A Change in Plans: Sydney to Noumea Race Postponed | Part I
It is funny to be sailing out on the ocean with my daughter right now. Well, actually, this is when we should be out on the ocean. The Ponant Sydney to Noumea yacht race would have started last Saturday and we would well be on our way to New Caledonia. Somewhere a hundred or two hundred nautical miles northeast of here. Three hours on, three hours off. Racing! Instead, we are sailing towards Brisbane. Sophie tucked up on one cockpit cushion engrossed in a book and me on the other staring out to sea. Back from Lord Howe Island. Back from Port Stephens via Lord Howe. Port Stephens: the place we stopped when the Sydney to Noumea was postponed. Postponed by civil unrest and violence which not even the French President could foresee let alone a race committee.
At times, I honestly thought that I would be the one who would not be able to get Fika to the start line. I would let us down! Not the turbulent history of a remote French island.
It almost takes a full-time project manager to prepare a yacht for a Category 1 ocean race. With a swath of paperwork to complete from stability compliance, keel and rudder inspections, crew experience, qualifiers, safety, safety and more safety. Where is a project manager when one needs one! There were moments of despair trying to organise Australian Registration for our previously UK registered yacht. Oh, and insurance! Knockback after knockback before finding an insurance company supportive of offshore and short-handed racing. There were months of preparation replacing Fika’s standing rigging, lifelines, storm jib, seeking racy second-hand sails and ensuring all of our safety equipment was up to date, serviced and certified. With Fika’s documentation submitted and all satellite communications flashing and bleeping, we were ready.
With water tanks full, and provisions aboard, Gerry and I departed Many, Queensland bound for the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA), Sydney to the race start. Like Dory from “Finding Nemo”, we found the southeast Australian Current. Despite being close hauled, we made good progress zooming south in the currents ‘slipstream’. In our own ocean world, we were out to sea and out of range of the latest news. First came a text from my brother saying there were riots in Noumea. Next came an email from the CYCA. Then a phone call. It was hard to absorb the correspondence but the Ponant Sydney to Noumea yacht race was to be postponed. With a State of Emergency declared, the CYCA had no option. Now what to do!
For two hours, we bobbed on the ocean not sure which way to turn and what to do. With a dogged mindset completely focused on this race, it was certainly challenging to just let it all go in a moment. But there was certainly no point in continuing on to Sydney. Whilst bobbing off the NSW coast, there were phone calls backwards and forwards to Sophie discussing our options. Sophie too was oblivious to the unfolding unrest in Noumea. Like an April Fool’s joke, my news caught her completely by surprise. Sophie had a flight booked to arrive in Sydney in a few days. Perhaps we could still go for a sail. With Port Stephens 60nm to our south, we altered course for this beautiful part of the NSW coast. Perhaps, a new plan would emerge.
Whilst we were both disappointed about the race, on the scheme of things, we marvel at how fortunate we are to live in a peaceful country where we have the freedom to choose and strive for every opportunity. With such privilege, we schemed and hatched another plan: sail to Lord Howe Island.
With Fika ready for an ocean crossing and all of our study/work commitments on hold, a perfect weather window sealed the deal. All of the months of preparation would be rewarded after all. With five days before our intended departure, we were just in the nick of time to set the rat traps and ensure Fika met all of the biosecurity requirements; submit an application and keep our fingers crossed that our application would be approved. Regardless, we would go for a sail and head in the direction of the majestic Lord Howe Island.
