V5: Goal victory

V5: Goal Victory

• New Zealand Boat
• Type : Monohull
• Crew : Brian Petersen (skipper) – finalization in progress
• Number of Groupama Race participations (including 2025) : 3

For the third time, the V5 crew will take the start of the Groupama Race. “ We’ve done this race twice before,” says skipper Brian Petersen. “ It’s a fantastic adventure, with warm temperatures and great hospitality in Nouméa. What more could we ask for? ”

In their last race in 2018, Brian and his crew engaged in an intense battle with the New Zealand yacht Miss Scarlett. “ It was a tough fight and an exhilarating sail along the west coast all the way to the finish ”, he recalls. This memory is even more special since both boats—his former one from 2018 and Miss Scarlett—have since been lost. “ My boat lost its keel during a delivery trip to Los Angeles, and Miss Scarlett was destroyed by fire during a delivery to Queensland, ” he explains.

This year, the team is more motivated than ever. “In recent years, very few offshore races have been possible from Auckland due to weather, health restrictions, and other challenges,” says Brian. This frustration has fueled an even greater desire to get back on the water and into competition. The Groupama Race is just one stop in V5’s 2025 program, which will include several races before culminating in Sydney-Auckland in October.

Recently, the V5 crew welcomed three French sailors during the Bay of Islands Regatta, which Brian describes as “great preparation before heading to New Caledonia.” Like last year, fun remains a key goal… but so does performance! “Our objective: to win! But also to enjoy the amazing atmosphere in Nouméa for a few days”, concludes Brian.