The Vendée Globe 2024, one of the most perilous solo, non-stop sailing races in the world, has seen a significant Swiss representation this year. Among the competitors are Justine Mettraux, Alan Roura, and Oliver Heer. While Mettraux and Roura have been making notable progress in the race, Oliver Heer, although less known, is currently trailing at the back of the fleet.
Heer, a Swiss-born sailor raised in the UK, is not as prominent in the international sailing scene as his Swiss counterparts. However, another Swiss connection is making waves in the competition— the Holcim-PRB team, currently ranked fifth in the race, just under four miles from the fourth-place position.
Holcim, the global construction materials giant headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, purchased the PRB group, a leading independent manufacturer of construction solutions, in 2022. PRB has long been associated with the Vendée Globe, with historic victories by sailors such as Michel Desjoyeaux and Vincent Riou on their boats. However, in the last race, PRB’s IMOCA boat was severely damaged when Kevin Escoffier’s vessel broke apart and sank, prompting a dramatic rescue by fellow sailor Jean Le Cam.
Despite this setback, Holcim’s leadership chose to persist in the sailing world, aiming to shine in both the Vendée Globe and The Ocean Race. Olivier Troussicot, PRB’s General Manager, explained that Holcim’s involvement became clear when they negotiated the partnership. The boat was subsequently rebranded and repainted in Holcim’s colors, replacing PRB’s traditional orange.
Holcim’s foray into sailing faced further challenges when Escoffier was removed from the project in 2023 due to allegations of sexual assault during an Ocean Race stopover. Despite the controversy, Holcim remained committed and brought in French sailor Nicolas Lunven to lead the Vendée Globe campaign.
Lunven, an experienced sailor who had previously competed in major races like the Solitaire du Figaro and the Volvo Ocean Race, only had just over a year to prepare for his first Vendée Globe. Nevertheless, Lunven seized the opportunity, calling it a dream come true. He quickly made an impression by setting a new record for the longest distance sailed solo in 24 hours, and now, fighting for fourth place, he has demonstrated remarkable skill in his debut.
Currently sailing south of New Zealand aboard the IMOCA60 Holcim-PRB, Lunven continues to navigate the challenging course and, if successful, will bring a piece of Switzerland to the finish line at Les Sables-d’Olonne. He will be followed by other Swiss sailors, including Mettraux, Roura, and Heer.
Lunven’s performance marks a new chapter in Swiss sailing, with Holcim-PRB representing not only Switzerland’s commitment to the race but also its determination to overcome adversity in pursuit of victory. As the race progresses, the sailing world eagerly watches to see how the Swiss boats will fare in this grueling test of endurance.
This article is originally published on watson.ch
