, the starting city of the second leg of The Ocean Race Europe. Posted on 16 Aug
Hyde Sails 2024 - One DesignZhik 2024 DecemberArmstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOM