+

SAIL NOUMEA 2015 Cruise Rally & Ocean Race

Information

Brochure

+ OCEAN RACE – BRISBANE TO NOUMEA

12.00 noon Saturday 20 June 2015

A Category 1 Offshore Yacht Race

for Multihulls and Mono Hulls

Division II boats start the day before

CRUISE RALLY – BRISBANE TO NOUMEA

07.00 hours Saturday 10 June 2015

Departing from either Brisbane,

Bundaberg or Gladstone

BRIEFING MEETING

As per the Notice of Race

SAIL NOUMEA 2015 Race Cruise Rally

By popular demand, Royal Queensland Yacht

Squadron and Cercle Nautique Caledonien are

again collaborating to conduct

Sail Noumea 2015.

+ ABOUT THE PACIFIC

ISLAND OF NEW

CALEDONIA

The Pacific island of New Caledonia is a nature lover’s paradise. Punching above its weight, the island lays claims to impressive natural features including the largest lagoon in the world, a unique blend of flora and fauna, and a 1800km-long (1118 mile) coral reef, second only in size to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

And yet, the island has much more to offer than mountain excursions and beach trips. Once a French colony and now with special French territorial status, the clash of Melanesian and French cultures is most visible to the south, in capital city Nouméa. Luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and plush boutiques bring a cosmopolitan quality whilst the presence of traditional Melanesian cuisine, dance and village culture heralds the islander’s strong sense of heritage.

Key Facts

Area: 18,575 sq km (7,172 sq miles)

Population: 264,022 (2013)

Population density: 14.2 per sq km.

Capital: Nouméa

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. European-style, two-pin plugs

are in use

Currency: Currency unit is French Pacific Franc, referred to

as XPF or CFP.

Language: French.

Isle of Pines

+ Top 8 Noumea attractions

Tchou Tchou train

An Italian-built road ‘train’. It combines an informative

sightseeing experience with a fun French flavor, not to forget

the beautiful French pastries available at the famous Ouen Toro

Lookout.

Amedee Island Marine Reserve

Climb the lighthouse, snorkel in crystal clear water, see the

famous sea kraits (tri-coloured sea snakes).

Big game fishing

Currently being organised by the host Club.

Jet-skiing Adventure

Thrill-seekers need look no further than jet-skiing the

harbours of Noumea.

Bird Lovers’ Paradise

See New Caledonia’s national bird, the exotically named

Cagou. The Botanical Gardens’ bird sanctuary and forest park

tour takes in some very impressive Noumea landmarks.

+ Top 8 Noumea attractions

Marine Life

Visit the Noumea Aquarium for an amazing array of marine

species and none more impressive or rare than the mysterious

Nautilus. This is one of only a handful of places in the world

where you can see this enigmatic shellfish up close and

personal. Don’t forget to visit the Fluorescent corals in a

separate room – extraordinary jewels of the sea reflected by

black lights.

Bay and Beach Hikes

If you have a little energy to burn, why not hike the beautiful

bays and beaches of Noumea out to Ouen Toro lookout. Stop in

at the Sud Province Tourism office for a local map that shows the

tracks leading to the lookout. It is a great day’s outing if you’re

reasonably fit. On the way back, sample some exquisite French

cuisine like tuna tartare or a creme brulee. You’ll have earned it

after your walk!

Locals’ Island Escape

Live like a Noumea local for a day by sailing to Duck or

Escapade Island. This is a hidden gem and not many people

know about it. Enjoy the sunshine, swim in the clear waters and

dine like you’re in the Mediterranean for the day. Best of all,

Duck Island and Escapade are two natural reserves. Fish are

plentiful (blue parrots, coral trout, school of mulets or rabbit fish,

barracudas etc… they are all there …. to be hand touched !

+ SAIL NOUMEA 2015 Race and Cruise Map

+ SAIL NOUMEA 2015 Who’s already in the cruise/race?

Confirmed cruisers and racers.

