Groupama Race - A circumnavigation of New Caledonia

by Groupama Race on 1 Dec 2011 The departure of the third sailing tour of New Caledonia will be given on September 9, 2012.

This competition is physical and hard. Weather forecasting strategy and the physical fitness of the competitors will play an important role in the final victory.

New Caledonia is oriented in the direction of the Southeast trade winds. This means that in normal wind conditions, the competitors will have 300 NM downwind ( under spinnaker) and 300 NM indo the wind (being shaken around). Night, day, along the coast, in open sea: Aelus never blows the same. When to gybe? When to tack? Which sails to use? Tack towards the coast? Opt for open sea? These are the question sailors will be asking themselves during the four to five days, a sizeable race lenght during wich no one can guarantee the weather.

The course sails along a reef of exceptional beauty and in a lagoon which is registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Start Nouméa, finish Nouméa, with only two compulsory way points to the north of the Grand Passage which is north of the Belep Islands ' in the extreme north of the country'. A 600 NM regatta in the biggest lagoon in the world, registered on the UNESCO World heritage List. In principle, the east coast with a down wind; the west coast into the wind . In view of the of the strong wind and current, swell in the extreme north of the territory, the race is from East to West cost... with no-stop, without rest, and wet by the 'hot' waves of 22 ° South latitude!

The New Caledonian Tour is thus a race against the clock for monohulls between 30 and 50 feet or with a GPH between 670 and 520 s/min. It's an ocean race worthy of a Sydney-Hobart, five days of competition, making good weather forecast choices, never lifting the pressure: a technical and tactical battle where victory is to conquer.

NOR available in www.groupamrace.nc, you can contact us directly contact@groupamarace.nc

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