Sometimes it is better to sail at night so as not to see the state of the sea. Nicolas Lunven and his group are in a fairly violent depression, the final obstacle before arriving at Les Sables.
In any case, “this is not the scenario that I would have chosen” confirms Nicolas Lunven who is evolving this Monday in the heart of a particularly virulent depression. “Conditions got tougher last night. The advantage with the night is that you can't see outside. But when the day broke this morning, I could see the state of the sea and it's not great! There, I have between 30 and 40 knots of wind but the sea is crazy. There are 6 to 7 meters of sea. It's beautiful but I'll be happy when it's over” says the skipper in a hubbub which testifies to the agitation reigning on board the monohull.
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For Nicolas, currently 7th in the fight with Paul Meilhat, the scenario is very clear: keep your back. No question of tempting devil in this storm when there are only 1,200 miles to go. The loner has also chosen to move away a little from the strongest of the wind and the sea, unlike Charal (Jérémie Beyou) and Vulnerable (Sam Goodchild) who are ahead of him. These two did not hesitate to push their mano a mano into the strong downwind. They are progressing in the northwest of their pursuers, in harsher conditions which also caused Sam Goodchild to go off the road hard this afternoon. The British boat gybed suddenly and the mainsail tore. “I played, I lost” sums up the skipper, fatalistic.
-Aboard Holcim-PRB, Nicolas chose to be a little more cautious in his route because he knows that until the end, the weather seems to want to work against him and his adversaries. “The rest are difficult conditions until the finish. It should ease a little this evening. It will be 30 knots rather than 35. Tomorrow morning, we will arrive in contact with the center of the depression. She will set off towards Lisbon at that time. I don't think I can get under it to stay downwind and be able to go around. I have two solutions left: either attack it from the north face upwind but it will be a tacking atmosphere in 40 knots until Cape Finisterre with the sea going well, or try to stay behind the center and follow it to the Portuguese coast. You then go up the Portuguese coast, tacking in a easing wind until you enter the Bay of Biscay. And it's not over yet! There will be a small ridge to manage just after the depression before continuing on Thursday with a new depression” explains Nicolas, also aware that these conditions offer the opportunity to upset the ranking between now and the arrival in Les Sables d'Olonne. Holcim-PRB is progressing to windward of Paul Meilhat, in a favorable position for the hours to come. Only 25 miles separate the two IMOCAs after 71 days at sea! This battle is breathtaking and fuels all hopes of seeing Holcim-PRB rack up miles. If the storm is beautiful in Nicolas's eyes, the competition taking place on the water has nothing to envy him when seen from land.
One thing is certain, Nicolas, like his adversaries, gives us a remarkable demonstration of tenacity and commitment. This is also what will be celebrated at the end of the week when Nicolas will reunite with his family, his team, his friends and his partners to celebrate the end of this immense journey around the world by the three capes.
