"The Holcim-PRB project continues, which is already a good thing, with the desire to bring the boat to the Vendée Globe 2024 as planned. And the skipper who will lead this boat is Nicolas Lunven," a member of the team told AFP on Thursday.

By finishing second in the last edition of The Ocean Race, a crewed round the world race, the Swiss cement team Holcim proved that its monohull was capable of playing at the forefront against the other contenders for the next Everest of the seas.

But the sporting performance of the team had been overshadowed by the departure, during the race, of helmsman Kevin Escoffier after having himself evoked "an alleged incident" with a member of his team occurred in the United States.

In the aftermath, an investigation was opened by the Paris prosecutor's office following a report from the FFVoile on "sexual assault or inappropriate behavior". The blue and black Imoca was brought back to Lorient to remain at the dock.

Seasoned navigator

Just over a year before the 2024 edition of the Vendée Globe, which will start from Les Sables-d'Olonne on 10 November, Holcim-PRB has decided to appoint an experienced sailor to take over the helm of its ship.

"The Vendée Globe is becoming a reality for me and, with Holcim-PRB, we are aligned with the ambitions. The challenge is great, but we will do everything possible to write the most beautiful page possible on this Vendée Globe," explained Nicolas Lunven.

Double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (2009, 2017), this 40-year-old Vannetais has also participated in most of the major offshore racing competitions as a luxury crew member (Transat Jacques Vabre, Transat AG2R, Ocean Race...).

He was also due to take the start of the next "Route du café" on October 29 in Le Havre, in duet with the British Samantha Davis on the Imoca Initiatives-Coeur. A journey to Martinique that he will finally make out of competition.

Skipper Nicolas Lunven celebrates his victory at the Solitaire du Figaro in June 2017 © CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP/Archives

"Nicolas Lunven's first race under the colors of Holcim-PRB will be the transatlantic Return to Base (which will start from Martinique to Lorient on November 26, editor's note)," Holcim-PRB said in a statement.

"Until then, the skipper will get involved in the construction of the boat and will make the journey to Martinique in early November alongside his co-skipper Rosalin Kuiper, who also joins the team," the statement said.

Disciplinary Committee

Questioned by AFP, Holcim-PRB did not wish to comment on the ongoing investigation targeting Kevin Escoffier but, with this new helmsman, the team wished to "reaffirm its desire to have a sustainable project in the world of offshore racing".

Escoffier, 43, has not spoken to the media since an interview with L'Equipe and Ouest-France, a few days after his departure from The Ocean Race in June, in which he said he was "at the disposal of sports institutions".

Meanwhile, the FFvoile has opened a new disciplinary procedure after receiving "reports that concern other inappropriate behavior of Kevin Escoffier towards women".

This procedure was in addition to that opened in June, relating only to "incidents that occurred during the stage of The Ocean Race of Newport", had been specified on the side of the FFVoile.

French skipper Kevin Escoffier at a press conference last © January JOSE JORDAN / AFP/Archives

The disciplinary committee of the federation will meet on September 20, in the presence of the skipper, to decide on possible sanctions up to the withdrawal of his sailor's license.

Kevin Escoffier was one of the heroes of the last edition of the Vendée Globe. Wrecked in the storm off the Cape of Good Hope, he had jumped into his life raft before being rescued in extremis by another competitor, Jean Le Cam.

© 2023 AFP