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Zhik - Made for Water

Toulon Provence Regatta 2026

by Megan Pascoe 11 May 06:35 PDT 7-10 May 2026
Toulon Provence Regatta 2026 © Gil Bernabeau

After 2025 in Toulon it wasn't a hard decision for the 2.4 fleet to head down south for 2026. Racing with 12mRs is special. For a lot of our fleet the 12s were their America's Cup so to be able to race on the same bit of water is one of those moments in sailing.

The event is in its third year starting with when the Olympic Torch came to Toulon in 2024. The event is bigger and better and keeps growing. Along with the Metric boats there is a classic fleet, 1 metre radio controlled sailing, AI controlled sailing yachts. On land 1400 people visited the 12s. I'm not sure we make that at a boat show. There was a full race village and a chance to try out lots of watersports.

So what was the 2.4 racing like. We had 25 boats from 6 countries. Toulon can be a tricky bay to set a course but Gil Bernabeau did a great job laying the course. Friday was proper shorts and T-shirts sailing which anyone who knows 2.4s understand that it is quite rare. It was incredibly tight racing in light winds and some big shifts. Over the 4 races Michael Tiemann, Germany and Christophe Ettore, France were making the early running just behind Megan Pascoe, Great Britain.

Saturday saw an easterly front coming through so we had a nice 18 knots with quite a disturbed sea. It was quite distracting sail as our windward mark was very close to the 12mR start line. I know the 12s aren't as big as the J Class but watching 6 of them sail is something else. With a bit of breeze Benoit Melon, France and Janos Libor, Gibraltar were the quickest behind Megan. It was a great 3 races, the Med really isn't a bad place to go for a sail.

Sunday was a strange day with a big sea from the east but with a dying breeze. We had an half hour postponement which meant we could make it easily through the sea wall. I was happy for the Vakaros as finding the pin end was tricky. Megan got away from the fleet. The second lap behind seemed a great battle. Paddy Hassett, Ireland and Micheal Jakobs, Germany found their form finishing 4th and 5th respectively.

After one race Gil decided that in the dying breeze that home was the best option. The shore team lead by Louis-Marie Zeromski were amazing all event especially during craning where everyone was packed up in record time. There were over 150 volunteers at the event and it shows you can't run these events without them. We are lucky as a fleet to have the French 2.4 class and the organisers of the event making sure everything works for us. One amazing volunteer we have to thank is Patsy who does all our translating and so much organising.

Being a metre boat is a little old school. We're not quick but having so many different sizes of boats makes it a truly unique club to be part of. The fact the 12s come from every era of sailing make them so special to watch.

Next for the 2.4 fleet we are heading to Poole Keelboat Regatta over the Bank Holiday. Worlds are in Sneek in the Netherlands in early July.

Overall Results:

PosSail NoBoat NameHelmClubR1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8Pts
1GBR 173LITTLE MISS ESMEPASCOE Megan (F) 11‑2111117
2GBR 1001NO CAPTAIN NO CRYLIBOR Janos (H) 6‑745642229
3FRA 006LADYBUGMELEN Benoit (H)YCIF8‑1462223730
4GER 779RED RUBBERTIEMANN Michael (H) 4814‑998337
5GER 80GEROJAKOBS Michael (H) 11‑1338435539
6FRA 9LITTLE BIG BOATETORRE Christophe (H)YCIF5279116‑131050
7NED 1060OXYTOCINEVISSER Pieter 71012‑183510653
8GER 6DULCIBELLASCHRODER Lutz‑Christian (H) 105871076DNS53
9FRA 5HORIZONHUMBERT Brigitte (F)CVSQ134‑1568871157
10GBR 7 PASCOE Martin (H) 23‑1313131011961
11FRA 1COCHON MILLENIUMHUMBERT Robert (H)CVSQ9179107OCS41773
12FRA 1009ATTENDUEONNET Loic (H)YCIFRET6535OCSDNS879
13FRA 718 LESAGE Vincent (H)SRC SUD‑OISE31214(DNC)1212121580
14IRL 171KRAKENHASSETT Patrick 12‑181014141316483
15FRA 1064 GUIBOURGE Eric (H)SN LA CIOTAT2216161115149(DNS)103
16FRA 131 FRENCH INSIDE SOUDEE Guillaume (H)CVML14‑19171219161514107
17FRA 1036 LESAGE Alexandre (H)VCNP1692017(NSC)151418109
18FRA 31ZEHAIRAVILLETTE Michel (H)YCIF15111116181721(RET)109
19FRA 13 MC DONALD Murray (H) 17(NSC)191917111813114
20FRA 264ILLUSIONJOURDAN Nicolas (H)YCIF19151815‑21191921126
21FRA 871KOBUNELEENHARDT Dominique (H)C V VALENCE2120212020(OCS)1712131
22FRA 8SILKBLANDIN Philippe (H)YCIF2323(DNC)DNC16182016142
23FRA 208 DEUTSCH Benoit (H)CVML20222321‑24222220150
24FRA 4 LESCARRET Benoit (H)YCIF‑2421222323202319151
25FRA 45AVANGERDE GERMOND Eric (H)YCIF18(DNC)24222221DNSRET159

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