Born into a family of sailors, Nicolas was immersed in the world of sailing from a young age. Alongside his studies in management and administration (Master’s degree), he successfully competed in regattas both in France and internationally. His passion led Nicolas to take part in the Solitaire du Figaro in 2007, a race that crowned him as the winner of the Rookie classification.

Tenacious and committed, the talented young man continued his training at the Pôle Finistère Course au Large in Port-La-Forêt. In 2009, an exceptional lineup of competitors from the Vendée Globe entered the Solitaire du Figaro. Desjoyeaux, Beyou, Eliès, and Le Cléac’h came to defend their titles, but Nicolas led the race from start to finish. Intuitive, rigorous, and determined, the young sailor brilliantly won this edition at just 26 years old, in only his third participation.

In 2017, Nicolas had a flawless season on the Figaro Bénéteau circuit: he won the Solitaire du Figaro for the second time, the Solo Maître CoQ for the third time, the Tour de Bretagne (also his second victory), and was crowned French Offshore Racing Champion. He then participated in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race aboard Turn the Tide on Plastic, before joining the Mirpuri Foundation crew for The Ocean Race Europe 2021, and sharing the Transat Jacques Vabre with Samantha Davies. In 2022, he replaced Clarisse Crémer during her pregnancy at Banque Populaire and impressed with his fourth place in the Guyader Bermudes 1000 Race and his 10th place in the Vendée Arctique.

In 2023, he joined Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia, which finished third on the podium of The Ocean Race and set the absolute record for the longest distance sailed by a monohull in 24 hours (641.13 miles). After this crewed round-the-world race, Nicolas Lunven took the helm of the Verdier Holcim-PRB design to prepare for his first solo round-the-world race, the Vendée Globe, which will start on November 10, 2024. It will be his first participation in the Vendée Globe.

She began sailing at the age of six on her Optimist, on a lake near her hometown of Zoetermeer. During her teenage years, she competed in athletics at the national level before switching to field hockey. Rosalin Kuiper rediscovered her love for sailing at the age of 18 during a solo trip to Australia, where she landed her first job as a sailor on a yacht.

She was later selected to join the youth sailing academy led by former Volvo Ocean Race skipper Roy Heiner. Since then, driven by her energy and determination to succeed, Rosalin Kuiper has participated in numerous iconic races such as the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, the Fastnet Race, and the Caribbean 600, and has worked with many sailing champions. During The Ocean Race Europe 2021, she sailed aboard the Volvo 65 AkzoNobel as a trimmer. In 2023, she finally took part in The Ocean Race with Team Malizia, where she was the only woman to complete all the legs.

The Dutch sailor holds a degree in psychology, specializing in sports psychology and group dynamics. She can often be found on a bike or hiking trail, kitesurfing, skiing, or in her camper van. She will take the helm of the IMOCA after Nicolas Lunven for The Ocean Race Europe, which will set off from Kiel, Germany, next August.