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.
Megan Pascoe – GBR173. Winner of the regatta
Original report written for YachtsandYachting.com
https://www.yachtsandyachting.com/news/296008/Toulon-Provence-Regatta-2026