New Caledonia Groupama Race to start on 19 October 2014
by Matthias Balagny 18 Jan 2014 09:56 GMT
19 October 2014
The 4th Sailing Tour of New Caledonia will start on 19th October 2014. Weather forecasting stragegy and the physical fitness of the crews will play an important role in securing victory. Take part in the longest windward-leeward race in the world!
New Caledonia is oriented in the direction of the Southeast trade winds. This means that in normal wind conditions, the competitors will have 300 nautical mile downwind leg under spinnaker and 300 miles beating into the wind.
Night, day, along the coast, in open sea, Aelus never blows the same. When to gybe? When to tack? Which sails to use? Tack towards the coast? Opt for open sea? These are the questions sailors will be asking themselves during the 4 to 5 days, a sizeable race length, during which no-one can guarantee the weather.
The record of 3 days, 23 hours, 20 minutes and 50 seconds set by Team Australia Les Nouvelles in 2008 won't be easily beaten. The specialists forecast a 5 days race, favourable and strong weather conditions meant that a serious time of reference was set during the first edition.
The New Caledonian Tour is thus a race against the clock. It's an ocean race worthy of a Sydney-Hobart, five days of competition, making good weather forecast choices, never lifting the pressure - a technical and tactical battle where victory is to conquer!
www.groupamarace.nc