A restless first night
Press Release n° 3 - Lundi 16 juin au matin
The first night of the New Caledonia Groupama Race 2025 put the crews to the test.
As reported in the latest press release, two boats — Motorboat II and Kalolo — officially announced their withdrawal from the race last night due to technical incidents. A difficult decision, but one made in the name of crew safety and equipment integrity.
The experienced duo on Motorboat II went through a dramatic episode on Sunday evening around 6 p.m. “We pitchpoled,” explained Alan, the co-skipper. “We were hit by a 28-knot gust (52 km/h), while the wind had been around 20–22 knots until then. With the full mainsail up and the masthead spinnaker flying, we were surfing at 15–16 knots when the boat just dove — it went submarine-style straight down the wave.”
Pitchpoling happens when the bow of the boat violently plows into a wave. Following this, the boat broached and gybed — meaning the sails slammed violently from one side to the other — causing the breakage of a batten and the loss of some gear, including winch handles and headlamps. The damage was significant, but thankfully, no one was injured. “We couldn’t sail at 100% anymore, so we decided to withdraw. But everything’s fine on board, spirits are high, and we’re actually happy to be anchoring for a quiet night,” Alan added last night.
For Kalolo, it was a rudder failure — the crucial steering component — that forced them to exit the race. “After a strong start under spinnaker, we had multiple rudder dropouts between 6 and 7 p.m.,” recounted Féliphé. “We attempted several repairs, but nothing held. For safety reasons, we made the call to stop. Of course we’re disappointed, but happy that the boat is intact.”
A Rough Night for All Competitors
These two withdrawals are just a glimpse of the rough night experienced by the whole fleet. Rushour continues its fast-paced comeback and has already crossed the Balade checkpoint. It’s expected to reach the Grand Passage later this afternoon, before beating upwind along the west coast. Next to pass Balade will be V5 and Roamance.
Girouette has gone for a bold tactic: hugging the Loyalty Islands to limit night maneuvers to just one — a move aimed at both safety and wind hunting.
Poulpito, still among the front runners, faced an issue with its Starlink system and some broken blocks, but morale remains high on board. As for Maluco, the night was tough, but spirits are holding. “It’s the girls on deck, of course! We sent the captain to bed — he’s a bit grumpy,” joked Claire, one of the crew members.
A Race That Promises to Stay Intense to the End
The 2025 Groupama Race is charging ahead under conditions that test not only the boats’ endurance but the sailors’ resilience. While some crews wisely return to port, others are battling on, chasing the best course and the most favorable winds. The next update is expected in the coming hours.