707 National Championship 2026 at Scarborough Yacht Club

The 707 fleet descended on Scarborough in early September to contest their National Championship, which was widely expected to be one of the most competitive in some years with potential contenders coming from Wales, the North of England and the usual suspects from Scotland.

The forecast was for breezy to full on tasty conditions from the West throughout, which would keep the tacticians on their toes and give a boat handling test to even the most experienced teams.

Once the boats were rigged and launched on the Wednesday, the fleet was quickly ushered into the club bar to get a taste of the Yorkshire hospitality that was to continue right through the event.

707 Nationals 2026 at Scarborough - photo © Fred Tiles & Simon-James Smith

Day 1 conditions were perfect for the 707s, 18 knots gusting into the 20s in sunny Scarbados weather, allowing Race Officer Ian Kelly to set up a decent length windward / leeward course in the North Bay. Chris Banner and Jack Harries from Wales, in their latest 707 Flat Out, got to grips with the shifty conditions quickly to take the first race showing their intent from the outset. Race 2 went the way of another Welsh boat, Three Little Pigs owned by Hamish Crow with a punchy start towards the pin. A short delay allowed the course to be reset in the South Bay which was slightly flatter as the impact of the tide was starting to kick up a bit of sea in the North Bay. Race 3 was won by David Kitchen on Turbulence and the final race of the day was taken again by the Welsh lads on Flat Out. A tired, but grinning fleet headed back to Scarborough Marina after a long day.

707 Nationals 2026 at Scarborough - photo © Fred Tiles & Simon-James Smith

Plan A for day 2 was for 5 races over low water, however Ian Kelly informed the fleet that he would get out and access the conditions before committing to 6 hours on the water. Race 5 got away in a solid 25 knots which quickly built to gusts of 35 knots. The boat handling across the fleet was seriously impressive, with most boats flying kites and taking on the gybes, but inevitably the chaos started with two boats suffering broken rudders and a few spectacular wipe outs. The race was shortened after two laps with Po, owned and helmed by Guy Neville getting them around the course using his many years experience to take the win. The decision was taken to get the fleet back into the marina before the point of no return, where the fleet came together showing great camaraderie to find spares rudders, repair main sheet tracks and an assortment of other damage to ensure the full fleet would be back on the water for day 3.

707 Nationals 2026 at Scarborough - photo © Fred Tiles & Simon-James Smith

Half way through the regatta, More T Vicar helmed by Ben Williamson had put some consistent results together to be leading without yet taking a race win. MTV came out the blocks on Day 3 as the fleet returned to the North Bay to take the first race of the day in conditions similar to day 1. Race 7 was won by 2025 National Champions Seaword, owned by class Chairman Dara O'Malley and helmed by Andy Marshall. Whilst upwind it was all about playing the shifts, downwind the left was benefiting those teams who had perfected their gybe sets. Flat Out took their third win in race 8 and Seaword another in race 9.

The chat in the bar on Saturday night was that the championship was More T Vicar's to lose, though the crew of MTV weren't falling for that old chestnut, or were they!

707 Nationals 2026 at Scarborough - photo © Fred Tiles & Simon-James Smith

The final day dawned, with a forecast of more moderate winds. The atmosphere around the pontoons had a less jovial and more serious feel as four boats were still in serious contention with a couple more in with a mathematical chance. Three Little Pigs took the win in race 10 with MTV, Seaword and Tsunami II (Owner Eddie Batchelor, helmed by Nick Bell) sailing each other back down the fleet. 4 points separated the top 4 after the penultimate race, setting up a dramatic final race. A port end bias start line, saw Seaword fighting to win the pin, but ending up in a small raft struggling to lay it. MTV set up slightly further up getting away cleanly with Tsunami II just above them. Po led at the windwark mark, with MTV in pursuit managing to get ahead with an early gybe downwind. Up the second leg MTV kept a loose cover on Tsunami II whilst also trying to keep between Seaword and the mark. Flat Out hit the right side up the second beat to come right back in contention getting past MTV on the final run to take the final race win and jump up the leaderboard to second overall. Seaword were third with Tsunami dropping back to fourth overall after having sailed such a consistence week, but ultimately suffering in traffic at the final windward mark. This left the team of More T Vicar (Ben Williamson, Richard Brameld, Richard Wharram, Tom Day and Edd Wheldon) from the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club as 2026 National Champions.

707 Nationals 2026 at Scarborough - photo © Fred Tiles & Simon-James Smith

Scarborough Yacht Club excelled themselves in putting on an outstanding championship, with superb racing and a friendly and lively social scene. The class was hugely appreciative of support from prize sponsors including, Z-Spars, Saturn Sails, Proboat/Allen, Passenger, Hyde Sails and Sail Doctor.

The event followed expectations of being one of the most competitive in recent years coming down to an epic battle in the final race and six different boats winning races across the series. With new teams joining the fleet for 2027, things are looking up for the class. Anyone wanting to come and join in with some great competitive corinthian sailing with a fun social scene, get in touch with the class and we may be aware of a couple of boats coming to the market.

Overall Results: