A Childhood Dream Come True: Nicolas Lunven on His First Vendée Globe
Cheered on by thousands of people, Nicolas Lunven sailed back up the channel of Les Sables d’Olonne on Saturday, January 25, at 12:30 p.m. After 75 days of intense, non-stop racing, he set foot on land and shared his immediate thoughts on fulfilling a childhood dream come true.
Reflecting on everything from the personal experiences to weather conditions to the performance of his Holcim-PRB IMOCA and the technical challenges he faced, the skipper described —just moments after setting foot on land— what makes the Vendée Globe such a unique race.
The Vendée Globe isn’t always easy. There were beautiful moments, there were wonderful moments, but also some very tough times. This whole adventure—this whole project—including the preparation beforehand, has been very intense because we had such a short timeline. We received the boat in September 2023, just over a year before the start. In that time, we rebuilt a team, qualified, prepared, managed to be on the starting line, and now, finish the race. Being reunited with everyone now feels amazing after 75 days alone. Yes, this arrival is an incredible moment. I’m really, really happy. Participating in the Vendée Globe was a childhood dream, and I’ve just achieved it.
Throughout the 75-day race, the skipper proved his skill as a world-class sailor, maintaining a position in the top 10 from start to finish despite facing intense competition. Early on, he caught many off guard with a bold alternative route and a lightning-fast start, showcasing incredible speed. On November 13, he set a blistering pace that culminated in breaking the 24-hour distance record.
I was surprised by the record, as I wasn’t focused on breaking the 24-hour distance record at all. In fact, when my team told me about it, I didn’t even understand what they were talking about at first! But it was exciting! At the start of the race, there was an intense battle with many boats in a highly competitive field. Racing at the front was fantastic, and I had an absolute blast during the Atlantic descent. It was truly incredible!
Maintaining such a high level of performance didn’t come easy. The race wasn’t just about bold strategies and record-breaking speed; it was also a relentless test of endurance and determination. With fierce competition constantly at his heels, the skipper had no room to relax. Every mile demanded focus, precision, and hard work, as he navigated challenging conditions while battling rivals who were equally determined to seize any opportunity to advance.
Having competitors nearby during such a long race is exhausting. There are times when you’d love to take a breather, but knowing a rival is close by and won’t stop pushes you to keep going. You’re constantly pushing harder, trimming the sails whenever the wind eases. But at the same time, it’s incredibly stimulating and motivating—it keeps you from falling into a routine or feeling bored. Even though there were tough moments, I didn’t find the race to feel long. For almost the entire Southern Ocean, Jérémie and I were side by side. Some thought we had planned to sail together! But that wasn’t the case—it just worked out that way. We pushed each other, which was really motivating. Honestly, I actually enjoyed it. I wasn’t surprised by the intensity of the race, given the level of competition at the start. And that’s a good thing because it was amazing!
The Vendée Globe is more than a race—it's a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and skill. For Nicolas Lunven, the experience pushed him to grow as a sailor, teaching him how to fine-tune his boat for peak performance and tackle the constant challenges that come with solo ocean racing. From optimizing speed to solving unexpected technical issues, every day was an opportunity to learn and improve.
You’re always learning on a boat. I learned so much during this Vendée Globe, starting with how to optimize the boat’s performance. Competing at the front of the fleet in the early stages of the race was incredibly stimulating—it forced me to focus on fine-tuning, which helped me handle the boat better. And then there’s everything else. I had to fix things I didn’t really know how to do before. I found myself welding, working with composites… I didn’t have major technical issues, but like everyone, I dealt with small, daily problems. As Michel Desjoyeaux, the winner ofVendée Globe for PRB in 2001, says, the Vendée Globe is about solving one issue per day. But what he doesn’t mention is that one issue per day is on the good days! When it’s 8 a.m., and you’ve already had three problems, you know it’s going to be a long day.
An incredible achievement that has made his partners immensely proud! Many PRB employees were there to cheer Nico on as he sailed back into their hometown of Les Sables d’Olonne. Nico truly embodies the unstoppable Team Holcim-PRB spirit, showcasing determination, resilience, and excellence throughout the race.
PRB has a unique and special connection with the Vendée Globe. We followed Nicolas’ race with great passion. Welcoming him today in such an incredible atmosphere along the channel was, once again, an emotional moment. Nicolas had an extraordinary journey, and sharing his return here in Les Sables d’Olonne was truly magical. There are countless lessons to be learned from Nicolas’ incredible journey. If I had to highlight three, they would be: determination, resilience, and the power of teamwork. Success is always a collective effort, and it’s this team spirit that allows us to overcome even the most extreme challenges. At PRB, we live by this collective spirit every day.
We are extremely impressed by Nicolas’ determination over the past 75 days. He has shown us that resilience and perseverance are truly the formula for success. With his incredible circumnavigation, he quite literally embodied the mission of this campaign: GO CIRCULAR! For Holcim, this Vendée Globe was a first, and Nicolas’ outstanding performance commands both our respect and admiration. This sixth-place finish is not only a testament to his skill and dedication but also a well-deserved reward for the hard work of the entire team.
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Nicolas Lunven’s Vendeé Globe
