After a suspension of the event in 2020, the Tahitian Sailing Federation, the Association Raiatea Regatta and Archipelagoes are pleased to announce the 2021 edition of the Tahiti Pearl Regatta, which will take place from May 12 to 15.

Due to the health context, the format of the race and the event has been revised. For the first time in 17 years, the TPR will not be traveling between the Leeward Islands. A base camp will be established on the motu Mahaea in Taha’a, so that the racers can meet again after the various races, which will take place around Raiatea and Tahaa.

“The idea is to create a sort of health bubble around TPR 2021,” says Stéphanie Betz, co-organizer. “Each sailor, but also each person on the team, race committee and organization, must either be vaccinated or present a negative PCR test dated less than 3 days, explains Stéphanie Betz. Thus, we will be able to reassure the participants and the inhabitants of the sacred island and the vanilla island who welcome us. What is more, sailing is a sport perfectly suited to respecting the distance between the different crews. ”

30 to 40 crews are expected on the starting line this year: local racers but also international yachtsmen, those present in Polynesia since the closure of the maritime borders. “With the Covid, many of them were unable to continue their journey as they wished,” said Violetta Amaru Paradot, president of the TPR. We want to share with them the pleasures of racing side to side on this incredible body of water from the ISLVs and that they can discover a part of our culture, We are very happy this year again to welcome more sailing canoes which add to the magic of the event, and which promote the meeting, the link, the exchange around navigation in all its forms ”. Indeed, the great annual gathering of Holopuni, the Hawaiki Nui Voyage, will take place a few days before between Tahiti and Raiatea, allowing them to participate in the TPR races in a dedicated category.

The regatta, organized under the authority of the Tahitian Sailing Federation, will offer sailors the opportunity to register in monohull or multihull divisions for the Racing category, in the Holopuni category, or in the Cruising category for sailboats not suitable for overly technical races. The three days of the event will be punctuated by six sporting events at the rate of two per day: 3 banana courses in the lagoon, reserved for sailboats cut out for racing and able to maneuver easily, and 3 coastal courses including the mythical tour of Taha’a , an essential step carried out at each edition. “We are currently in the process of refining the sailing instructions with the Tahitian Sailing Federation and our Race Officer, Georges Korhel”, explains Stéphanie Betz.

The loyal partners, who have accompanied the organization for years, have agreed to further support this event, which is part of the calendar of major events in the country. Thanks to them, the Tahiti Pearl Regatta can finally get back to sea after this long winter. See you at Raromatai from May 12 to 15, 2021, to cast off for this 17th edition.