Kiwi strength and setback
From the outset, Kiwi entries made headlines. MotorBoat II bowed out within hours of the start after a violent broach and gear failure. Fellow New Zealand boat V5 Racing, skippered by Brian Peterson, then rose through the ranks, quickly establishing itself as the monohull leader. As of the latest reports, V5 Racing remains ahead, navigating the treacherous west coast leg with clear intent and seasoned offshore skill.
But it’s been far from smooth sailing across the fleet.
Five boats out, including race leaders
As of this morning, five boats have withdrawn: Blade Runner – Neocean, Kalolo, MotorBoat II, Rushour, and Too Farr Out.
Rushour, an Australian catamaran and former race leader, suffered the most dramatic fate. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, two distress beacons were activated. A full-scale rescue operation ensued involving aerial reconnaissance by Le Guardian, a PUMA military helicopter from New Caledonia’s armed forces, and the diversion of competitor RoAmance to assist. The good news: all six crew were safely winched aboard the helicopter after spending hours on the overturned hull. A tracking beacon has since been installed on the drifting boat.
Meanwhile, Too Farr Out—a Caledonian monohull—retired after a downwind spinnaker incident left their sail tangled and unusable. To safely attempt mast-top repairs, the crew diverted toward the coast. Earlier confusion around a rudder issue was clarified in later reports. The crew remains safe.
Blade Runner – Neocean also pulled the pin following rudder failure, echoing Too Farr Out’s concerns. Their crew is similarly unharmed and returning to the mainland.
Tactical divergence and high spirits
Despite the setbacks, morale remains high aboard many vessels. Young Guns celebrated not one but two crew birthdays at sea, even after losing a heavy spinnaker early on. “We switched to a lighter one — slower, but it’s holding up,” said crew member Timéo.
The Guilty Pleasures, Poulpito, and BNC crews are engaged in a fierce mid-fleet battle, trading gybes and surf rides through the infamous Grand Passage. Their Sydney 38s are similarly matched, but strategic decisions have set them apart. Guilty opted for an offshore route to find better wind angles, while Poulpito and BNC played it closer to shore. For now, Guilty appears to have edged ahead as they begin the upwind slog back to Nouméa.
Crew on Snatch’N’Furious reported breaking their surfing record at 21 knots, while Team Groupama, despite some minor sail damage, is approaching the Grand Passage with renewed confidence.
Grand Passage: The decider
Conditions through the Grand Passage have been testing, with stiff easterlies and a cross sea making helming and sail choices critical. Boats already through, like V5 Racing and RoAmance, have gained tactical advantage heading into the punishing upwind return.
Behind them, the chase is tight. Caledonian contender Young Guns has tacked and is pressing into the headwinds early, while Guilty, Poulpito, and BNC are separated by mere lengths, each hoping to claw back time on the return leg. The match racing feel of this section has been a highlight, with boats within sight—and sometimes shouting distance—of each other.
Resilience on display
Offshore racing is as much about adaptability as speed, and this year’s Groupama Race is testing both. Crews are patching torn sails, nursing queasy helmsmen, and solving onboard problems in real time. Some boats, like Dove – Syrius Solar – Défi des filles, opted for smaller spinnakers overnight to reduce the risk of broaching. Others pressed on aggressively, using favourable conditions to gain distance.
What binds them is resilience. The withdrawal of boats like Rushour and Too Farr Out was met with swift, professional responses from the maritime authorities and fellow competitors. The quick coordination between crews, organisers, and emergency services speaks volumes about the spirit of offshore sailing in this part of the world.
