Postponement of 2024 Ponant Sydney Noumea Yacht Race
by Cruising Yacht Club of Australia 15 May 2024 22:25 PDT
Ponant Sydney Noumea Yacht Race 2018 Start in Sydney Harbour © Andrea Francolini
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), race organiser of the Ponant Sydney Noumea Yacht Race, has, today, made an official statement regarding the upcoming race, which was scheduled to start on Saturday 25 May 2024.
With New Caledonia having been placed in a State of Emergency following several days of civil unrest and riots over electoral reform, and the advice of the Australian Government to reconsider travel to Noumea, the Club has made the decision to postpone the race.
The safety of our competitors and management team, as well as our finishing partner, Cercle Nautique Caledonien's staff and volunteers, remains paramount in our decision making.
The CYCA is considering an alternative date of Saturday 22 June for the commencement of the 2024 Ponant Sydney Noumea Yacht Race. This will allow the fleet time to return to Australia ahead of the Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race in late July - the opening race of the 2024/25 Audi Centre Sydney Blue Water Pointscore.
The Cruising Yacht Club's Commodore. Arthur Lane, said:
"The safety of everyone involved is, as always, our primary consideration. Given the current travel restrictions and curfews in place in Noumea, this postponement is an inevitable, albeit unfortunate outcome. Our very best wishes and prayers go out to the people of Noumea during this challenging time".
The Cruising Yacht Club will provide official updates later should the situation in New Caledonia necessitate further changes to this postponement.
The Ponant Sydney Noumea Yacht Race had been introduced in 2018 as a biennial event, primarily as a feeder race for New Caledonia's Groupama. Subsequent editions had been cancelled due to border restrictions during the Covid pandemic.
noumea.cycaracing.com