Seldén St Vaast Race: Sunsets and smooth sailing
by JOG Yacht Racing 5 May 08:35 PDT
1-3 May 2026
The Seldén St Vaast JOG Race over the May Bank Holiday delivered everything sailors could hope for in a Channel crossing: sunshine, glorious sunsets, tactical conundrums, and a well-earned celebration at the finish.
The fleet gathered in Cowes under glorious conditions, with a warm evening sun and the tail end of a southwesterly thermal breeze setting the scene. It was a spectacular start, with spinnakers filled across the line as boats slipped gracefully out of the Solent, bathed in golden light. A perfect beginning, but one that masked the complexity to come.
Once clear of the Solent, attention quickly turned to the forecast. Navigators had been grappling with models predicting a complete shutdown in wind with a transition from southwest to glassy calm before a delayed easterly filled in near the French coast. The prospect of several hours drifting at the mercy of the tide weighed heavily on strategy. The question was not just how to cross the Channel, but where one might end up if the breeze disappeared entirely.
This uncertainty was compounded by pressure at the finish. The marina at St Vaast operates a lock system, with the final entry scheduled for 14:10. Routing models suggested arrivals clustering around midday to early afternoon—making the difference between a smooth finish and a long wait outside nerve-rackingly thin.
As night fell, the fleet entered the predicted transition zone. Sails were changed and headings adjusted repeatedly as crews searched for pressure, and progress slowed to a crawl. For many, the middle of the night became a test of patience and nerve, with boats drifting silently in the Channel. Fortunately, the feared shutdown proved less severe than anticipated. While some crews reported up to 90 minutes without wind, others experienced only brief lulls of 30 to 45 minutes.
Relief came as the easterly filled in earlier than forecast. With it came renewed momentum with spinnakers and code zeros, as the fleet headed towards France with purpose.
Arrival in St Vaast was a reward in itself. The fleet was welcomed by sunshine, gentle breezes, and crucially, enough time for every boat to make it through the lock before closure. A relaxed and convivial celebration followed, where crews gathered for lunch, early drinks, and a prize-giving held in the sunshine at the end of the marina pier. Music played, and local wine from Maison Gosselin flowed as stories of the night crossing were exchanged.
The celebrations were slightly accelerated due to an approaching thunderstorm. Just as prizes were handed out and glasses raised, the weather turned dramatically and rain hosed down, but not before everyone had a chance to enjoy the moment!
Race results saw Surf take victory in Class 1 and win the double-handed division. Nightjar claimed Class 2 honours, while Sailfish dominated Class 3 and secured IRC Overall victory. Sailfish also celebrated success in the Generation JOG category, with Jack Hales taking the prize, sponsored by Henry Lloyd. In the Women's Sailing Series, Spectrum emerged as the winner.
Seldén St Vaast Class Winners:
IRC Class 1 & Line Honours
SURF, Adrian Dyball
IRC Class 2
NIGHTJAR, Lulu Wallis
IRC Overall & Class 3
SAILFISH, Oli Hawkins
Double Handed
SURF, Adrian Dyball
Generation JOG
Jack Hales, SAILFISH
Women's Sailing Series
SPECTRUM, Beatrix Simmons & Joe Simmons
Full results at myjog.jog.org.uk/results
Thanks go to St Vaast Marina for their warm hospitality, to Seldén for sponsoring the race, and to all 37 boats that took part in this memorable crossing.
Next on the calendar is the offshore PredictWind Deauville Race on 22 May, enter here. You can also check out the remaining races of the season here.
Don't forget JOG Week in Dartmouth, sponsored by Henri-Lloyd. It's shaping up to be a fantastic regatta, with plenty happening on shore as well, making it a great one for family too. Read more about Henri-Lloyd JOG Week here.