Vendée Globe: Nico has his boat back - "Holcim - PRB" ready for the super sailing year

In Port-la-Fôret this week, "Holcim - PRB" back in service after a three-month refit. Since 11 December, the technical crew of Team Holcim - PRB has been working to prepare its 2022 Verdier-Imoca for the 2024 Super Sailing Year and the 10th Vendée Globe, whose summit assault will begin on 10 November with the start of the Vendée Globe. Before that, skipper Nico "The Brain" Lunven will tackle the Transat CIC from 28 April. In the solo race from Lorient to New York, the future Vendée Globe competitors will measure their strength against each other for the first time this year.

Boat in refit, skipper in training

After the Ocean Race 2023 and two transatlantic crossings last winter, this shipyard period in preparation for the Vendée Globe proved to be a crucial step for Team Holcim - PRB and its Imoca rocket. Each component was meticulously dismantled, inspected and reworked. Parallel to this work, a number of changes were made. The number of solar panels was increased. The boat was equipped with two hydrogen generators. These changes maximise the use of renewable energy and minimise dependence on fossil fuels while underway.

The skipper was also very busy during the refit: Nico Lunven worked for the Banque Populaire team's routing group during the Arkéa Ultim Challenge. From his point of view, it was an exciting and enriching experience that should benefit him at his Vendée Globe premiere on 10 November: "It was really interesting. It was good preparation for the Vendée Globe. Because although the boats are different, the course is the same. This allows us to gain even more knowledge, especially about the weather conditions and the state of the sea in these areas, and to better prepare for the different weather scenarios that we can expect during the Vendée Globe."

First highlight of the season: the Transat CIC

The relaunch of the "Holcim - PRB" marked the reunion of Nicolas Lunven and his boat for big tasks. Firstly, it will take him across the Atlantic twice, and later in the year once around the world. During a transatlantic crossing and participation in the Retour à La Base in the winter of 2023, Team Holcim - PRB's likeable newcomer had familiarised himself intensively with the Imoca before the refit began, which also reflected his wishes. Lunven's discovery phase and many optimisations are now complete.

Because Lunven wants to gain as much experience as possible in race mode before his first Vendée Globe, he has decided to take part in all the races of the season. The Transat CIC will be one of the most demanding stages on the Vendée Globe course. Nico Lunven said: "The Transat CIC is an emblematic race. Historically, it is the English Transat, which was won twice by Éric Tabarly. This race enabled France to discover sailing and ocean racing."

Arriving in New York on an Imoca after crossing the Atlantic is a dream" (Nico Lunven)

Team Malizia's former navigator, who is now skippering his own project as "Holcim - PRB", said of the Transat challenge: "It's a demanding race in the North Atlantic, against the prevailing winds and with a fabulous arrival in New York. It is rare to sail into the United States. Arriving in New York after an Atlantic crossing on an Imoca is a dream. I can't wait to experience this adventure on board 'Holcim - PRB'."

On course for the Vendée Globe: all Imoca greats at the start

35 Imoca skippers and 14 Class 40 soloists were last on the entry list for the Transat CIC, where greats such as Éric Tabarly once earned their spurs. All former and upcoming Vendée Globe greats will be at the start, including Boris Herrmann and Nico Lunven, the last winner Yannick Bestaven ("Maître Coq V"), Thomas Ruyant ("For People"), Charlie Dalin ("Macif"), Sam Goodchild ("For the Planet"), Jérémie Beyou ("Charal"), Yoann Richomme ("Paprec Arkea"), Samantha Davies ("Initiatives Cœur"), Clarisse Crémer ("L'Occitane en Provence") and Isabelle Joschke ("Macsf").

After this first major event of the season, the skipper of "Holcim - PRB" - just like Boris Herrmann - will take part in the second Transat from 29 May: The New York Vendée - Les Sables-d'Olonne will take its participants from the "Big Apple" back to France from 29 May. In his home country, Nico Lunven will then finalise his preparations for the Vendée Globe before the race of his life begins: the Vendée Globe that he has been dreaming of for years.

The first Transat of the Imoca season is already in sight - here is the official course for the race from Lorient to New York: