Noble Marine RS Vareo National Championship 2025 at the Lymington Dinghy Regatta

Noble Marine RS Vareo National Championship 2025 © RS Cass Association

With very generous sponsorship from Rooster and the RS Sailing Store, a small RS Vareo fleet of 7 travelled to the Lymington Dinghy Regatta for our 2025 National Championships

We were assigned to the East Course out in the Solent, and as the wind steadily increased, we set off from the slip, avoiding the Isle of Wight ferry to sail out of the river on a beautiful sunny afternoon.

We were the 4th start with a quick 3,2,1 Go. With the tide beginning to flood and a decently westerly developing it was long slog against both to the windward mark. Luke Fisher took an early lead up the beat, followed by Chris Abbott, new boy to the fleet Owen Bolding and Michelle Collier-Brookes. Owen tacked off last of this leading group and sailed over the top of Chris into second, holding that position through to the end of the race.

I tried heading out right to where I hoped the tide would be less, which it was, but it soon became obvious this was a very long way round! Andy Nicoll and I rounded the mark a good distance behind the leading group. Mike Dicker was a way behind, having had to make friends with the harbour master to fix a broken rudder, and just getting to the start in time to follow us.

The downwind leg was much more rewarding! With the kite up the Vareo flew down the waves giving us pond sailors the thrill that we always get on the sea, sadly it was over all too soon before battling up wind for the second lap.

Luke took first, with Owen keeping him honest not far behind, Chris in third.

For race 2 the wind had stepped up a notch and although still blowing over the tide, a decent chop was beginning to build. Again, Luke led the way up the beat in a pattern that was to be repeated in every race. Owen again led the charge behind for the rest of the Gold fleet. A combination of the wind, chop and tide l gave rise to some enthusiastic mark rounding to keep everyone on their toes!

With the right side obviously favoured in the tide, I tried a port start but got it badly wrong and ended up at the back fighting through the waves and wishing I weighed a few more kilos! Mike led the 3 of us in the silver fleet, with Andy not far behind. At the windward spreader, I just managed to cut inside Andy to hoist my kite while he was having a "significant moment" and I set off out wide to pass Mike about halfway down the leg. A scary gybe found me realising that it was much too soon and as I headed back to the middle of the course knew that two more gybes were in my near future. The first one saw a dry capsize, but thankfully, during a brief lull, I was able to right the boat with the kite still flying and hang on as she accelerated away. The second beat was even worse than the first, with lots of white horses and completely exhausting! By the time I got to the windward mark, Mike was already on his way downwind. I hoisted the kite, moved to the back corner and leaned out for a fabulous ride all the way down the right side with the hull humming an amazing set of harmonics. At the bottom corner, I saw Mike make the gybe, then with a little shift, he saw the kite go the other side to the main and knew a swim was coming next! I crossed everything and managed a safe gybe to then finish fifth. Mike held on to sixth as Andy had been taking his own swims.

Up at the front, Luke led all the way round with Owen taking second again with Michelle third.
I didn't see race 3! I knew I had enough energy for the long slog back to Lymington against the tide and wind, or for another race, but not both.

Again, Luke led the fleet from start to finish. Chris capsized immediately after the start, tacking on an unexpected wave, but was up and sailing quickly, clawing his way back into 4th before the windward mark. At the leeward gate at the end of the first lap, Owen, had a similar issue but ended up in the water with Michelle and Chris getting past as he struggled to get it back up.

The positions remained the same for lap 2 so a third win for Luke, Michelle second from Chris in third. Andy started the race but soon decided to follow my lead and head for home.

With the forecast for Sunday being stronger, we wondered what the day would bring. Several of us had found the conditions on Saturday punishing to both body and boat, particularly up the long beats.

In the event, the 20 gusting 30 forecast was not wrong and looking through the binoculars at the Solent you could see how rough it was. The race teams put in an hour's delay and an expectation of running 2 races instead of the scheduled 3. Five of the Vareo fleet made a fairly easy decision to stay ashore for the safety of themselves and their boat. Michelle was keen to sail, giving Luke little choice to be sure of maintaining his leading position.

In the event only a single lap race was run. Luke took a commanding lead up the beat with Michelle getting stuck in irons more than once. Luke took the safe choice, leaving the kite in the chute downwind, then after crossing the line, headed for home without waiting to see if there would be another race.

With 4 wins from 4, Luke Fisher is the worthy RS Vareo 2025 National Champion, well done.

A huge thanks you to all the staff and helpers from Lymington Town Sailing Club and Royal Lymington Yacht Club. A fantastic, really smoothly run event that we were privileged to be a part of. Our first time at this event, but I'm sure not our last.

Prize winners:

1st and National Champion, Luke Fisher, Emberton Park SC
2nd and Master, Michelle Collier-Brookes, Oxford SC.
3rd and Junior award (age 50!) Owen Bolding, Shoreham
4th and Grand Master, Chris Abbott, Nottingham SC
5th and Fidelis prize, Mike Dicker, Thorney Island SC
6th and Endeavour trophy, Paul North, Milton Keynes SC
7th Andy Nicoll, Oxford SC

Overall Results: