Holcim-PRB Relaunched
13 octobre 2023
Holcim-PRB's Imoca
After a three-week refit, the IMOCA Holcim-PRB was relaunched yesterday at Port La Forêt. The end of the year promises to be busy for the GO CIRCULAR project, which will line up for its next race on November 26, Retour à la Base. Qualifying for the Vendée Globe, the transatlantic race between Martinique and Lorient will gather a dense fleet of nearly forty monohulls. Alone at the helm of Holcim-PRB, Nicolas Lunven will embark on this 3,500-mile course. The skipper of the Swiss 60-footer is eager to take control of the machine he will lead around the world next year for what will be one of the biggest challenges of his sailing career: the Vendée Globe, a solo non-stop round-the-world race without assistance.
The three weeks of the refit mainly involved a complete check of the boat, including the disassembly and reassembly of all systems. No major modifications have been made to Holcim-PRB, which ranks among the fastest and most reliable 60-footers currently. Nicolas Lunven attended the relaunch surrounded by Dutch sailor Rosalin Kuiper, a member of Team Holcim-PRB, with whom Nicolas has initiated a project to mentor and support her in becoming the boat’s skipper for The Ocean Race Europe in 2025. For Nicolas, this relaunch is certainly a significant milestone and opens the doors to his sports preparation ahead of the 2024 deadline. He will sail to Martinique in delivery mode. The departure from Port La Forêt is scheduled for early November. He will be joined by Rosalin and two members of the technical team. This twelve-day journey at sea will allow him to sail aboard Holcim-PRB for the first time before starting his first race as skipper of the Swiss 60-footer.
For Holcim, the end of the 2023 season with the Retour à la Base race holds very specific significance as it is a crucial qualification for the road to the Vendée Globe. With humility and enthusiasm, the leader in innovation and sustainable construction is committed to this new adventure. The goal is to continue sharing the values of commitment and self-overcoming inherent in such a sporting challenge. The Vendée Globe will also be an exceptional opportunity to raise awareness of Holcim's commitments to a more circular way of life.
Nicolas Lunven, skipper of Holcim-PRB
'We mainly took advantage of the last few weeks to disassemble and check nearly all the systems on board and then reassemble them. We also made some repairs to the mast, which had several defects. The coming weeks will be a real discovery. Discovering the boat and learning how to use it. We will start sailing this weekend. It’s the real hands-on experience with Holcim-PRB before heading to Martinique.'
Rosalin Kuiper, co-skipper of Holcim-PRB
'We spent the last few days preparing the boat for this relaunch. It’s always an important moment. I am very impressed with the boat. I’ve discovered many details; this boat is like a work of art. I am very lucky to accompany Nico in this project and to sail aboard. I’m very excited about embarking this weekend. For me, everything is new with this boat, and I can’t wait to measure all its potential.'