Vendée Globe: Nico Lunven and Rosalin Kuiper start in Atlantic crossing

"During this crossing, I have to learn how to handle the boat and master all the systems on board, as well as getting to know the manoeuvres and all the sails. There's a lot at stake during this crossing. I hope that we will have ticked off all the items on our to-do list by Martinique," said Nico Lunven, who had competed in The Ocean Race alongside Boris Herrmann for Team Malizia before switching to the Swiss racing team - as did Rosalin Kuiper.

Team Holcim-PRB anticipates challenging conditions

While Nico Lunven wants to compete in the Vendée Globe on "Holcim-PRB", but has yet to fulfil all the qualification requirements and needs the return race from the Caribbean to France, Rosalin Kuiper wants to learn as much as possible alongside him. Her medium-term goal is to take on the role of skipper for the Ocean Race Europe 2025. In addition to Nico "The Brain" Lunven and Rosalin Kuiper, Jean-Marc Failler, Hugo Feydit and on-board reporter Julien Champolion will be joining Team Holcim-PRB for the crossing, which began on 6 November at 10 a.m. in Concarneau, Brittany.

Team Holcim-PRB anticipates a transfer time of twelve to 15 days. The sailing conditions on board are expected to be challenging on the night of 7 November. On the other hand, by setting sail one day before the official Transat Jacques Vabre start, the team has seen a better chance for the Imoca fleet to pass Cape Finisterre under controllable conditions. In this way, the Swiss want to avoid the new low-pressure area that is currently brewing in the Bay of Biscay.

Nico Lunven is heading towards his Vendée Globe premiere

According to Team Holcim-PRB, the most important goal is "for Nicolas to feel comfortable with the ship when he arrives in the Caribbean and to be able to set off on the return journey à la base, which is currently still scheduled for 26 November". "I hope that we will have ticked off all the items on our job list by Martinique. You can always dream," said Lunven with a smile. The experienced navigator wants to be as well prepared as possible for his first Vendée Globe next year - then as a rival to Boris Herrmann on his second solo round-the-world race.

Rosalin Kuiper is also expecting a lot from her first intensive assignment with "Holcim-PRB": "This transfer to Martinique will be a training session with a complete crew: Nico, myself and Hugo and Jean-Marc from the technical team will be there. We will be travelling for about two weeks. I'm very excited to get to know this boat, to understand how the boat is built and to discover its potential. We will make sure the boat is 'safe' and can perform on the way back. I'm very excited but also a bit nervous because I haven't sailed much on this boat and so far it looks very different to what I'm used to."

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Anticipation and tension prevail in Le Havre

This refers to the differences compared to Boris Herrmann's "Malizia - Seaexplorer", which both Nico Lunven and Rosalin Kuiper got to know very well over the course of the Ocean Race. Team Holcim-PRB's further plans for the coming year include the start in The Transat CIC from 28 April, participation in the New York - Vendée - Les Sables from 29 May, the final comparisons in the Défi Azimut in September and finally the summit assault: Nico Lunven's Vendée Globe premiere.

While Team Holcim-PRB has already opened its transatlantic gallop, anticipation and tension prevailed in Le Havre on 6 November ahead of the Imoca start of the 16th Transat Jacques Vabre. For the first time in the history of the class, 40 Imocas will gather at the starting line on Tuesday. All the duos have prepared themselves for a tough opening of the classic route to the Caribbean island of Martinique.

The start will be a great moment for the class." Thomas Ruyant

After some stormy days, the best in class and their large chasing pack are heading for the classic coffee route. Defending champion Thomas Ruyant, who is sailing with Morgan Lagravière on the new Antoine Koch/Finot Conq design "Four People", said in Le Havre: "It will be a great moment for the class. We are preparing for the start of something we have never seen before. Forty Imoca boats at the start of a race - it's a big first. Morgan and I are excited to be part of it. We can't wait to get out on the water and race. We're going to have a great time."

The German fan interest at this start is primarily focussed on Boris Herrmann with Will Harris on "Malizia - Seaexplorer", but also on the Munich-born "Macsf" skipper Isabelle Joschke with Pierre Brasseur and Andreas Baden from Kiel alongside Fabrice Amedeo on "Nexans - Art & Fenêtres". The teams will leave the dock in Le Havre very early on Tuesday morning from 4 o'clock. The starting signal will be given at 9.30 am. The live broadcast is also scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on the NDR sports streaming service, although the information provided by the French organisers on the previous day changed several times between a 9 a.m. or 9.15 a.m. start. Here is the direct link to the NDR streaming.

Click here for the live tracker, which is already running for the Ultim class (in the race since 29 October) as well as Class 40 and Ocean Fifty (in the race since 6 November).