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PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race Pre-start overview

Home 2025 PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race Pre-start overview

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The historic PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race returns this weekend, rekindling an offshore classic that has tested sailors for generations.

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First held in 1953, the Sydney Noumea Yacht Race quickly earned a reputation as a challenging and rewarding ocean passage. By the 1970s, it had become a biennial fixture on the offshore sailing calendar, regularly attracting top-tier crews and competitive fleets through to the 1990s.

After a 25-year hiatus, the race was successfully revived in 2018. However, its momentum was soon after stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced cancellations in 2020 and 2022. International travel restrictions in 2024 continued to impact the viability of the event, ultimately leading to the postponement of the 2024 race and pushing its long-awaited return to 2025.

Now, the race sets sail once again, on Saturday 31 May, for its 12th edition, proudly organised by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) in partnership with race sponsor PONANT.

 

The Start
The 2025 PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race will start at 1300hrs on Saturday with the start line in the vicinity of Steele Point. Competitors will sail out through Sydney Heads and turn northeast, leaving the shores of Sydney far behind on their 1,064-nautical mile journey to Noumea.

The Fleet
While the fleet is smaller in numbers this edition, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is excited to once again host an international offshore race and looks forward to welcoming crews to the start line of this iconic passage.

  • Llama II
    It’s third time lucky for Jon Linton’s Dehler 46, Llama II. The cruiser-racer was entered to compete in both the 2020 and 2024 editions, but with those races postponed, 2025 marks the long-awaited opportunity. Linton and his crew of nine are raring to go, eager to finally tick the PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race off their bucket list.
     
  • Pacman 
    Sailing 1,064 nautical miles double-handed is no small feat — it demands endurance, trust and seamless teamwork. Fortunately for the co-skippers of Pacman, that foundation was laid decades ago. Having known each other for more than 30 years and with thousands of nautical miles under their belts, the pair bring a wealth of offshore experience to the race.
     
  • Wild Thing 100
    The largest yacht in the fleet, Wild Thing 100, co-owned by Grant Wharington and Adrian Seiffert, is a strong contender to break the race record. The current benchmark - 4 days, 2 hours and 23 minutes - was set by Michael Martin’s Frantic (TP52) in 2018.

    Fresh from finishing third across the line in the 2024 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Wild Thing 100 now boasts a new rig that stands six metres taller than before, giving the maxi even more horsepower for the 1,064-nautical mile race to Noumea.

 

The Finish
While much of the course can be sailed close to the rhumb line, the approach to the finish requires careful navigation. Yachts must pass through 'Passe de Boulari' before turning left towards 'Îlot Brun', where they enter New Caledonia’s extensive reef system.

From there, the fleet makes a final right turn into 'La Baie de l'Orphelinat', where the finish line is located. This final stretch demands precision, as crews navigate through narrow channels and coral reefs before crossing the line in Noumea.

 

PONANT Sydney Noumea Yacht Race Start Weather Forecast

 

Saturday, 31 May | Sydney
Winds are light and variable from south to east-southeast at 5 to 10 knots. Significant wave height of 2 to 3 metres with a long period southerly swell (15–16 seconds).

Mostly sunny during the day, becoming partly cloudy at night. 20–40% chance of a light shower.


Sunday, 1 June | Sydney
East southeasterly winds 10 to 15 knots, increasing to 20 to 25 knots near the trough in the northeast. Significant wave height remains steady around 3 metres with a long period southerly swell (15–16 seconds).

Partly cloudy with a slight chance of a light shower throughout the day.