BoatsJouet 26

Jouet 26

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · First built 1977

A masthead sloop derived from an IOR quarter-ton racer, balancing a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio with a skeg-hung rudder

Designed by Paul Elvstrom & Jan Kjrulff, built by Yachting France.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Jouet 26, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Vie d'écume

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 16 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 16
CoastalBluewater

2.20 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.20
LightHeavy

228 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 228
EasygoingPowered-up

21.6 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 21.6
TenderStiff

46% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 46%

Powered-up and quick to accelerate — this one likes to sail.

What the fleet has seen

The Jouet 26, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Jouet 26 is a 7.7-meter masthead sloop designed by Paul Elvstrom and Jan Kjrulff, built by Yachting France and Jouet since 1977. This model, with a fin keel and skeg-hung rudder, derives from an IOR 1/4 ton racer. It has a 2.7-meter beam, 1.5-meter draft, and displaces 1900 kg. Aboard *Vie d'écume*, the owner refits the interior at anchor in Hyères, France, installing custom wooden shelving with raised lips to secure items against rolling.5:49 The owner uses marine varnish for new woodwork, noting previous interior-grade products yellowed.0:51 Transporting supplies from the port of Hyères to the boat involves swimming with a dry bag and ferrying water in jerrycans.3:54

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
46.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
21.6
Displacement / length
227.6
Comfort ratio
16.3
Capsize screening
2.20
Hull speed
6.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
639
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1977
Units built
150
Designer
Paul Elvstrom, Jan Kjrulff
Builder
Yachting France, Jouet

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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Cal 257.62 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA flush-deck masthead sloop featuring a pop-top companionway that became one of the most popular models in the fleet
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Comet 7707.70 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Jean-Marie Finot-designed IOR quarter-tonner with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited club racing
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The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Jouet 22 (Elor 65)A fractional sloop designed by Paul Elvstrom and Jan Kjrulff, featuring a stiff 44% ballast ratio for her sizeJouet 24A high-performance masthead sloop by Daniel Tortarolo, featuring a stiff 47% ballast ratio for spirited coastal sailingJouet 32A 10.1-metre masthead sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio, built for spirited performance from 1976 to 1980Jouet 600A nimble fractional sloop from Berret-Racoupeau with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited light-air sailing

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