Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M75

SHK Scallywag shoots for GROUPAMA Race double

by Lisa Ratcliff / OCC 5 Mar 2020 22:06 PST From 21 June 2020
SHK Scallywag Orma 60 © SHK Scallywag

The current monohull record holders for the GROUPAMA Race around New Caledonia will return in 2020 with a Hong Kong team hungry to also claim the multihull record for the biennial South Pacific race starting June 21.

"This time the team will take the Sun Hung Kai FUKU Scallywag trimaran sporting all its new modifications," said skipper David Witt.

As well as a spiffy new paint job and set of North Sails, structural changes include new front foils with a rake system, new T rudders to allow the boat to fully foil, plus new hydraulic, PLC and electrical systems.

"Basically everything on the boat has been renovated or replaced to make it like new, and at the frontline of foiling technology for an offshore racing boat," Witt commented. "We are expecting an increase of boat speed reaching and running of approximately 20 - 30%."

He recalls from the 2016 race with the 100-foot supermaxi: "The start of the race was well supported with hundreds of boats on the water and thousands of people on the shoreline, which was very impressive. Sailing around the atoll with clear, flat, blue water, breeze and high cliffs was one of the best sailing experiences the team has had."

SHK Scallywag 100 set a time of 2 days 13 hours 19 minutes and 55 seconds. Rather than return with the same boat, the ORMA 60 trimaran from owner Seng Huang Lee's Hong Kong stable is going to have a crack at the multihull record of 2 days, 00h 33min 12s. The fastest course time was also set in 2016, by another ORMA 60 - Frank Racing/Team Vodafone skippered by Simon Hull from New Zealand.

"Scallywag 100 holds the monohull record and we'd like to break the multihull record, and hold both the Groupama and the Hong Kong to Vietnam Race," Witt added.

For owners considering adding their names to the growing entry list, the Australian international yachtsman says: "It will be well worth the trip!"

The unique New Caledonia Groupama Race is a demanding South Pacific adventure of 654 nautical miles, timed to follow on from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race.

A number of Sydney owners have signed up for the double including Ian Edwards' Wings, a Dehler 46 and 2018 entrant making a return to the French paradise, and Stephen Dadour's Solutions, a smaller Dehler 41.

Discounted marina rates at Port Moselle are available to competitors entered in both the PONANT Sydney Noumea and GROUPAMA races. Right beside the marketplace is where the race village will be set up for daily live briefings, live entertainment and fun activities, and where newly arrived crews will talk on stage each evening about the highs and lows of the 654 nautical mile challenge.

As well as fully crewed (minimum of 3 crew) monohull and multihull categories, organising club Cercle Nautique Calédonien is, for the first time since the debut GROUPAMA Race in 2008, offering a shorthanded division (minimum of 2) plus a cruising division.

Enter here by Wednesday May 20.

For more about Groupama Race visit:

Website: www.groupamarace.nc
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groupamaracenc
Instagram: Groupamarace
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/groupamaracenc

Related Articles

Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 8
Super Finals Saturday sees Daida Moreno produce buzzer beater The penultimate day of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup saw final results gained in three categories; Women's, U21 Boy's and U18 Boy's and all three divisions required Super Finals to determine the eventual winners. Posted on 12 Jul
International Moth Worlds at Lake Garda Day 5
A day to remember on Lake Garda with waves and strong gusts A day to remember on Lake Garda for the fifth and penultimate day of the 2025 Moth World Championship, hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine from 6 to 13 July. Posted on 12 Jul
Jazz Turner Makes History in Project FEAR
Jazz credits Allen for providing cutting-edge sheeting systems, as well as expert advice Project FEAR, an extraordinary solo sailing voyage by Jazz Turner, has concluded successfully: she became the first disabled person – and specifically the first wheelchair user – to sail non-stop and unassisted around the UK and Ireland. Posted on 12 Jul
18th Puig Vela Clàssica Barcelona overall
Some of the most celebrated gems of classic yachting in the waters off Barcelona The sails have now been lowered on the 18th edition of the Puig Vela Clàssica, which this week brought together some of the most celebrated gems of classic yachting in the waters off Barcelona. Posted on 12 Jul
Dylan Fletcher previews Portsmouth
Fletcher says SailGP's Portsmouth debut offers the team the chance to 'right the wrongs'. With just a week to go until SailGP's return to Great Britain, we sit down with Emirates GBR driver Dylan Fletcher to discuss the opportunities and pressures of a home event. Posted on 12 Jul
Australian sailors take to Olympic waters
Regatta serves as an important test, not just for sailors, but also for organisers The Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta is set to get begin, marking the first major combined event on the waters of the LA 2028 Olympic Games. Posted on 12 Jul
Marine Auctions: Two Online Auctions in July
Also Jacob Seiffert has been appointed as the Area Representative for the Port Lincoln Region Marine Auctions are proud to announce that Jacob Seiffert has been appointed as the Area Representative for the Port Lincoln Region in South Australia. Jacob is a local Commerical Fisherman. Posted on 12 Jul
Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta 2025 Preview
The fourth stop of the five series Sailing Grand Slam circuit Over 200 elite athletes from 42 nations have converged on Long Beach to test their skills on the same waters that will host sailing events during the LA2028 Olympic Games as they compete in the Long Beach Olympic Classes Regatta July 12-20 Posted on 12 Jul
Best Buddies from Germany win the AEGEAN 600 2025
The second wave of finishers benefit from last night's steadier breezes Behind the first wave of finishers yesterday morning, yesterday and last night's steadier breezes helped sweep in another wave of Monohull and Multihull finishers to the race finish at Cape Sounion. Posted on 11 Jul
Conversation with Ben Willows: CEO RS Marine Group
Some people's passion for sailing runs so deep, it feels like it's woven into their DNA There are some people whose passion for sailing runs so deep, it feels like it's woven into their DNA. Ben Willows is one of those people. Posted on 11 Jul
V-DRY-XMaritimo M50Zhik 2024 December