New Caledonian duo set sights on Rolex Sydney Hobart Double Handed Division
by RSHYR media 11 Jun 2025 00:11 PDT
26 December 2025
BCN - MY:NET Co-Skippers standing shoulder to shoulder ahead of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race © CYCA | Carlo Ashley Dart
When Yann Rigal and Michel Quintin began sailing Double Handed in 2020, Rigal had his doubts. "When Michel called me and said, 'Are you in?' I was like, 'Wow, that's crazy but yes, let's go'," Rigal laughed.
After completing their first race together in tough conditions, Rigal said he wondered if they'd bitten off more than they could chew. "We had to call somebody to clean up the boat after the race because it was a big mess and we were simply too exhausted," he said. "But now we can do it. It's good."
On Boxing Day, the two French sailors based in New Caledonia will take on the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race in the Double Handed Division on board the JPK 10.80 BCN - MY:NET (formerly Banque de Nouvelle Caledonie and before that Courrier Leon).
From windsurfing champion to second in the Rolex Sydney Hobart
Rigal and Quintin met in 2015, while Rigal was cleaning the yacht's hull before its departure to Sydney for the 2015 Rolex Sydney Hobart.
"I didn't know who Michel and his wife were," Rigal said. "They said about me, 'Who is this crazy guy cleaning the boat at six o'clock in the morning?'"
That year, Quintin skippered Courrier Leon (owned at the time by Gery Trentesaux) to second Overall, to win Division 4. Quintin returned to the race in 2017, this time with Rigal as a crew member in 2017. They went on to win Division 4 once again.
It looks like success is in the yacht's DNA. Former owner Gery Trentesaux sailed the boat to Overall victory in the 2015 Rolex Fastnet Yacht Race.
Rigal said Quintin's commitment to "pushing" the 11-year-old yacht to its limits stems from his experience as a competitive windsurfer. Quintin was crowned world champion in 1987 and 1990 and he campaigned for the Olympics in the Mistral sailboard until 1996.
"Michel always gives 100 percent when he is on the boat," Rigal said.
Rigal the Navigator
Offshore sailing didn't come naturally to Rigal at first. As a youngster, he sailed in the Optimist class in the warm waters of Tahiti. He later moved to France to study, which is when he got into offshore sailing. But he missed the balmy seas back home.
"I didn't really like it [offshore sailing] very much because it was cold and hard. And sleeping is the trickiest part," Rigal said.
But under the guidance of French mentors, he leaned into the challenges. He then met the Courrier Leon crew, which strengthened his commitment to the sport.
Double Handed Dynamics
In addition to "feeding" Quintin nourishing snacks, when he is on long stints at the helm, Rigal is the main navigator on board BCN - MY:NET.
Quintin said that sailing together in major events has helped them establish an easy rhythm.
"We know each other very well, we know the boat very well," Quintin said. "We've raced the Rolex Sydney Hobart and the New Caledonia Groupama Race (654nm) twice.
"We're not professional but we know the book."
International Contingent
Of the 60-plus yachts already entered in the race, eight—including BCN - MY:NET—are from overseas, with the USA, Poland, Germany, New Zealand and Hong Kong all represented. Another international entry from New Caledonia is Poulpito MLS-FCD, returning for their third Hobart after competing in 2022 and 2024.
The crew shared that the boat has undergone a minor refit and received extensive maintenance, including work on the rudder bearings. Poulpito's crew is made up mostly of New Caledonian sailors, who all sail together throughout the year. When asked what crossing the finish line in Hobart feels like, they laughed: "Last race we arrived at five o'clock in the morning, so it was pretty quiet on the dock. This year, we'll try to finish a bit later in the day, however the recovery drink on arrival will taste just as nice."
Quintin and Rigal's families will travel from New Caledonia and France to meet them at the finish line in Hobart.
"Hobart is incredible," Rigal said. "So, we are very happy to share all those good moments with all the people after the race."
Repping New Caledonia on the World Stage
Quintin said he was looking forward to checking out the other Double Handed entries.
"I think it's important to go and race [in the Sydney Hobart]. We stay in our nice lagoon [in Noumea]," Quintin said. "But we have only 15 or 20 boats. In Sydney we have to race against adults.
"We're really proud to represent New Caledonia in Australia to show everyone that we are also sailors. We are sailing here. And even if we're a long, long way from everywhere, we still are racing quite well."