Politics and sailing don’t mix, especially when people choose to express their political opinions by rioting in the streets and burning down buildings awfully close to the yacht club.
The current turmoil in the small French-run South Pacific island of New Caledonia has forced the postponement of the Sydney-Noumea Yacht Race due to start on May 25. There has been a high level of civil unrest and arson on the island in protest against some proposed electoral reforms.
Noumea is now under a State of Emergency and the Australian government has advised travellers to reconsider any plans to travel to New Caledonia. In response, the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia has postponed the race. CYCA Commodore, Arthur Lane, said:
“The safety of everyone involved is, as always, our primary consideration. Given the current travel restrictions and curfews in place in Noumea, this postponement is an inevitable, albeit unfortunate outcome. Our very best wishes and prayers go out to the people of Noumea during this challenging time”.
Held every two years, the 1,064nm Sydney-Noumea is a feeder to the Groupama Race which is a 654nm circumnavigation of the Island. That event starts on June 9 but is now likely to be confined to local yachts.
In 2020 the Covid epidemic forced the CYCA to cancel the Sydney-Hobart Race just six days before the Boxing Day start…