Never give up!
Holcim-PRB continues its steady progress towards Les Sables d’Olonne. The blue and green monohull has approximately a week of racing left before it enters the legendary channel of Les Sables d’Olonne.
While Nicolas Lunven admits he has started thinking about that pivotal moment, he remains fully committed to his race, maintaining the same focus he has demonstrated for the past 67 days.
I’m still pushing hard. The finish is starting to feel closer, and it’s on my mind a lot. A week is both a long and short time—it feels brief compared to the distance I’ve already covered, yet long because so much can still happen. I need to avoid mistakes and stay focused.
Nicolas understands that the remaining 2,400 miles will be far from smooth sailing. A low-pressure system has developed ahead of the group, which includes Holcim-PRB alongside Sam Goodchild (Vulnérable), Jérémie Beyou (Charal), and Paul Meilhat (Biotherm). The skippers anticipate challenging conditions after passing the Azores.
We still have two to three days in the northeast trade winds, up to the latitude of the Canary Islands, where we’ll encounter a ridge of high pressure with little wind. After that, we’ll pick up a north-westerly flow linked to a powerful low-pressure system circulating in the North Atlantic. This system will pass between the Azores and Cape Finisterre, creating tough conditions. The positive news is that weather models have aligned regarding the center’s position. We should be able to stay on a downwind course and round it from the south and east, which is favorable. Hopefully, it stays that way! However, the wind will be strong, around 45 to 50 knots, with waves reaching 8 to 9 meters. I’ll need to find the right balance between optimizing my route and preserving the boat, as the gear inevitably wears down. The goal is not to break anything critical during the final week and jeopardize the entire race.
Every positioning decision will be crucial in these closing stages, offering opportunities to gain ground on his competitors. The constant risk of technical failure also looms large. Just two days ago, Paul Meilhat reported a broken forestay, and today, Boris Herrmann (Malizia) shared images of a damaged port foil following a collision. Nicolas acknowledges that the boats are showing signs of wear, and with the conditions ahead, keeping his vessel in top condition is essential. Onboard Holcim-PRB, the skipper meticulously monitors every detail, questions his decisions, reflects, and continuously adjusts the settings to gain precious miles. “I am constantly double-checking myself to make sure I’m not overlooking anything,” Nicolas concludes, determined to stay sharp and give his all until he crosses the finish line.
