From France to the Solent with JOG - Looking Back at Deauville and Yarmouth, and Ahead to Alderney
by JOG 23 Jun 04:56 AEST
From France to the Solent with JOG - summer 2026 racing © Paul Wyeth / JOG
Over the past month, JOG competitors have experienced two very different expressions of the sport. One was a long and tactical crossing to Normandy where patience and persistence mattered as much as pace. The other became a lesson in restraint before delivering a near perfect day of Solent racing.
Now, with the fleet preparing for the Osmotech UK Alderney Race on 26 June, it feels like a good moment to pause and look back.
PredictWind Cowes to Deauville Race, 22 May
Some races earn their reputation through scale. Others through history. The PredictWind Cowes to Deauville Race has both. Now in its 63rd edition, this long standing fixture once again brought together sailors from both sides of the Channel. Organised by JOG Yacht Racing, Deauville Yacht Club, the Royal Southern Yacht Club and the Royal London Yacht Club, this year's race attracted 42 entries, including a strong French contingent, although difficult weather in the lead up prevented some boats from reaching the start.
Competitors gathered at the Royal Southern Yacht Club ahead of the race, where the club generously hosted a pre-race dinner before turning host into race committee and sending the fleet on its way.
A light easterly carried the fleet out of the Solent before settling into a largely upwind crossing that became less about outright performance and more about concentration, positioning and decision making. It was a race that rewarded crews prepared to stay patient and trust their strategy. The fastest boats completed the race in just over 19 hours, while others remained at sea well into a second day.
At the front of the fleet, Scream 2 combined pace with consistency to secure not only Class 1 victory but also IRC Overall honours. Across the remaining classes, tight racing and changing conditions produced competitive results throughout the fleet. PredictWind's forecasting tools became part of the race itself, helping crews interpret a constantly shifting weather picture and navigate the complexities of tides, transitions and local effects along the Normandy coast. Arrival in Deauville brought the familiar warmth that keeps competitors returning year after year. A warm welcome after an overnight crossing, stories exchanged dockside and a prize-giving hosted by our friends at the Yacht Club.
PredictWind Cowes to Deauville Results
Class 1:
1. Scream 2 (IRC Overall Winner)
2. Horizon Hunter
3. Old Mother Gun
Class 2:
1. Nightjar
2. Encore
3. Hot Pursuit
Class 3:
1. Option
2. Xtract
3. Sapphire
Double Handed Winners: Encore
Henri-Lloyd Generation JOG Winner: Paddy Moriarty
Women's Sailing Series Winner: Scream 2
Full results: myjog.jog.org.uk/results
OneSails Yarmouth Weekend, 7 June
The Solent rarely gives you exactly what was forecast. The plan had been simple enough. Race west to Yarmouth on Saturday, stay overnight, enjoy the social side of the weekend and return to Cowes on Sunday. As is tradition for the event, the route was never intended to be a simple point to point race, with competitors set to explore much of the Solent before eventually making their way west.
But as the week progressed the forecasts began to shift. Then strengthen. Then strengthen again. By Friday afternoon sustained winds beyond 30 knots and gusts over 40 were making themselves difficult to ignore. The JOG team explored the options, looked for opportunities and ultimately made the decision that all race teams hope never becomes controversial, safety first.
Saturday's weather quickly justified the call. Hurst Castle recorded gusts above 50 knots and thoughts of racing disappeared. Sunday felt like another season entirely. Sunshine replaced squalls. A steady westerly settled across the Solent and 60 boats came to the line ready to race!
Rather than simply recreate the cancelled passage race, the Racing Manager designed a course starting and finishing in Cowes. The racing rewarded crews who could remain adaptable and execute consistently throughout the day. At the front of the fleet, Checkmate XX delivered a standout performance to take both IRC Overall victory and Line Honours. Across the remaining classes there was equally competitive racing, with close battles and changing fortunes throughout the fleet.
Our thanks to OneSails GBR South for supporting another memorable weekend.
OneSails Yarmouth Weekend Results (Sunday Race Results)
Class 1:
1. Checkmate XX (IRC Overall Winner and Line Honours)
2. Tangent Minus 1
3. Dusty P
Class 2:
1. RORC Griffin
2. Mzungu!
3. Elysium IV
Class 3:
1. Elaine Again
2. Just So
3. Frank 4
Class 4:
1. Stan the Boat
2. Whooper
3. Tigger
Double Handed:
1. Karaboudjan
2. Snapshot
3. Zig Zag
Women's Sailing Series Winner: RORC Griffin
Full results: myjog.jog.org.uk/results
Next on the calendar is the offshore OsmotechUK Alderney Race on 26 May, enter now. 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.