New Zealand – New Caledonia – Hamilton Island, Australia

The Latest Voodoo XF60 – Souvenir – undertook her maiden voyage from New Zealand to New Caledonia. The very excited new owner wanted her maiden voyage to be a proper adventure so invited two of his best mates and three of the Voodoo Yachts team for a two week trip of a lifetime.

Exploiting a very short weather window Souvenir completed the 870nm crossing at a blistering average speed of 32 knots, taking just 27 hours! The team relaxed in Noumea for the night and shopped the local markets the next morning for fresh tropical fruits and supplies then set off north into the crystal clear turquoise waters of New Caledonia’s giant reef enclosed lagoon. The mission: to explore and fish the far north reefs and the Forgotten Coast. The guys fished the reef for coral trout and giant trevally. For their extra shot of adrenaline they went to the passes in the reef, where the water turns to a deep sapphire blue as the depth drops rapidly from less than 10m to over 1000, to seek out one of the most exciting fish to fight anywhere in the world, Dogtooth tuna. Decked with 130lb braid on Trinidad reels, drag cranked up as tight as it’ll go, the reels screaming as these powerhouses still just peel out the line. Hearts pounding, muscles on fire, gripping the rails to stop from being towed overboard, the guys managed to land – and release – a few huge Dogtooth each and the biggest of grins.

Leaving the far north the team travelled down the Forgotten Coast, characterised by lush dense jungle edging amber beaches, razor toothed black cliffs and waterfalls cascading their white water from the mountains into the ocean, the environment at once the harshest and most forbidding and the most inviting in a single view.

After the few days spent circumnavigating the stunning coastline of New Caledonia Souvenir set off towards Australia. The team stopped along the way at the extremely remote Chesterfield Reef, a collection of reefs and white sand islands small enough that you can stand knee deep in the water and see the horizon over the islands in every direction. A location so untouched that the local birdlife has no wariness of humans at all, flying out to the boat and sharing some relaxation time up close with the adventurous crew. The guys stayed in Chesterfield for 3 days, catching and releasing many yellowfin tuna, wahoo, spanish mackerel, mahi mahi and more. Finally Souvenir went through the Coral Sea to her new home port of Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays, Australia, completing the crossings at a similar speed and bringing to a close what had been a real boys own adventure!