Noble Marine RS700 National Championship 2025 at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club

Noble Marine RS700 National Championship at Eastbourne Sovereign © RS700 Class

The fleet were welcomed to Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club. Thursday dawned, and it was windy. Despite the high winds, the race team were keen for us to get racing.

Richard Wadsworth in The Punisher was the first to venture out. I don't know if the boat's name and reputation egged him on, or it's his love of big breeze, but he popped his kite and stormed down to the sailing area. This would encourage more people to venture out. However, the wind built, and the race team made a wise decision to cancel racing.

Friday and Saturday were quickly cancelled despite everyone's best efforts. This allowed the fleet to bring out all the other toys. Kites, wings and boards were quickly unpacked along with social events into Eastbourne and at the sailing club.

Sunday had gone from being an early right off on the forecast to being our last chance with a forecasted weather window in the morning. The Championships would come down to a one-day shoot out.

With another early start and a few sore heads, the fleet drifted out into Eastbourne Bay to await the breeze. Normally, the bigger folk among us would be pacing up and down informing the fleet how much they disliked hugging their mast, but I think even they were glad just to be heading out. After some snoozing, tunes and time to recover from the early start, the breeze switched on and built quickly to 10-15 knots.

Race 1: Rob Higgins won the pin and headed over to the left-hand side with Robbie Bell, James Clark and Tom Playford all closely inside. Rob rounded first with Robbie a boat length back. James and Tom closely followed. Rob forgot he was on the sea and didn't take into account the tide to overstand. Robbie understood, and Tom flew down the middle to close in.

Rob needed to gybe to make the favoured right-hand gate and head left, sending himself and Robbie wide, leaving the door open for Tom. He took this present of a clean lane and, paired with speed and good VMG, quickly took the lead. Tom would take race one, followed by Rob and Robbie.

Noble Marine RS700 National Championship at Eastbourne Sovereign - photo © RS700 Class

Race 2: A similar theme but with bigger waves and more wind. This time, it was Robbie Bell who won the pin end and headed off to the left. Tom Playford had worked so hard in race one that he decided that a start-line cool-down was in order and gave us all a head start. Robbie led around the top mark closely followed by Rob, Matt Carter and Richard Wadsworth.

The bottom gate again caused Rob and Robbie issues. Rob recovered quicker to take the lead and head out to the left. Matt Carter & Richard split and headed off right. A costly misjudgment of the free-flowing tide on the top lay line meant a double tack by Rob and handing over the lead to Matt, who by now was feeling right at home with Lancing-like conditions.

Rob again forgot he was on the sea, trawled his kite and went for a swim. Matt took the win, followed by Richard, who had quietly gone about his business and 'Punished' the mistakes that were being made. Robbie took third with Elliot Booley stringing together a good race to take fourth.

Race 3: Robbie again mastered the start and headed off left with Matt Carter in tow. These two would have their own personal battle with Robbie finally getting the win he had threatened in the two previous races. This was the third race winner in three races and left things very tight at the top. Nathan Steffenoni, having a great race, was pipped on the line by Rob Higgins in third.

Tom Playford forgot that he was no longer on a Cape 31 with tactical support and missed the gate to record a DNF. Despite pleading his innocence after racing, the 10+ Eastbourne crew that witnessed the act quickly informed him that he was severely outnumbered.

Race 4: Racing had been so close that multiple people still had a chance to take home the title. Robbie, now a master of the Pistol Pete Purkiss start, won the pin and headed left.

Tom Playford, towards the middle, was working his way up the beat nicely. Robbie told me after that it went 'Dark and Stormy'- I don't know if this was in reference to one too many rums the night before or the worsening conditions. Anyway, he started heading towards a mark in France and allowed Tom and Rob to battle it out to the top mark.

Tom sailed off into the distance to take his second race win, Rob took second, Matt Carter third and Robbie Bell fourth.

This meant that with all the incredible close racing, Matt Carter won by a point to take home his first National Championships. Robbie Bell took second and Rob Higgins third.

Matt Carter wins the Noble Marine RS700 National Championship at Eastbourne Sovereign - photo © RS700 Class

Special thanks to the race officers, safety crews, and the entire team of volunteers at Eastbourne Sovereign SC for making the event possible.

The next stop for the fleet is Lancing. We then end our season at Chew Valley Lake for the Inlands. If you're interested in joining the fleet or finding out about the 700, please get in contact:
www.rs700.org
instagram.com/rs700uk
facebook.com/groups/1485113635132398

Overall Results: