Nicolas Lunven starts the Transat CIC on Team HOLCIM
by Team HOLCIM - PRB 28 Apr 17:08 BST
28 April 2024
Team HOLCIM - PRB - The Transat CIC © Guillaume Le Corre | polaRYSE | Holcim-PRB
This morning, as the first rays of sunlight appeared, there was a studious atmosphere on the pontoons of Lorient La Base. Despite the squalls, many spectators came to admire the beautiful sight of these 33 IMOCA boats preparing to set off for the North Atlantic towards the United States.
Encouragements were almost whispered out of respect for the skipper, who was already fully focused. Surrounded by his family, partners, and team, he savored the last moments ashore before fully immersing himself in his competitive bubble. Few words were spoken but many smiles exchanged, encapsulating the eagerness that drove Nicolas Lunven as the starting gun approached. At precisely 10:18 a.m., the skipper of Holcim-PRB cast off to reach the starting area located between Lorient and the island of Groix. The hours that followed were dedicated to final exchanges with the technical team members who remained on board to address the last details. It was only four minutes before the start procedure commenced that Nicolas found himself alone aboard his IMOCA.
At 1:30 p.m. local time, the starting gun released the monohulls competing in The Transat CIC, a solo transatlantic race from New York to Lorient. The weather conditions were favorable (around twelve knots of wind) for the first miles of the race and were expected to remain so for the upcoming night, allowing the skipper to confidently settle into the race before facing stronger conditions starting Tuesday, influenced by an approaching depression. "It's really ideal weather for a start, much easier than when you're getting tossed around right from the beginning," predicted the skipper before leaving dry land.
In terms of strategy, the challenge for the first hours of the race will be to reach the southwest of Ireland in contact with the leading pack, as only then will the options become clear approaching the first depression to be navigated either to the north or south. "The first night will be calm, perhaps too calm. After that, it will get a bit rougher. Conditions will be challenging on Monday. Then we'll have a depression to navigate around in the southwest of Ireland. It's not very straightforward and still not clearly defined. After that, we'll head west in very challenging conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday."
Solo but not alone
While this departure from The Transat CIC marks an important moment for Nicolas, it is also significant for the technical team of Team Holcim-PRB, signaling the end of their own race. For several months, they have worked tirelessly to ensure the boat is in top condition for their skipper's optimal start. Nicolas sincerely thanked them before embarking on this new challenge: "I feel very good. I'm glad to go, I'm looking forward to it. The boat is ready. I'm very fortunate to have a great team that has worked tremendously hard this winter and until the last days to ensure that I leave in the best possible conditions."
After 2 hours of racing, Nicolas Lunven is in the top 5, sailing at a speed of 9.9 knots. The monohull is expected to take just under ten days to reach New York, with an estimated arrival around May 7th.
Nicolas Lunven, skipper
"The Transat CIC is an emblematic race. Historically, it's the English Transat, won twice by Eric Tabarly. It allowed France to discover sailing and offshore racing. It's a demanding race in the North Atlantic, against the prevailing winds, with a fabulous arrival in New York. Sailing to the United States is rare, and arriving in New York by sail, on an IMOCA after crossing the Atlantic, is a dream. I can't wait to experience this adventure aboard Holcim-PRB!"