European Ocean Racing Championships 2026: Porsmoguer to Portsall – Race Day Is Here
The wait is over. On Thursday 27 August, the European Ocean Racing Championships head to one of North Finistère’s most exciting stretches of coastline, with the race set to run from Porsmoguer to Portsall.
The women are scheduled to start at 12h30, followed by the men at 13h00, and the timing could hardly be better given the latest wind forecast.
Race timings
Thursday 27 August
Women: 12h30
Men: 13h00
Course: Porsmoguer → Portsall
With the forecast strengthening around lunchtime, all eyes will now be on the conditions as the athletes prepare for the start.
Will the wind build enough to turn the race into a proper North Finistère downwind?
We will soon find out.
A promising forecast for the afternoon
According to the latest Windy forecast, conditions are expected to build steadily through the morning and into lunchtime.
Around the race start, the forecast is showing approximately:
- 11–12 knots average wind
- 18–20 knot gusts
- Around 1 metre of swell
- A period of around 7 seconds
The wind is forecast to strengthen towards midday, which could create a much more exciting and technical race than the lighter conditions earlier in the morning.
For surfski paddlers, that matters. The difference between simply paddling hard and actually connecting with the moving water can completely change a race. When the wind and swell begin to line up, the fastest paddlers can start linking runs, accelerating between waves and carrying speed over long sections of the course.
Porsmoguer to Portsall
The route from Porsmoguer to Portsall offers a spectacular North Finistère setting for a major international ocean racing event.
This section of coast is exposed, dynamic and constantly changing. Wind direction, swell angle, tide and local coastline effects all play a role, meaning paddlers have to do much more than simply follow a straight line to the finish.Choosing the right offshore distance, reading the swell and knowing when to stay on a run or change direction can all make a significant difference.
For spectators, it should also make for an impressive afternoon on the water.
Where to Watch it?
All action will be screen from Paddle Europe – Here is the link!
European titles on the line
The championship brings together some of the strongest ocean racing paddlers in Europe, with athletes travelling to Brittany to compete for European titles.
The event is expected to feature nearly 300 competitors representing 15 nations, making it one of the biggest international surfski events ever staged in the region.
North Finistère is particularly well suited to ocean racing. Its open coastline, regular Atlantic swell and frequent winds create exactly the sort of conditions that surfski paddlers travel around the world to find.
Thursday could be another opportunity to show exactly what this coastline can offer.
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