With 15 days to go until the event begins, here are some examples of yachts that have registered to race in the 3rd edition of the Toulon Provence Regatta 2026!
As last year, we will again have the pleasure of welcoming 23 2.4mR class keelboats from all over Europe, including «Little Miss Esme» from English competitor Megan Pascoe, who won the 2025 regatta. This event will also count towards the European Championships for this class. As a reminder, this type of sailboat, iconic in the Paralympic Games since Sydney in 2000, is barely 4.2m long. It allows for a practice of «inclusive sailing», open to all.
On a larger scale, we will find the 12mJI class yachts. These yachts are the very essence of the creation of the Toulon Provence Regatta in 2024. They are approximately 5 times the size of a 2.4mR yacht, with lengths around 21 metres. We have already hosted top yachts from this metric class in previous editions, notably the American yacht «VIM», which won the Coupe de France of the Yacht Club de France in 2024. This year, we will have the chance to welcome PRADA's team from the Italian yacht «KOOKABURRA 2», world champions in Porquerolles in 2024. BWelcome to you!
The various 12 mJI yachts already present perfectly represent these regattas between tradition and modernity; «FLICA 2» was built in 1939 and the others were generally built in the 1980s.
But our regattas are also open to Traditional Yachts of a dozen metres whose age is much more pronounced. The two oldest sailboats welcomed were launched in 1911, namely the Bermudan cutter «SIBYLLE» and the gaff cutter «LORA». But you will also be able to see on the water and at the quay, the Marseilles lugger sloop «ALCYON 1871», a replica from 1871 built in 2013 with a surprising overall length of 21 m, a true reflection of an entire era of sailing race enthusiasts!
When we talk about tradition, we also talk about maritime heritage, of certain boats often called working boats that can be found from the small port of Fort Saint Louis to the slipways of La Verne or Fabregas, passing through La Seyne-sur-mer and Saint Mandrier-sur-mer. These boats are known as "pointus", "barques orannaises", "barquettes" or "bettes de Marseille". These boats, formerly built for fishing, now bring joy to leisure boaters and are often revived thanks to the skilled hands of numerous volunteers who love these old vessels. This is also the case for members of associations such as AMERAMI or JEM'VAR, who lovingly care for their "Baleinière" or "Yole de Bantry", a replica of a boat from 1796.
From 7 to 10 May 2026, come and admire all these magnificent sailing boats in regattas on the water or visit them at anchor (by prior reservation), support all the competing crews and chat with all the volunteers who love a certain traditional vision of the Sea!
The new village for the partners of the Toulon Provence Regatta 2026 will allow you to do so in a friendly atmosphere!
