Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 at Hayling Island Sailing Club - Overall

The final day of the 2026 Noble Marine RS400 National Championships dawned grey, damp and with plenty still to play for.

After four bruising races in a building breeze on Saturday, followed by a wild ride back across the famous Hayling bar, followed by a dinghy park Tech talk session delivered by the Class Committee and the Championship Dinner, the fleet arrived early on the final day looking a little tired but very much alive to the possibilities. With the points tight and several boats still within striking distance, the championship was set up for a proper last-day showdown.

Before launching, the breeze looked as though it might deliver more of the previous day's punishment, with talk of another near-20-knot outing. Once afloat, however, it became clear that the racecourse had other ideas. The wind was softer, generally in the 10-12 knot range with the odd stronger puff, giving the fleet a very different tactical puzzle to solve.

Mark Oakey George Yeoman - Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

The first race got away cleanly after a single recall and quickly became a close, shifty affair. Early on, the left of the first beat appeared to be paying, before a switch back to the right shuffled the pack and kept the leading group honest. Edd Whitehead and Ben Whaley from Parkstone YC put together a solid opening beat and steadily worked their way through to take the race win. HISC sailors Tom Morris and Rob Ashman finished second, with Jon Gorringe and Derek Hill third.

That result lit the fuse for the final race. Mark Oakey and George Yeoman, who had gone into the day with a useful cushion, could only manage sixth, bringing the front of the leaderboard right back together. With Whitehead/Whaley, Morris/Ashman and Gorringe/Hill all still in the mix, the championship was still wide open.

Winners - Mark Oakey and George Yeoman - Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

The final race started in similar breeze, if anything a touch softer. Sam Whaley and James Bussell-Cook, together with Sam Knight and Chris Bownes, launched cleanly from the pin end and were able to tack back across the fleet. At the windward mark those two led the way, with Morris/Ashman breathing down their necks and the title race unfolding behind them.

Downwind, Morris/Ashman found a way past Knight/Bownes and, with Oakey/Yeoman buried further back in the pack, suddenly looked to have done enough. Up the next beat they consolidated well, only losing one place back to Knight/Bownes, and as the fleet turned for the final run the championship appeared to be heading their way.

But RS400 championships are rarely that simple. In the final 50 yards of the last downwind, a handful of boats caught a right-hand shift and slipped inside at the gate, pushing Morris/Ashman back to fifth. That late shuffle proved decisive, handing the title to Cardiff Bay YC's Mark Oakey and George Yeoman on countback in one of the closest finishes the class has seen in recent years. Whitehead/Whaley were also still in with a strong chance but could not quite make the final race count, while Gorringe/Hill might also have taken the overall win had they been able to climb onto the podium in the decider.

Prize winners - Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

In the silver fleet Martin Powell and Sean Murray took the honours, with Anthony Park and Dom Hall 2nd and Thommie Grit and Finn Campbell 3rd.

After racing, the fleet gathered for prize-giving, and a well-earned chance to thank Hayling Island Sailing Club for a superb championship. The race team did an excellent job getting the programme completed, particularly given that the fleet had not always been on its best behaviour on the start line. Equal thanks went to the safety teams, whose work getting sailors safely in and out over the bar each day was hugely appreciated, and helped keep both boats and bodies largely intact, the shore and house teams and to our long-term sponsors Noble Marine, RS Sailing Store and Rooster.

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

The class also paid a heartfelt tribute to Sally Campbell, who steps down as class secretary at the end of the year. Sally has put an enormous amount into this event and many before it, and the warmth of the applause said everything about how much her efforts have meant to the RS400 fleet.

It was another excellent RS400 Nationals: competitive at the sharp end, friendly throughout the fleet, and full of sailors willing to share ideas, tuning tips and hard-earned experience. From the battles for the podium to the learning curve further back, Hayling once again showed why turning up to the Nationals is such a valuable part of sailing in this class.

RS Class Association note - thanks also go to Sam Knight, Class Chair and his committee, for their work not just on the ground at the Nationals, but also in the planning that takes place throughout the year.

Prize Winners:

Congratulations to all of our winners.

1st RS400 National Champions Mark Oakey & George Yeoman (Cardiff Bay YC)
2nd Tom Morris & Rob Ashman (Hayling Island SC (HISC))
3rd Edd Whitehead & Ben Whaley (Parkstone YC)

Silver Fleet
1st Martin Powell & Sean Murray (Parkstone YC)
2nd Anthony Park & Dom Hall (HISC)
3rd Thommie Grit & Finn Campbell (NBYC)

First Junior - Zach Williamson (Royal Yorkshire SC)
First Youth - Rory Gifford (Largs SC)
First Female Helm - Eve Kennedy (Parkstone YC)
First Female Crew - Rachel Tilley (Royal Thames YC)
First Grand Master Helm - Howard Farbrother (Lymington Town SC)
First Master Helm - Edd Whitehead (Parkstone YC)
Weekend Winner - Eve Kennedy & Jack Worlidge (Parkstone YC)
Endeavour - James Alsop & Simon Edwards (QMSC)
Loving Cup - Christopher Eames & Rachel Tilley (Royal Thames YC)
First Family (parent and child of any age) - Charlie Exley & Caroline Exley (Leigh & Lowton SC)

Overall Results:

Oakey and Yemoan - Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026 - photo © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing