Over the years several yachts have represented the Cercle Nautique Caledonian in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and Jean Luc Esplaas has returned with his Archambault 40 and experienced crew, 41 SUD, for a third attempt to win the race overall. Esplaas’ best result in this race was in 2008 when 41 SUD finished 41^st overall and seventh in IRC Division 3. However, Esplaas and some of his crew took part in the 1998 race with his former yacht, a Young 35 named Marine Corail Voile. They were one of only 44 finishers and came away with third in Division D.

41 SUD was the only New Caledonian yacht to take part in the Noumea Sail 2012 race, which was hampered by extremely difficult navigational conditions, and finished second on line.