Patriot

Tony Love

Salacia (Cruise) Steve Everett

Kerumba

Tam Faragher

Alvis (Cruise) Stewart Markwell

Ragtime Chris Morgan

Beau Geste

Cameron Ward

Spirit of Mateship

Peter Jones

BlackJack

Peter Harburg

+ POST RACE CRUISE RALLY [7-8 DAYS]

CRUISE LEG 1: NOUMEA TO ISLE OF PINES

& RETURN

Monday 29th June to Sunday 5th July

Itinerary:

Monday 29/6: Guests or crew changes arrive La Tontouta

International Airport, Noumea and make own way to Port

Moselle, Noumea ready for departure to Isle of Pines.

Planned departure date is 29th June for a period of 7-8 days

weather permitting.

Cruise to Isle of Pines – this is one of the reasons for going

… a cruise itinerary to take in Prony Bay, Isle of Pines and

favourite anchorages in between, together with shore

based activities being planned by our French hosts. These

will have a cost and shore activities will need to be

prepaid.

Return to Noumea p.m. Saturday 4th July. Passengers

disembark on Sunday 5th July and make their own way to

the airport.

“Cruise Vanuatu is being organised by individual yacht owners who may sail

together for part or all of the itinerary.”

CRUISE VANUATU

2015 Cruise Leg 1

+ CRUISE VANUATU

2015 Cruise Leg 2

CRUISE LEG 2: NOUMEA TO PORT VILA

VANUATU via LOYALTIES [13 DAYS]

Sunday 5th July to Friday 17th July

Following the race and cruise leg 1, a number of boats are planning a

subsequent passage in company via the Loyalties and on to Vanuatu.

Itinerary:

Sunday 5/7: Guests arrive La Tontouta International Airport, Noumea

and make own way to Port Moselle, Noumea. Board yacht late

afternoon.

Planned departure date from Port Vila is Monday 6th July after

provisioning. Depart Customs Noumea (or Lifou 4 days later subject

to numbers).

The sparsely populated Loyalty Islands have large tracts of

impenetrable bush, secluded beaches and hidden

caves. Maré, Lifou and Ouvéa each have their own

characteristics: Maré is known for its deep rock holes, rugged

coastal scenery and serene beaches; Lifou for its breathtaking cliff-

top views and small secret beaches; Ouvéa for its unending beach

and tranquil lagoon stretching endlessly to the horizon.

Visit Port Boise, located in the south of the Grande Terre where

whales come every year for the mating and breeding season (August

and September).

Explore Druelu

Thursday 16/7: Arrive Vanuatu Port Vila, clear customs, moor at

marina. Guests depart Friday 17/7 and make their own way to the

airport.

Flights run direct to Brisbane on Friday.

“Cruise Vanuatu is being organised by individual yacht owners who may sail together

for part or all of the itinerary.”

+ CRUISE LEG 3: CRUISE VANUATU EX PORT

VILA TO ESPIRITU SANTO VIA MALAKULA

[10 DAYS]

Friday 17th July to Sunday 26th July

Itinerary:

Friday 17/7: Guests arrive Port Vila (Bauerfield Airport) and

make own way to Port Vila mooring area.

Malekula is the second largest island and the most diverse,

culturally and linguistically, with over thirty distinct languages

spoken. Some of the best custom dances come from the island.

The interior of Malekula is mountainous, rugged and forest-

covered with great walking tracks. There are even old cannibal

sites hidden in the bush on north Malekula.

The pink sands of Champagne Beach spill into warm waters

filled with wrecks and reefs begging to be explored by Espiritu

Santo holiday-makers. Rinse off with a dip in one of the island’s

many freshwater blue holes. Trek over a bamboo bridge to visit

the bats and swallows of Millennium Cave, who nap among

spectacular rock formations. Divers can wave hello to “The Lady,”

one of the many intact artifacts of the wreck of the SS President

Coolidge.

Saturday 25/7: Arrive back in Luganville, Espiritu Santo.

Accommodation at Aore Island Resort from 24 July.

Guests depart on Sunday 26/7 and make their own way to the

airport. Flights direct to Brisbane run Sunday from Luganville.

“Cruise Vanuatu is being organised by individual yacht owners who may sail together

for part or all of the itinerary.”

CRUISE VANUATU

2015 Cruise Leg 3

+ CRUISE VANUATU

2015 Cruise Leg 4

CRUISE LEG 4: CRUISE VANUATU &

LUGANVILLE

[6 DAYS]

Tuesday 28th July to Sunday 2nd August

Accommodation is planned at Aore Island Resort in 1

bedroom ocean view bungalows for the duration of this leg,

integrated with sailing.

