Sailors chasing a late-season fix before the winter training block settles in might find exactly what they're after at the Massilia Regatta, set for 23 to 25 October 2026 in the south of France.
Hosted by Yachting Club Pointe Rouge in Marseille, the event is open to both 420 and 470 fleets. For crews based further north, where autumn conditions can already be turning grim, it offers a chance to chase a few more weeks of decent sailing in the Mediterranean.
Racing against unfamiliar opposition tends to sharpen things up fast. Boat handling, starts and speed all get tested against fleets you don't see every weekend.
It's as much about training as competing. Teams can use the regatta to bed in crew work ahead of the bigger events later in the season, or simply take advantage of a few extra days afloat before boats get put away for winter.
Entries are open now through HelloAsso, and the Notice of Race is available on the 470 Class website. Accommodation, including hotels and apartments, can be arranged through the Yachting Club Pointe Rouge website, with enquiries directed to base@ycpr.net. That same contact handles coach boat rental for teams that need one.
There's no New Zealand link noted for this fixture, but it sits within the European calendar that Kiwi 470 and 420 campaigners based in the northern hemisphere often use to extend their racing programme into autumn.
