Girouette – A Legacy of Passion
A shared passion—the one that binds a father and his daughter: sailing.
Noa Ancian, a former elite athlete and member of the French Nacra 17 team, decided to dive into offshore racing with Girouette, a 10.3-meter sailboat.
By her side, a rather unique crewmate: Hervé, 54, her father. And far from a beginner. This former mountaineer turned sailor once made a crossing to Australia—double-handed, without an autopilot.
“In late 2024, we took the helm of this boat with a project that was as much about sport as it was about family: to race the 2025 Groupama Race double-handed, as a father-daughter team,” Noa and Hervé share.
While Girouette had already taken part in the race, it was the duo’s first time. And they were about to discover that this loop around New Caledonia is no pleasure cruise. 2025 made it clear: intense, demanding, unpredictable. Racing double-handed is tough. Doing it as a family? Purely heroic.
Especially since sailing is a true family affair: Noa’s mother, Barbara, was also competing—aboard Snatch N’ Furious. And just before the start, trouble began. A leak in the freshwater tank threw the duo off balance. Luckily, they managed the stress with composure and quickly switched to jerrycans. Plan B activated, nerves under control.
When we asked Noa about her first memorable moment of the Groupama Race, her answer was immediate:
“The start! Absolutely unforgettable, all those boats, crossing the line and realizing that yes—we’ve officially started the Groupama Race!”
At the beginning, the duo held strong and stayed with the pack all the way to the southern pass.
The first night was tense, but they made it through. The team had agreed to avoid night maneuvers whenever possible. So, Girouette headed toward the Loyalty Islands, prioritizing safety. They quickly rejoined the group and sailed downwind in calmer waters.
Then came another defining moment: crossing the Grand Passage.
“It gave us magical surfs… before slamming us back to reality—beating upwind. Brutal.”
Conditions worsened: choppy seas, strong winds, and growing fatigue. A new side of the race revealed itself—tougher, more grueling. A true test of endurance.
To recover, the pair took a short break in the lagoon near Koumac. But as soon as they left, the weather flipped. A strong wind pushed them south.
“It was a surprise—it put us back in the game!”
The relief didn’t last. Like many other boats, Girouette became stuck in a merciless dead calm. The sea turned to glass, the wind disappeared.
“As we neared Bourail, I knew we were close to home… but the calm turned everything upside down.”
Still, they held on. Every faint puff of air was a new chance. Little by little, Girouette moved forward, eventually getting within just 1 nautical mile of the finish line. And then—dead still. No more wind.
The shore teams came out to encourage them gently, avoiding the smallest wake. The boat barely moved. Time stood still. The frustration was palpable. So close… and yet so far.
An hour passed. Then, finally—a whisper of wind. Hearts full of hope, they inched toward the finish line after five days of sailing.
“Cherry on top: our engine died right at the finish, so we had to be towed in. But the welcome was unforgettable—tears, laughter, and massive pride to have finished.”
They did it. Together.
“We learned, we suffered, we loved it…
And we’re signing up again for 2027.”
And we’ll be there to cheer them on. Won’t you?
📸 L’Oeil de Cha’ / Fred Cance / Sky Prodphotography / EyeFly Pacifique / Gill Chabaud / Girouette