Itinerary:

Tuesday 28/7: Guests arrive Santo-Pekoa International

Airport, Luganville, Espiritu Santo and transfer to Aore Resort

by bus and ferry.

Luganville is the second-largest town on Vanuatu. The biggest

draw to the Island is the wreck of the SS President Coolidge, a

WWII troop carrier sunk by friendly mines in 1942.

Visit Ratoua Island (resort)

Explore the east coast.

Sunday 9/8: Guests depart Luganville, fly direct to Brisbane

arriving late afternoon.

“Cruise Vanuatu is being organised by individual yacht owners who may sail

together for part or all of the itinerary.”

+ CRUISE LEG 5: VANUATU TO BRISBANE VIA CHESTERFIELD REEF EX LUGANVILLE

Tuesday 4/8 , ETA Brisbane 21/8 Itinerary: Tuesday 4/8: Crew arrive Santo-Pekoa International

Airport, Luganville, Vanuatu and make own way to mooring area, off Aore Resort.

Further explore Espiritu Santos Island Weather permitting, depart Customs Monday 10/8.

Conveniently located, roughly halfway between Vanuatu

and Australia, is Chesterfield Reef. It's remarkable as the last thing you expect to find during a 1,000 mile passage is a comfortable mid-ocean anchorage. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it's a nesting site for dozens of different types of birds--including red footed boobies, frigates and a variety of terns as well as for sea turtles.

Permission is needed to stop at Chesterfield Reef (the atoll is patrolled by the French Navy). Contact affmar@gouv.nc.

ETA Friday 21/8: Arrive Brisbane, Customs check in Rivergate.

“Cruise Vanuatu is being organised by individual yacht owners who may sail together for part or all of the itinerary.”

CRUISE VANUATU

2015 Cruise Leg 5

+ GENERAL INFORMATION

A passport valid for 6 months beyond the date of planned departure is required. No visas are required for Australian citizens.

Ocean Race

Mediterranean Shipping is providing the racing and rally events with container freight for outward shipping of cruising gear (sails, dinghies,

outboards etc.) and return loading of racing sails. There will be charges for those owners wishing to avail themselves of this. Inventory and volume

of gear needing to be shipped each way will need to be provided. The container must depart from Manly 2 weeks before race start and will take at

least 3 weeks for return delivery to Manly.

If your yacht is not already on the Australian Register of Ships, we encourage you to get started on this process right now as it can take some time

for the bureaucracy.

IASF Category 1 requirements apply, refer Notice of Race.

New Caledonia

Yachts arriving from overseas may not stop anywhere else within the territorial waters of New Caledonia before clearing into Noumea. Clearance

is only possible at the Visitors Wharf of Port Moselle Marina or Port Sud Marina. Vessels must fly the yellow Quarantine flag and the French

courtesy flag on entering New Caledonia waters.

Qantas and Air Caledonie fly Brisbane to Noumea. La Tontouta International Airport is located approx. 2 hours’ drive from Noumea township. Our

recommended hotel in Noumea is the Royal Tera Resort Hotel located on the beachfront about 2km from CNC and marina.

The local currency unit is French Pacific Franc, referred to as XPF or CFP. The official language is French.

Vanuatu

You must notify Customs at least 24hrs prior to arrival of the expected ETA and port of entry. Port Vila is the primary port of entry into Vanuatu,

although it is OK to clear in at Lenakel on Tanna, Luganville in Santo and Sola on Vanua Lava. Prior to clearing in you must fly the quarantine flag

when within 200 nautical miles of any Vanuatu Island.

Virgin Blue and Air Vanuatu have direct flights from Brisbane into either Port Vila (Bauerfield airport) and is only 10 mins from Port Vila. Espiritu

Santo's Pekoa airport is Vanuatu's second international airport. It is serviced by Air Vanuatu.

The local currency unit is the Vatu. Vanuatu has three official languages, English, French and Bislama, a creole language evolved from English.

+

Contact Information Tony Love: patriotj133@gmail.com

Tam Faragher: tam.faragher@tfa.com.au