Solent Super Series 2026 Round 1 - Cowes
by Mark Angell 12 Oct 21:10 PDT
10-11 October 2026
After the long hot summer, Autumn conditions arrived this weekend, heralding the start of the Solent Super Series, now back for the fourth edition.
This year's line-up features 15 teams, with JPK's 1030 & 1080, Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600s, 3300s and 3200s, and J-Boat's J109 racing for the title. Round 1 in Cowes is a familiar season opener, with all races starting and finishing from the Island Sailing Club Line.
Race 1 on Saturday started to the West in a building 14 to 20kts of Westerly wind, a flooding east-going tide favouring teams beating up the Island shore to the first mark at East Lepe, which was followed by a long downwind leg to the Eastern Solent around several marks before returning to the Island SC Line. After just under 23 nautical miles of racing and multiple lead changes, it was Ian Hoddle's Game On that brought the fleet home, taking both line honours and winning on corrected time, race win by 50 seconds from Dave Richard's J109 Jumping Jellyfish in second.
With the wind holding up well and still in the West, Race Officer Rich Palmer elected to race to the same windward mark, 'East Lepe' South of Beaulieu, before firing the fleet off down to the east in 20+ knots of wind, some boats measuring gusts up to 33knots on the water, leading to high teens of boat speed. The shorter 11.36 nautical mile course delivered the fleet back to Cowes, with Game On battling against Tigris tack for tack on the beat to the finish. After 1hr 45m of racing, the J109 Jumping Jellyfish took the win on IRC Handicap just 22 seconds ahead of the second line honours win of the day - Game On, completing the leaderboard was the SF3600 Tigris. The conditions were welcomed by series photographer Paddy Condy, who captured some of the more dramatic moments of the day, through his water and airborne lenses.
The well-loved 'Prize Draw' was held after dinner, with the top prize of a team set of four Musto Fleeces and performance caps going to Smash, 4 x Musto 20L backpacks going to Insert Coin and a bottle of wine at round 2 going to One Way.
Sunday's forecast was less than ideal, with strong spring tides requiring some wind to go racing! The race team held the fleet on the dock until 11:00 for the short period of slack water, but sadly no wind materialised; with the tidal window closing at around midday, the race team had no option but to send the teams home, cancelling race 3.
Each with a 1st and a 2nd, for 3 points after 2 races Game On and Jumping Jellyfish needed to be split by a countback, with J109 Jumping Jellyfish taking the win. RORC Griffin the 2025 Champions, took 3rd.
"After our first outing in the Solent Super Series last year, we're back for the full series in 2026!" Remarked Jumping Jellyfish Team
"Round 1 was from our home port of Cowes, and although Sunday's racing was lost due to a lack of wind, Saturday more than made up for it! We had some fantastic racing in a decent breeze, with the downwind leg to North Sturbridge being a real highlight. At one point, Game On took off downwind and left us in their wake — very impressive!"
"The racing was competitive, the race management was excellent as always, and we came away with a great result, winning the opening event. It was a brilliant day on the water and a steep learning curve for us as we continue to build on last year's experience."
"Looking forward to Round 2 in Yarmouth!
Racing in the Solent Super Series continues with Round 2 24/25th October, where the fleet will race west to Yarmouth; the usual two races are scheduled on Saturday, overnighting in Yarmouth Harbour with welcome drinks and dinner at The Hut, Colwell Bay, followed by a race back to the central Solent on Sunday.
Find the results, race tracking and images over on the Round 1 Page of the Solent Super Series website.