Congratulations to Mark Oakey and George Yeoman, Noble Marine RS400 National Champions 2026!
In the biggest RS400 Nationals for years, it went down to the final race in a nail-biting equal points victory!
Congratulations to everyone who took part in what - it's fair to say - was incredible punchy conditions. Thanks again to all the RS Class Association committee, volunteers, host club Hayling Island SC (HISC) and the supporters, families and sailors themselves to make events like these so special.
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Results - see below
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Daily and Final Reports
Noble Marine RS400 National Championships – Day 1
Sun and a building breeze greeted the fleet of 57 boats for day one of the RS400 national championships. It was indeed a star-studded fleet with Olympians, elite sailors and more national champions than you could shake a stick at, racing alongside sailors new to the RS400 and a healthy contingent of youth sailors, most notably from the Northern clubs.
By the time racing got underway it was a spicy blend of 12-15 knots and decent waves, with the tide pushing boats over the start line. After two general recalls, the RS400s were put on the black flag naughty step, which seemed to do the trick. Tom Morris/Rob Ashman looked great out of the middle of the line and as more boats got spat out of the front row to find space on the right, Lady Luck bestowed a gift of a 20-degree right shift. Thusly Jon Gorringe/Derek Hill led around the first mark from Edd Whitehead/Ben Whaley. A downwind roller coaster put smiles on faces everywhere but especially for Whitehead/Whaley who sailed off into the distance to record a comfortable win. Olympians Mickey Beckett/Ellie Aldridge made 400ing look easy in a borrowed boat by flying through to second place, only to join Morris/Ashman as victims of the black flag.
Those disqualifications nicely promoted Gorringe/Hill into second and Mark Oakey/George Yeoman to third. Thommie Grit/Finn Campbell won the hotly contested silver fleet.
For the second race of the day, the waves continued to build as the tidal flow increased, but with a squarer start line the black flag wasn’t required and the fleet got away first time. Where previously Lady Luck had smiled on the right, this time she evened things out with a nice (for those who went left) big leftie. Martin Powell/Sean Murray (somehow silver fleet?) scorched in from the left to lead from Simon Potts/Richard Cornes and Oakey/Yeoman. When the wind shifted right halfway down the first run Powell/Murray had stayed in phase and held onto top spot, which they kept all the way to the finish. Oakey/Yeoman pulled through to finish second and Paul/Anna Smally surfed the waves best downwind to nab third ahead of Morris/Ashman.
So overall a day of great sailing conditions and tight racing in a friendly fleet. Plenty of boats and bodies have been left requiring some TLC before racing resumes.
A chilled evening was spent in the HISC bar, with a helpful new initiative of a ‘Top Table Q&A session’ led by Class Chair Sam Knight, with Tom Halhead, Chris Bownes and George Yeoman explaining what worked for them and answering questions form the floor.
The championship runs through to Sunday, with ten races scheduled. The RS400s are sharing the national champs venue with the 4000s.
Note: Results are subject to protest
Paul Hilliar
Noble Marine RS400 National Championships – Day 1
Silver Linings and a fleet full of smiles
Not going to lie, that day‑one briefing had us quietly wondering whether we’d ever see dry land again. We’re silver‑fleet sailors from a tiny Nottinghamshire gravel pit, so Hayling Bay felt… large.
While rigging, a top ILCA sailor, making his debut in the RS400s asked us for advice (poor guy) and borrowed a bobble. He then won a race today, so obviously that was our victory too. Watching the gold fleet blast past, we did briefly wonder if they were sailing entirely different boats.
As pond sailors, we’re still learning how to survive the lumpy beats and the “hold‑onto‑your-soul” downwinds. Yesterday we cracked open the celebratory no‑capsize Haribo far too early, forgetting the incoming tsunami on the sail home. Apparently that’s just… normal here.
