Three weeks after the arrival of The Transat CIC, Nicolas Lunven is preparing to set off again tomorrow for the race. And this return to Les Sables d’Olonne does not seem like a walk in the park for the 28 IMOCA boats registered for this second edition of New York – Vendée. The weather on the North Atlantic has not spared the skippers on their way to New York, and it seems that the conditions will not be simple either on the return journey.

Light wind or too light?

"We're doing everything backward! The Transat CIC was supposed to be a beating race, and we mostly sailed on a reach and downwind... The New York - Vendée, which is supposed to take place downwind, will likely be primarily upwind. There’s no longer a season!" jokes Nicolas Lunven, less than 24 hours before leaving the New York docks. The solo sailor spent Monday with his eyes glued to the weather files and in meetings with Dutch meteorologist Marcel Van Triest, who is accompanying him before the start. For now, the weather is not very aligned with the usual patterns in the North Atlantic at this time, and the departure is expected to take place in light to very light wind conditions. "The start of the race looks complicated because weak winds are forecast for the first two days. Will it be light or too light… That’s the question. If we can make sufficient progress, we could catch a southwest flow that will take us almost to the Azores in great sailing conditions. If, unfortunately, we can’t manage that, we will be stuck in front of New York waiting for a depression to form. But when it does form, it happens quickly, and then we can find ourselves in complicated weather conditions with a very formed sea and strong winds. It’s a bit of all or nothing. We can imagine anything… Everyone could leave with that southwest flow, or no one could… Some might catch it, and others might not. That would mean a big separation in the fleet," explains the skipper of Holcim-PRB.

Give it all for a great arrival in Les Sables d’Olonne

But there are still a few hours left before the start, and the weather can still change. Nicolas will leave the docks today at 7 PM (French time), but the departure, which will take place well offshore from New York, about 100 miles from the Big Apple, will not happen until tomorrow at 8 PM (French time). Until then, he will be able to further refine the weather data from on board as he heads toward the starting area. Eager to get back to competition, Nicolas shows little signs of fatigue from the fairly exceptional sequence of these two solo transatlantic crossings. He is thinking about the approaching Vendée Globe and knows that every mile traveled aboard his boat is a valuable source of learning. "To prepare for the Vendée Globe, it's important to sail. I need that to feel ready. Sailing quality miles is the best way to prepare for the Vendée Globe. It was imperative for me to participate in these two transatlantic races. In this New York - Vendée race, the competition is going to be fierce again. The fleet is significant in both quantity and quality. It’s going to be interesting. I hope to compete with the best and draw performance conclusions and insights on the technical aspects of the boat," continues Nicolas, who will set off on a boat that is fully ready. The entire technical team and Rosalin Kuiper have fully invested during this American stopover to ensure his machine is at 100% of its potential for this New York - Vendée. Naturally, everyone wants to make a strong impression in the city that is both the starting and finishing point of the solo round-the-world race without stops or assistance. With five months to go before this major event for the Holcim-PRB project, Nicolas is truly determined to do well.