Dartmouth played host to Henri-Lloyd JOG Week from 25 to 29 July, with JOG Yacht Racing welcoming competitors for a memorable week of close racing, spectacular scenery and a busy social programme.

 

The regatta began with the Cowes to Dartmouth Race, where competitors enjoyed an offshore to South Devon before JOG Week kicked off with four days of coastal racing. Dolphins, spectacular sunsets and sunrises, and a fast, tactical race made for a memorable start, but for many crews the final miles proved most challenging. 

 

As the crew of Simples described it: “With just 3.5 miles to go we sailed into the hole,” watching their lead disappear as they fought to keep the boat moving in just 3 to 5 knots of breeze against the tide. For some, the final few hundred metres became the most frustrating of the race, as boats behind closed in rapidly and the finishing order continued to change almost right to the line.

 

Class 1 & Women’s Sailing Series: Scream 2 (J/120), Stuart Lawrence

IRC Overall & Class 2: Jetpack (JPK 1010), Mark & Ella Brown

Class 3: Adelie (X 332), Rob Salter

Double-handed: Step On, (Sun Fast 3200), Mark Emons & Lucy Fitzgeorge-Parker

Generation JOG: Emily Lock-Dean, Emily of Cowes

 

Full results can be found here: https://myjog.jog.org.uk/results.

 

With the fleet safely in Dartmouth, attention turned to JOG Week. From champagne sailing and fresh sea breezes to tactical light airs, each day presented a different challenge. Stronger than expected breeze swept across Start Bay, shifting gusts demanded constant sail changes, exhilarating spinnaker runs rewarded crews willing to push hard, while tactical decisions around Berry Head and into Salcombe kept navigators on their toes. Although one race was abandoned as the wind disappeared completely, the remaining races produced close competition throughout the fleet.

 

1. Orbit (Sun Fast 3300), Dan Fellows 

2. Just So (J/109), David & Mary McGough 

3. Scream 2 (J/120), Stuart Lawrence

1. Jackdaw (J/92), Lucy Salter 

2. Adelie (X-332), Rob Salter 

3. First Light (Elan 333), Chris Flewitt

 

Away from the racing, competitors enjoyed a packed social programme centred around the Royal Dart Yacht Club. From pontoon parties and crew dinners to barbecues, sea shanties and evenings spent catching up with friends old and new.

 

Competitors also took part in JOG’s Influencer Award, with the winning crew receiving a full refund of their entry fee. The judges had no easy task, with the fleet producing an outstanding stream of creative and entertaining content throughout the week. Congratulations to Jackdaw, whose daily recital of a different verse from The Last Shanty (also known as A Sailor Ain’t a Sailor) proved a particular highlight and secured them the 2026 Influencer Award. 

 

The next race in the JOG Yacht Racing calendar is the Howard Tenens St Peter Port Race, starting on 28 August, with competitors heading across the Channel to Guernsey. You can enter and enter via the ONB here. 

 

Find out more about the remaining 2026 races, and the newly released 2027 racing programme, at myjog.jog.org.uk/programme. 

  

Photo credit: Paul Gibbins Photography