After a successful reinvigoration of the PONTANT Sydney to Noumea Yacht Race in 2018, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) has just announced that they will run the race again in July 2020.
Entires are now open for the club’s longest offshore race that spans 1064 nautical miles. After crossing the start line in Sydney Harbour, competitors head north east for a finish at the Cercle Nautique Caledonien in Noumea. Similar to 2018, the race will act as a lead-up to the popular New Caledonia Groupama Race which commences on 21 June 2020 and circumnavigates New Caledonia.
The CYCA has already released the Notice of Race for the 2020 PONANT Sydney Noumea to encourage entrants to start preparations early to give themselves the best chance of success in what CYCA Commodore Paul Billingham calls “one of the Cruising Yacht Club’s great adventures – and one of offshore racing’s biggest tests.”
The overall winner of the 2018 PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race was Sebastian Bohm’s Smuggler in a time of 5 days, 6 hours and 44 minutes, with Michael Martin’s Frantic claiming line honours in a time of 4 days, 2 hours, 23 minutes.
The previous race record, set by Brindabella in 1991 was 5 days, 21 hours, 35 minutes. The heavy downhill reaching and running conditions in the 2018 race were perfect for the downhill flyers who took out the top spots. No doubt many competitors will be hoping for similar conditions in the 2020 event to claim a new race record.
Photo credit: Ponant Sydney-Noumea yacht race 2018 Start in Sydney harbour 3/6/2018 ph. Andrea Francolini EVE Editorial usage only. Mandatory credit – ©Andrea Francolini
