Nicolas Lunven on Holcim-PRB finishes 6th in his first Vendée Globe

At 20h51 minutes 41 seconds local time, Nicolas Lunven crossed the finish line of his first Vendée Globe. The skipper of Holcim-PRB finished 6th in this 10th edition, completing the round-the-world race in 75 days, 07 hours, 49 minutes, and 41 seconds.
The weather conditions for this nighttime finish were extreme, mirroring the final days of the race, which were marked by strong winds and, at times, rough seas. After crossing the line, Nicolas was reunited with his family—a moment that was likely the greatest reward for the 42-year-old, who has just achieved his childhood dream of completing the Vendée Globe.
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An emotional yet satisfied Nicolas reflected on his incredible adventure, which he pursued with relentless determination. Over the 75 days of racing, the skipper faced fierce competition but lived up to his reputation as an exceptional sailor, never falling out of the top 10 throughout the race. In the early stages, he surprised many with an alternative route and a flying start, setting an impressive pace and even breaking the 24-hour speed record on November 13. 

Ranked 6th at the passage of the three major capes of the Vendée Globe (the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape Horn), the Holcim-PRB IMOCA boat was completing its second lap around the world, following its participation in The Ocean Race in 2023. Like many of his competitors, Nicolas faced technical challenges toward the end of the journey. The loss of his aerial instruments on January 3 meant sailing “blind” for three days, without critical data on wind strength or direction. This setback cost him valuable miles, but Nicolas’s resourcefulness and perseverance enabled him to rejoin his competitive group, which included Paul Meilhat, Sam Goodchild, Thomas Ruyant, and Jérémie Beyou. He fought an intense battle with Paul Meilhat in the final days, pushing hard for the fifth position.

© Yann Riou / polaRYSE

Nicolas took immense pleasure in pushing his boat to the limit, tackling meteorological challenges, and competing at the highest level against sailors who had spent four years or more preparing for this race. For someone who only took the helm of Holcim-PRB a year before the start of the Vendée Globe—and finished 8th in the Retour a la Base race in November 2023—this Xth-place finish is a remarkable testament to his commitment and perseverance.

This success also reflects the meticulous preparation and dedication of the entire Holcim-PRB technical team, who ensured the boat was race-ready for this gruelling journey of over 25,000 nautical miles. 

Tomorrow, at 12:30 PM, as the IMOCA Holcim-PRB returns to the channel, Nicolas will be warmly celebrated by a loyal audience, as well as by PRB employees who shared with him the company’s 9th participation in the solo, non-stop, and unassisted round-the-world race.

Source : Holcim-PRB