Day two brought lots of smiles as the fleet launched and lighter airs, which we foolishly assumed meant flatter water. Our results immediately confirmed otherwise. At the first leeward mark we ran over the kite, the crew heroically went forward to rescue it, and promptly took a dip. Still, we finished — and unlike our new silver‑fleet pals, we kept our boom and weren’t Black Flagged so that’s basically a win 🤣
Race two started beautifully: clear air, confidence rising, sea‑sailing mastered… until we arrived at the windward mark in our usual spot. They say you find your level. We found ours.
Race three we nailed the committee‑boat end — which was perfect, because the race was abandoned and we got the fastest route back to shore, dodging tsunami II on the way.
Smiles were once again seen throughout the fleet as we were greeted with cold beers as they tallied off, thanks to Alex Newton-Southon, RS Sailing CEO - he even treated the 4000s racing alongside us!
Two brilliant days on the water, loads of laughs with our Buddy and new silver‑fleet friends, and proof that no matter where you are in the fleet, there’s always someone to race. This newbie 400 team can’t wait to see what Saturday brings - hopefully results improvement !!
Nicola Willars
RSCA note:
For those interested in the results, Martin Powell and Sean Murray, Parkstone YC lead the silver fleet, with a race win yesterday prompting rumours that they may be very soon promoted to gold fleet status. Thommie Grit and Finn Campbell from NBYC are lying in second, with the silver podium completed by home-club HISC sailors Anthony Park and Dom Hall.
Edd Whitehead and Ben Whaley lead overall, Mark Oakey and George Yeoman 2nd, Jon Gorring and Derek Hill 3rd.
Noble Marine RS400 National Championships – Day 3
An earlier start for day 3 of the RS400 Nationals. With 4 races planned, the fleet were excited to get out into the forecasted building breeze.
Race one got underway without a general recall - a seemingly rare occurrence this week. In about 10-12 knots. Sam Whaley secured the win with Edd Whitehead and Ben Whaley in second.
Race two - after having 5 poor starts, we decided to start where everyone else didn’t. Not committing as much as the boat starting on port and making the first mark in the top 3! Sam being consistent getting the win again with Simon Potts this time in second, sadly his crew, Richard Cornes was later injured – we wish him a speedy recovery.
Race three - several boats had to sit this one out after a black flag massacre. Sam Knight and Chris Bownes did well by leading the charge, going right downwind and creating a convincing win.
Race four - Our best race this series, probably due to fact lots of boats capsized and retired. With the wind reaching 20-24 knots, the waves caused plenty of issues at the windward mark when certain boats were hoisting their spinnakers. The leeward gate was as busy as ever, we were in a privileged position to come in on the starboard lay line, hearing the screams of protest as port boats forgot they were in the wrong.
Big well done to Oscar Davenport competing today on his 14th birthday, him and his dad had a great day with 2 top 20 results! A shout out also to Stefano Marangio, helming his first Nationals at just 13! We have 8 other youths in the fleet this week, but these tow certainly lower the average age!
After being treated to hot sausage rolls on the slipway, which even the most health-conscious could not resist, after those demanding 4 races, the likes of Sam Knight, Tom Halhead and others showed their dedication to the fleet by spending over an hour in the dinghy park running a tech session for the less experienced, which generated a lot of debate amongst those at the front too.
With two discards in play now, there’s only 9 points between the top 4 (results subject to protest). It really is all to play for on day 4, the final day of this exciting Championship.
A big thank you to the safety teams and the race committee, who delivered another great day’s racing in challenging conditions. A busy day for all, it’s hugely appreciated by all the competitors.
By Alastair Rimmer, his first EVER report!
Noble Marine RS400 Nationals 2026: Countback Drama on the Final Day at Hayling Island
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sam Knight
Congratulations to all of our winners
RS400 National Champions Mark Oakey & George Yeoman (Cardiff Bay YC)
Tom Morris & Rob Ashman (Hayling Island SC (HISC))
Edd Whitehead & Ben Whaley (Parkstone YC) Martin Powell & Sean Murray (Parkstone YC) Anthony Park & Dom Hall (HISC) Thommie Grit & Finn Campbell (NBYC)