Noble Marine RS800 National Championship 2025 at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club

Noble Marine RS800 Nationals 2025 at Eastbourne © ESSC

Noble Marine RS800 Nationals 2025 at Eastbourne © ESSC

Despite a slightly less than terrific forecast, an eager fleet arrived at Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club looking forward to some full send sailing, waves galore and the always brilliant and welcoming members of Eastbourne.

As expected, Thursday dawned wet and wild. Keen to get racing, the fleet began to launch one by one - literally delivered into the sea by the awesome shore team carrying boats into the water. Ben Palmer & Dicken Maclean led the charge to the racecourse, sending it downwind with their kite up, making it look manageable. Moments after their first gybe, things looked slightly less awesome. A few more boats launched, with some of them sticking the bear away and others sailing upwind towards France - anything to avoid pulling the stick to go downhill. Main hoists on the shore slowed with every pitchpole at sea. Before the rest of the fleet could launch, the race officer sensibly abandoned the racing. The fleet then enjoyed a talk from Stick Daring about his trip around the UK in a £50 laser and dinner at the club - which frankly made us all feel bad for ducking out of the 30 knot gusts.

Friday's forecast was equally savage, and so racing was brought forward to try and get a jump on the wind. Sadly, the wind beat us to the racecourse, and by the new 10.25 am start time, the gusts were howling and the sea state was fruity. As teams waited on the beach, we took the opportunity to play pebble dixit (you'll have to come along to a pebble-based beach nationals to learn about that one), and one lonely crew was even spotted frolicking forlornly in the surf on their own. Once sailing was officially canned for the day, many in the fleet headed off to the nearby pirate mini golf, where victory was assuredly and, I guess, inevitably wrapped up by a Scot firing a staggering one over par, whilst others were still trying to ping themselves out of the dense shrubbery nearby. The evening quiz was obviously won by the 700s (as it is every year).

Noble Marine RS800 Nationals 2025 at Eastbourne - photo © ESSC

The plan for Saturday was to kick off even earlier. Once again, the weather gods intervened with thunderstorms rumbling overhead. Today's alternate activities seemed to mainly consist of historical outings. One group explored a nearby castle, whilst the other headed over to the venue for the 1066 thing with the arrow in the eye bit.

Sunday dawned, and there was a weather window, hope and a lot of people excited to finally get some action in. Sailors arrived at the beach bright and early for a 0900 start to be greeted with sunshine aaaaaand no wind... lol.

However, the sailors persevered and drifted around for an hour and a half. Spirits were kept high with inspirational tunes blasting from the committee boat. 'Don't Stop Believing' was particularly apt and ever so true when the wind eventually switched to a Southerly and built quickly with the first race in 10-15 knots, followed by three races in 15-20 knots and a bigger sea state—plenty of big waves to punish the slightest mistake.

Race one was taken by Tim Gratton & Arthur Henderson who came off the pin and led start to finish, holding off a charging Tom Morris & Guy Fillmore followed by a close pack of Monique Vennis-Ozanne & Hugh Shone, Ben Palmer & Dicken Maclean and father son team Ben Willows & Taylor Willows all on the last gybe into the finish with Monique & Hugh just pipping the Willows just ahead of Ben & Dicken.

Race two kicked off in slightly bigger breeze and three laps. Monique & Hugh won the pin and took the win with Tom & Guy close on their heels, followed by brother team Blake & Brett Tudor ahead of the other family team of Ben & Taylor.

Race three saw Tom & Guy storm to the front and lead start to finish with the Tudor brothers battling again with the Willows to take 2nd and 3rd respectively.

I'm not sure of all the permutations, but I had the inkling that there was a lot to play for in the final race. Tom and Guy rounded just in front of Monique and Hugh, who promptly pitchpoled out of the first gybe. With Tim and Arthur also struggling, this put Tom and Guy in a very strong position and pushed Blake and Brett, Ben, and Taylor towards the podium. However, spending plenty of time swimming around the boat gave Monique and Hugh plenty of time to see that the final race was a 2-lap affair. Tragically, for some, the fleet pushed on for a 3rd lap, and so Tim and Arthur, Monique, and Hugh apologetically limped home in 2nd and 3rd behind Tom and Guy, to take 2nd and 3rd overall on joint points.

Congratulations to Tom & Guy for winning the Nationals! Followed by Tim & Arthur, and in third, Monique & Hugh.

Overall Results:

Trophy winners:

1st Master Helm Paul Jenkins
1st Master Crew Dan Goodman
1st Youth Helm Monique Vennis-Ozanne
1st Youth Crew Brett Tudor
1st Lady Helm Monique Vennis-Ozanne
1st Lady Crew Anna Ormond
Endeavour prize Ben Palmer & Dicken Maclean
Spinlock prize Blake & Brett Tudor

Noble Marine RS800 Nationals 2025 at Eastbourne - photo © ESSC

Big shoutout to Eastbourne Sovereign Sailing Club for looking after us with the bar, galley, race team and beach volunteers and for getting as much racing in as possible in some very tricky conditions.

Inlands next in early October, followed by the exciting format of the Tide Ride in November.