707 National Championship 2025 at Port Edgar Yacht Club

707 National Championship at Port Edgar © 707 Class Association

A competitive fleet of 22 boats from around the country, fourteen races over four days, 6-25 knot winds, complex tides and only two discards made this a very challenging but enjoyable championship for the evergreen 707 class.

Even before the event started there was a real buzz to it as the committee had done an incredible job of putting together an array of sponsors for both the racing and socials with prizes including a 50% voucher for a new jib courtesy of Saturn Sails, a new outboard from Eyemouth Marine and generous offerings from Hyde Sails including a new boom cover.

707 National Championship at Port Edgar - photo © 707 Class Association

Former winners, Dara O'Malley's Seaword team of Andy Marshall, Nick Elder, Richard Higgins and Hugh Watson, put together a super consistent series to regain their crown winning three races and being able to discard a fifth place. The battle for second overall was incredibly closely fought with the boats in second down to fifth going afloat on the last day separated by just 3 points.

In the end it came down to the final turning mark to the finish in the last race. Three of those boats, More T Vicar, Tsunami and Turbulence, were fighting for the overlap as they charged downwind under spinnaker in 25 knots of breeze. After a strong finish to the championship of 1,2,1 it was the Yorkshire team from More T Vicar who secured second from defending champions Tsunami II who also had a strong comeback after a few high scores earlier in the event.

Seaword win the 707 National Championship at Port Edgar - photo © 707 Class Association

A brilliant initiative by the class in recent years has been to make class boats available to student teams; the talent, energy and enthusiasm these teams bring both on and off the water is great for everyone involved. This year the top student trophy was taken by Maisie Russell sailing Pocket Battleship.

This was yet another excellent championship for the class with the high level racing combined with the excellent socials including the hilarious Karaoke night with each boat having to take a turn with the microphone. This competition was perhaps less closely fought and was won by Helen Cowie's all female team on Beluga with a rousing rendition of "Take Me Home Country Roads"

707 National Championship at Port Edgar - photo © 707 Class Association

In recent years there has been an expansion of sailmakers into the class with the intention to keep sail costs down. The success of this initiative is shown with Hyde sails in first and second and Saturn and Elvstrom sails also featuring in the top five overall.

Thanks to Port Edgar Yacht Club and their team of volunteers for running an excellent event and to the 707 class committee who put in a huge amount of effort behind the scenes to bring the event together.

Overall Results:

Seaword win the 707 National Championship at Port Edgar - photo © 707 Class Association