Motorboat II – At the Mercy of the Wind
Everything started under the best conditions. Alan Quere, who has been living in New Zealand for several years, returned to Nouméa to participate in the New Caledonia Groupama Race, a race he especially cherishes since he takes part in every edition.
Together with his partner Vincent Trinquet, based in New Caledonia, they bought Motorboat II – a Kiwi sailboat – and embarked on their second double-handed attempt at the GR. The two friends, well-trained, had only one goal: to show what they’re made of.
The starting signal was given on June 15th. A brilliant start, with Motorboat’s bright lime-green hull and the radiant smiles of Vincent and Alan standing out against a slightly gray sky. They knew the days ahead would be tough, long, but exhilarating.
Everything changed south of Grande Terre, during the run under the spinnaker. A sudden 28-knot gust caught them off guard. “Around 6 pm, we broached,” Alan told us just after the incident. “We got hit by a 28-knot gust (52 km/h), while we had been sailing around 20-22 knots until then. With the main sail fully hoisted and the spinnaker up front, we were surfing at 15-16 knots, then the boat literally plunged, going submarine-style down the wave.”
The boat then gybed violently – the sails violently switching sides – and the material damage was clear: a broken main sail batten, lost winches and flashlights. Fortunately, no injuries, but Alan’s voice clearly showed how frightening it was.
The COSS and race management were immediately informed. After assessing the damage a few minutes later, the verdict was final: withdrawal. Motorboat II had to give up.
“We left for Europe for new sailing adventures. Unfortunately for us, the Groupama adventure ended abruptly at the start of the race. But it gave us a chance to discover the race from the spectator side, which isn’t bad either.
We plan to leave the boat in Nouméa for a few months before doing the Coastal Classic at the end of October in NZ,” Alan told us. It goes to show, nothing stops these passionate sailors. Neither gybes nor unexpected submarine swims.
Courage, however, stays afloat.
Motorboat 2 Handed
Photos: L’Oeil de Cha’ / Fred Cance / EyeFly Pacifique – Gill Chabaud / Sky Prodphotography
