Targeted by accusations of sexual assault, Kevin Escoffier is now replaced. On Thursday September 14, the Holcim-PRB team announced the appointment of Nicolas Lunven as skipper of its sailboat. The place had been vacant since last June and the departure of his predecessor. In their sights, the team is aiming for the next Vendée Globe.
“Team Holcim-PRB is strengthening with the arrival of a great offshore racing expert, the Frenchman Nicolas Lunven”, who will carry “the ambitions of the project as skipper for the Vendée Globe 2024”, wrote the sailing team in a press release sent to Agence France-Presse.
Double winner of the Solitaire du Figaro (2009, 2017), this 40-year-old from Vannes has participated in most of the major offshore racing competitions as a crew member (Transat Jacques Vabre, Transat AG2R, Ocean Race, etc.). “The Vendée Globe is becoming reality for me and, with Holcim-PRB, we are aligned on the ambitions. The challenge is great, but we will do everything we can to write the most beautiful page possible in this Vendée Globe,” explained Nicolas Lunven, quoted in the press release.
He was also due to take the start of the next Route du café, on October 29 in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), in a duo with the British Samantha Davis on the Imoca Initiatives-Coeur. A journey to Martinique that he will ultimately make out of competition.
Questioned by AFP, Holcim-PRB did not wish to comment on the ongoing investigation targeting Kevin Escoffier, but, with this new helmsman, the team wanted to “reaffirm its desire to have a lasting project in the world of ocean racing”.
The French Sailing Federation must convene a disciplinary committee on September 20 to decide on possible sanctions against the skipper, hero of the last Vendée Globe after his rescue at the last minute from the waters by Jean Le Cam. Sanctions can go as far as withdrawal of your browser license.
