The New Caledonia Groupama Race : 17 years of adventure

In just a few weeks, the 8th edition of the Groupama Race will begin. A total of 25 crews will set off on a circumnavigation of New Caledonia.

As its name suggests, the Groupama Race was born from an initiative by Groupama Pacific. The company wanted to create a nationwide event to bring Caledonians together and strengthen its presence in the region. Philippe Mazard, former president of the Cercle Nautique Calédonien (CNC), international judge, and two-time winner of the race, remembers how it all started back in 2008: “Jean-Michel NAGLE from Groupama met with Matthias BALAGNY from the event communication agency Turtle, Laurence BOUCHER, who was in charge of events at the time at CNC, and two members of the club’s sailing division. Together, they came up with the idea of a race around New Caledonia.”
Everyone was excited, but, as Philippe Mazard recalls, “Several questions arose: Do we include stopovers? Should we stop in the provinces? If we do, where will the boats dock?” Very quickly, the idea of a “Tour of Caledonia” prevailed. “It was something completely new, something that had never been done before.“

At the first start in 2008, the race was far from the 25 boats registered for the 2025 edition.

Sailing Safely

The biggest challenge at the start was safety. For the CNC, it was crucial that the race be well-organized and secure. In the early editions, one of the major issues for the organizers was the poor hydrographic mapping of the northern areas of the mainland. Depths, seabed topography, and coastal configurations were not well-charted, which posed safety risks and impacted performance. To minimize the risk of accidents, the organizers gradually adapted the race instructions. “We prohibited boats from approaching certain coastal areas,” explains Philippe Mazard. “In addition, we require a high level of boat preparedness. The CNC enforces a minimum boat size and a range of safety standards, including a long list of equipment and mandatory training.”

Since its inception, the race has also featured a strong spirit of solidarity: each crew is required to assist any boat in distress, and the time spent doing so is factored into the final corrected time.

From Safety to Strategy

Once the safety aspects were addressed, attention turned to navigation strategy: should teams hug the coast or head offshore ?
While today’s crews can learn from past participants, that wasn’t the case in the early editions. “Race strategies have been refined through experience,” says Philippe Mazard. “For instance, on the east coast, the mountains are close to the sea, creating thermal effects and strong winds. It’s better to sail wide, almost skimming the Loyalty Islands, rather than battling those winds.” The course itself has evolved as well. “Previously, the start headed directly south,” explains Mathieu Landrieu. “We added the Amédée Lighthouse checkpoint to showcase this iconic New Caledonian site, and to introduce a strategic choice right from the start: take the Woodin Channel or head south of Ouen Island?” Weather also remains an unpredictable element throughout the race. Since the beginning of the Groupama Race, one thing remains true: no two editions are the same.

Welcome everyone

International crews first joined the Groupama Race in 2012, thanks to a CNC initiative. “We wanted to increase participation and allow Caledonian teams to compete against international challengers,” explains Philippe Mazard. “We had the idea of contacting clubs in Australia and New Zealand to organize races from those countries to New Caledonia. The timing ensures the boats arrive about a week before the Groupama Race begins, encouraging them to stay and compete.” The goal was to firmly establish the Groupama Race in the calendar of major regional regattas.

The arrival of international teams in 2012, such as the Kiwi competitor Bull Rush, marked a true opening toward the Pacific and cast a brilliant spotlight on New Caledonia.

A Village That Brings People Together

Beyond the sporting aspect, Groupama Pacific aimed from the beginning to create a family-friendly event that brings Caledonians together in a spirit of camaraderie.
By generating positive economic and social impacts, the race quickly became a key contributor to the territory’s appeal—especially by boosting New Caledonia’s visibility in the region.
And every year, the vibrant crowd gathered for the start at Rocher à la Voile or in the race village proves that the event has truly succeeded in that mission.

Start of the 2016 edition at Rocher à la Voile ©Deroche

Toward a 2.0 Future

As the race evolves, the arrival of technologies like Starlink marks a new chapter in navigation.
“Some boats will now have high-speed internet access at all times,” says Philippe Mazard. “But how do we manage that in terms of racing rules? What can they access? What kinds of support are allowed?” These are the new questions being asked, because the story of the Groupama Race is still being written.

In 2022, the Amédée Lighthouse became a required waypoint before heading due south. ©Marine Reveilhac