Generation JOG x Henri-Lloyd - for the Journey and the Destination
by Mark Jardine 20 Jan 12:00 GMT
Fleet heading East during the JOG TeamO Cowes-Cherbourg Offshore © Paul Wyeth / JOG
The Junior Offshore Group, more commonly known as JOG, is a thriving and growing community of racing sailors who love what they do.
Most importantly, they are attracting younger sailors to the sport, with 36% of their membership now under 30. This group is known as 'Generation JOG'.
Alice Chambers is one such sailor. Growing up in Cowes but in a farming family, she didn't set foot on a sailing boat until she was nineteen years old, doing her Duke of Edinburgh Award, with the expedition through ASTO (the Association of Sail Training Organisations) and the UKSA in Cowes.
It was through this that Alice caught the sailing bug, and hasn't looked back since:
"I crewed on a family friend's yacht for about three years, and then went on to another friend's yacht. Then in 2020 I saw an advert on a "crew wanted" forum to do the Owers Race in between lockdowns, and as I was feeling a bit deprived of any racing that year, I decided to go for it, and I really enjoyed it. As luck would have it, a friend of mine was buying a yacht the next year, so I did a couple of JOG races with her, and absolutely loved it."
The story of Generation JOG's formation came about around the same time when Mark Brown, the Vice Captain of JOG, had a committee meeting just before the pandemic, when he and Stuart Lawrence realised they needed to attract more younger sailors:
"I was new to the committee at the time. We never used to allow advertising on boats, but then Jon Holt, the inspirational teacher at Greig Academy, turned up with his yachts which had branding all over them. At the time JOG was declining, and I said we have to do everything we can to get these youngsters out racing with us. So we dropped that rule and Stuart and I created Generation JOG. Since then, it has been going from strength to strength, doing courses, a bit of practical and we subsidise theory courses as well."
Seeing the thrill that new sailors get out on the water is what continues to drive Mark and the JOG team on, helping young people gain confidence:
"I trained a friend of Alice's," said Mark "We met on a course at Saint-Vaast in France, and she came up to me with a big smile and said, 'look, I'm on a boat'. It's that buzz which is now in JOG. We sail to great destinations and have pontoon parties."
The buzz Mark describes is 100% backed up by Alice:
"It's wonderful. I much prefer JOG racing to other events. The vibe is totally different in JOG, and there's just much more of a sense of community in the club, mingling with other crews."
The JOG team have embraced technology to help new sailors gain experience, including developing a popular crew finder to highlight opportunities to race, which Alice describes:
"I have personally used the JOG crew finder on a number of occasions to get myself onto boats over the past two or three years, and I've got myself onto some good rides as a result of it."
JOG racing is very much about destinations, which adds to the appeal of everything they do. With races to Cherbourg, St Vaast, Weymouth, Deauville, Alderney, Dartmouth, and St Peter Port in Guernsey, amongst others, there's a real sense of adventure, which Alice has fully embraced:
"I always prefer to do the JOG racing as I'm not really a fan of the races which sail all the way across the Channel to a buoy half a mile off France, and then turn around and head straight back to England. It just doesn't have the same appeal as arriving in a foreign country, having a drinks party, a lovely evening, a meal out and chatting to old friends. It's just so much better exploring new destinations - a favourite of mine is Saint-Vaast."
The schedule for each year has certain fixtures which are regulars, while others are more fluid as Mark describes:
"There are certain races that are set in stone. We always do Saint-Vaast on the early May bank holiday, and St Peter Port in Guernsey is always on the August bank holiday, but that works well as the lock gates at Saint-Vaast and St Peter Port need that extra day to ensure you get there and have a good social, whereas Cherbourg and Alderney are just that bit easier."
Henri-Lloyd are enthusiastic supporters of JOG, recognising the amazing work the organisation is doing bringing people into sailing, and provide many prize vouchers for the racing, with a particular focus on the Generation JOG sailors. Alice has already become a fan of their kit:
"I've got the Cool Breeze jacket, which was recommended to me and I wore it on holiday to Poland. It feels lovely and absolutely looks the business on land. I wore it at the Performance 40 Nationals, and I've also got the Breeze jacket for summer sailing, and the Merino base layers. I also really appreciated the Generation JOG T shirts that we were given when we did our training days. I have worn that quite a lot, and it's a lovely top."
Competing in the Performance 40 Nationals, I wondered if Alice saw JOG as a stepping-stone to other racing, but found that, while she does compete elsewhere, JOG is her home:
"I want to carry on the JOG route. I have done a few RORC races, but I would much sooner be doing more JOG races. It's the vibe and the atmosphere in JOG which is great. It's about having fun as well as competing, not just getting to the finish line as quickly as possible, turning around and heading straight back to your marina. It's about the parties, and having a nice half a day out at the destination as well, and catching up with friends."
Since Alice has come from a non-sailing background, I asked her what advice she'd give to someone wanting to try out the sport:
"I would say to them, to have a go. Maybe get their Start Yachting qualifications or their Competent Crew and have a go - it's a fun holiday or a fun weekend away anyway, and you may decide you like the sport. I'll definitely say to people, if they're thinking about it, then have a shot at it. Once they've tried it, go down the JOG route, or speak to a local sailing club and see if there's a "crew wanted" board. I've got on some of the best boats I've sailed through these."
Alice adds:
"When I meet young people that want to get into sailing and are just starting out on their racing career, I always tell them to join Generation JOG and do the training programmes. I tell them that if they do a JOG race, there's a chance that they'll win a £600 Henri-Lloyd sailing kit voucher, and their eyes light up!"
Sailing has had a profound effect on Alice's life, and the training that JOG and Mark Brown provide have helped massively as she describes:
"I think schemes like Generation JOG, and also the JOG youth training opportunities, plus personally sailing with Mark in 2023, really boosted my confidence and made me aware of just what I was actually capable of on a boat with no pressure, stress or fear of messing everything up. When I did my first ASTO race, people had zero sailing experience, and were not even sure they liked the sport. Just getting out there having a go was such a great opportunity."
JOG is about so much more than racing. It's about the journey and the destination, not just in the sense of where a race heads, but also about developing the next generations of sailors, and helping them build confidence on the water and in life.
Generation JOG shows that putting in the right programmes, and developing the right ethos, builds participation in sailing and helps enrich young people's lives. Henri-Lloyd are proud to support it, and be part of the journey.
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