Holcim-PRB climbs onto the podium of the Course des Caps
by Team HOLCIM - PRB 5 Jul 2025 21:36 BST
5 July 2025
Holcim-PRB finishes the Course des Caps © Adrien Nivet / polaRYSE
After 6 days, 4 hours, and 26 minutes of intense sailing around the British Isles, the Holcim-PRB crew crossed the finish line of the Course des Caps Boulogne-sur-Mer - Banque Populaire du Nord, completing a route as demanding as it was strategic.
Despite a bowsprit failure occurring just 40 nautical miles from the finish, Holcim-PRB secured an impressive 3rd place, 3 hours and 16 minutes behind the winner, Macif Santé Prévoyance. For their first race together, the Holcim-PRB crew delivered a convincing performance, marked by skill and commitment — a promising start as they look ahead to their next challenge: The Ocean Race Europe 2025.
Nicolas Lunven, Alan Roberts, Annemieke Bes, and Franck Cammas fought relentlessly over the 2,000-mile course. The physical toll was high as they maintained a grueling pace against top-tier competitors. On multiple occasions, the IMOCA Holcim-PRB rose to the top of the leaderboard, culminating in a thrilling duel with Association Petits Princes - Queguiner in the final miles. "The race was a great fight with the other boats — hats off to them. Also thinking of VULNERABLE, who had to retire. It was a tough and enjoyable battle, we sailed well. We're quite satisfied with what we did — it was a great race, a beautiful course, with varied conditions. We checked a lot of boxes," said Nicolas Lunven, skipper of Holcim-PRB, upon arriving at the dock. Alan Roberts added: "It was really a pleasure to sail with the whole team, in a place where I grew up. We found what we were looking for, and we learned a lot."
A Tactical Introduction
From the first hours of the race, the Holcim-PRB crew positioned themselves well, navigating skillfully through light winds during the first three days. Their command of these tricky conditions owes much to the combined experience of three sailors from the Figaro circuit (Lunven, Roberts, Cammas) — a circuit renowned for its demanding coastal regattas shaped by site effects and tricky currents. This tactical expertise proved invaluable in the race's unstable early phase, where the team managed to stay in close contact with the frontrunners. Their consistency enabled them to round the iconic Fastnet Rock in second place — a strong start indeed: "We started in very light airs — a lovely Channel exit with a bunched fleet, boats jousting side by side, gybing one after the other," recalled Nicolas.
An Intense and Committed Second Half
The fleet then continued its journey around the British Isles, navigating a series of contrasting weather systems toward the northern tip of Ireland and along the English coast, where conditions became more intense. Stronger winds and an unrelenting pace kept the sailors on their toes with continuous maneuvers.It was during a long downwind stretch, followed by fast reaching in the North Sea, that the boat truly showed its capabilities: "Things got tough northwest of Ireland — we had a pretty wild downwind leg. Then the descent along the east coast of England brought strong reaching, where we probably broke a few speed records with the boat. It was varied, demanding but fun — just how we like it. These race formats are great. We're in a crewed configuration, and we know from the start it won't be a walk in the park. We experienced it all: varied conditions, plenty of maneuvers, and we learned a lot."
With this third-place finish, the Holcim-PRB crew signs off with a solid performance for their first team race. The cohesion on board, ability to excel in varied conditions, and accumulated tactical expertise point to promising prospects ahead. Next stop: The Ocean Race Europe, departing August 4 from Kiel.