Noble Marine RS500 National Championship at Royal Torbay Yacht Club - Day 1
by Emma McEwan 4 Sep 16:38 BST
3-6 September 2026
Noble Marine RS500 Nationals at Torbay Day 1 © Bob Preston and Laurie Callaghan
Glamour conditions greeted the RS500 fleet in Torbay for Day 1 of the 2026 Noble Marine National Championship. Sunshine, flat water and a gusty Force 4 produced a fantastic racetrack for the two scheduled races.
Paul & Fresh wasted no time in showing their European Champion form, taking control of both races almost from the start and holding their leads all the way to the finish. Emma & Luke chased hard but were never quite able to mount a serious challenge.
There were gains to be made in both the upwind shifts and the downwind gusts, with Simon & Abi making the most of the opportunities. Their impressive pace downwind kept them hot on the heels of Emma & Luke in both races, culminating in a photo finish in Race 2.
The RS500s were sailing the outer loop of the course, which provided some fast and entertaining reaching. The top reach proved particularly eventful, tempting almost everyone into hoisting their kites before a sizeable gust arrived and prompted some hasty drops. Crews then blasted on under white sails to the spreader mark before hoisting again for the next leg.
Back ashore, sailors enjoyed a BBQ on the club terrace overlooking Torbay as the sun set and the daily prize-giving and "in it to win it" draw, before the evening descended into a suitably chaotic Pub Regatta. Team challenges led the fleet astray around Torquay and provided plenty of entertainment off the water.
With more boats joining the fleet for Day 2 — including the reigning National Champions — the leaderboard could be in for a shake-up. Similar wind conditions are forecast, with three races scheduled.
Will Day 1's remarkably consistent results survive the arrival of some fresh competition? Watch this space...
Results can be found here.