Nico Lunven in the Vendée Globe: Holcim-PRB Back in the Northern Hemisphere
by Team HOLCIM - PRB 15 Jan 04:01 AEDT
14 January 2025
Holcim-PRB in the Vendée Globe © Yann Riou / polaRYSE
While the winner of this Vendée Globe, Charlie Dalin, stepped ashore this afternoon in Les Sables d'Olonne, the battle among the pursuers continues to rage. Nicolas Lunven crossed the equator yesterday and navigated through the Doldrums during the night.
The Intertropical Convergence Zone presented itself as a mere formality for Holcim-PRB: "Since yesterday, I've been back in the Northern Hemisphere after passing the small Saint Peter and Saint Paul Islands. It was amusing to pass so close to them. I think I've exited the Doldrums. They say it's easier to cross at this time of year, and I can confirm that. I encountered a lot of irregularities, as if someone was playing with the fan's intensity and spinning it in every direction. However, it never completely stopped. I always had 10-12 knots of wind. It required constant attention to the trim and course, but I kept moving forward. I've emerged from the cloud zones. The wind remains very unstable, so I'm finding it hard to sleep. This morning, I had to stop briefly to address a minor issue with my J2 tack. Once I got going again, I had 11-12 knots of tight upwind sailing. But as soon as the boat was trimmed, the wind suddenly ramped up to 28 knots, shifting 50 degrees. It was total chaos! The boat was slamming into the waves, leaping and crashing. It lasted an hour before easing off slightly, then picked up again. I don't know who's playing with the fan, but I'd like to get some sleep too, please," joked the Breton skipper.
Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) is sailing 132 miles ahead of the green-and-blue monohull, with Sam Goodchild (Vulnerable) 149 miles away and Jérémie Beyou (Charal) trailing by 157 miles. These are minuscule gaps for these boats, meaning the order of arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne is far from decided. This group will have to navigate a high-pressure ridge followed by a deep low-pressure system. "For now, its timing and position vary slightly. Since it's directly on our route, even a small shift has a significant impact on strategy. Plus, the wind is very strong there. There are 50 knots on the south-west flank of the depression, along with the corresponding sea state," observed Nicolas.
For now, the sailor is enjoying a few more days of sailing in shorts and a t-shirt in the northeast trade winds, which should accompany him until the Canary Islands' latitude. Meanwhile, he keeps an eye on the weather charts and the development of this low-pressure system that will usher in a wintry return and entry into the Bay of Biscay. Navigating the right course without taking excessive risks will be crucial.
Technical issues remain every skipper's nightmare until the very end. No one is spared; this afternoon, Paul Meilhat saw one of his foresails fall into the water. As of this writing, Charlie Dalin is the only sailor who can finally relax and release the stress of a relentless, one-of-a-kind competition that lasted 64 days for him. "Congratulations to the winner, bravo to Yoann. Also, congrats to Seb Simon, who is well on his way to finishing," commented Nicolas, who knows all three sailors well.
As for his own arrival, it's hard to say precisely, but Nicolas is expected to return to Vendée between January 23 and 27.