Good News Aboard Holcim-PRB!
The Vendée Globe continues to be anything but routine for Nicolas Lunven aboard Holcim-PRB. After facing technical difficulties earlier this week, the skipper is finally smiling again.
He successfully optimized his backup wind sensor system, restoring reliable wind data and enabling him to operate in wind mode. This achievement marks a significant relief after three challenging days of near-blind navigation. The ordeal even required him to climb the 27-meter mast in search of functional wind sensors and antennas.
At the top of the mast, the situation was worse than expected. A carbon piece at the masthead, where the antennas and the camera for detecting unidentified floating objects (UFOs) were mounted, was completely missing. I couldn’t do anything to fix it.
Exhausted and frustrated, he returned to the deck without a solution. However, determined not to give up, he dedicated the following day to improving his backup wind sensor system. His persistence paid off. He installed two poles, one on the starboard side and the other on the port side, both providing accurate wind data.
The backup wind sensor at the back of the boat is now functioning well. I took the time to refine the system and managed to set up two poles on each side of the boat. Everything has been working smoothly since yesterday, which is a huge relief! I’m fully operational again. Navigating for three days without accurate wind data was a nightmare. Now, I’m back in full race mode.
Strategically, his easterly routing choice hasn’t yielded the results he had hoped for. Competitors who stayed closer to the Brazilian coast have pulled ahead. Holcim-PRB is currently in ninth place, trailing Jérémie Beyou, Paul Meilhat, Boris Herrmann, and Thomas Ruyant.
I’m a bit disappointed that my easterly option didn’t pay off. I’m behind Sam, Jérémie, Paul, and Boris. They’re not far ahead, but I had expected to be in front. The strategy didn’t work out. Two nights ago, I faced terrible conditions with heavy cloud cover and windless zones, which completely halted my progress. But the race is far from over. There are still two weeks left to reach Les Sables d’Olonne, and a lot can change.
Some of his closest rivals are now dealing with their own technical challenges. Boris Herrmann experienced a failure with his J2 hook, a critical component securing the sail at the masthead, requiring him to climb the mast for repairs. Meanwhile, Thomas Ruyant is struggling with reduced performance after losing his J2 sail a week ago, steadily losing miles. Despite the setbacks, the competitive spirit remains high among this experienced group of sailors, which fuels Nicolas’s determination.
I’m really happy to be racing alongside such strong competitors. It’s intense, but that’s exactly why I love this race. The finish line is still far off, so it’s too early for predictions. The key is staying close to the front group. Conditions are favorable right now, so I’m pushing the boat hard. There’s no reason to ease up yet. We’ll assess later if we need to slow down to protect the boat, but that’s not my approach at the moment.
