Nicolas Lunven: "I dream of just racing and not fixing stuff"

"I don't like to say "finally" because the Vendée Globe is not a right, but of course it's great. I'm very happy to be at the start. I'm going to give it my all to have a great race. In fact, the experience I've been able to build on these boat in recent years is a real strong point but I'm not the only one to have it. I'm happy to have already had the opportunity to sail in the Southern Ocean during The Ocean Race but I'm not basing my preparation on that. I'm trying to be focused on what's coming up for me personally, alone instead. A first solo round the world trip is a big thing. I admit that sometimes, in the evening before falling asleep or in the morning as soon as I open my eyes, I take my phone and make a little note of something that must not be forgotten or something to discuss with the technical team… proof that I am thinking of things all the time.” 

“Absolutely. It is not something that comes up every day. It is a big mountain to climb. It is also an adventure. So there are a lot of parameters to manage and a lot of things to prepare. There are things that we cannot control, even if we try as much as possible to reduce these things. There is an element of unknown, but that is also something that is exciting and nice.” 

“It’s hard to answer that question. I think I have a good boat. I like it because it’s versatile and efficient. It’s a good sailing partner. I have a great team that has prepared it well. I think it and I make a good team. I feel comfortable on board. I think I’ve really got the measure of it.” 

What are the points that you really focused on during your preparation? 
 

“It’s hard to give a figure. I'm going to do the best I can with this boat, which deserves to be pressed hard and to get it as high as possible in the rankings. Throughout the preparation, our goal was to tell ourselves that before talking about sporting results, we had to finish the round the world race with a machine in good condition, or in the best possible condition. That has been our guiding principle. Above all, I'm going to try to have a great race and if I manage to do that with as few problems as possible, then we can then talk about the rankings." 

"The one of Philippe Poupon's rescue by Loïck Peyron in 1989. I wasn't very old but it's an image that left its mark on me." 

"There are a lot, it's hard to sort through them, but what remains etched in my memory is the Cap Istanbul race in a Figaro Beneteau. It allowed us to cross the Mediterranean, from France to Turkey, single-handed, with all our equipment on board. It was a really great trip, in seas where we don't often sail." 

"I want to say the Défi Azimut, last September." 

"Winning it." 

"Loïck Peyron. As I said, I was marked by the 1989-1990 Vendée Globe. He had taken part in it and he was already messing around at the time. I loved his videos. I was a kid but his round the world trip was great to watch." 

“I only sail! (Laughs)” 

“I never take anything superfluous, but I do take a lot of chocolate! I think cocoa has therapeutic properties (Laughs). When I’m racing, I eat a lot of it. It’s good for my morale! Luckily it’s not considered a performance enhancing drug! (Laughs)”