National Championships 2007

The 2007 National Championships took place as part of Burnham Week, with racing for the full week of 25th August until 1st September:

After an intense four-day, 12 race series Richard Barnes and team including Mark Dell, Nic Barnes, Joth Barnes and Chris Clarke, representing the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club were the popular winners of the Hunter 707 class national championship which concluded on Saturday. The event was sponsored by Eleco, Bollé and Elvström Sobstad.

The 24-strong fleet racing in generally light to moderate winds on Spring tides, made the most of the tricky conditions but it was Team Cacciatore in their nine-year-old boat who notched up the most consistent string of results, including a couple of first places on day one, to win the championship with a clear 9-point lead over Tony Wright and team on Eh! Wright's best results of the event (1,2) were on the final day of the regatta but came too late in the regatta to make any effect over Cacciatore.

In third place, by just one point, was Doddle with the team from the Royal Burnham Yacht Club including Stuart Mears, Phil Bennett and Helen Hilditch. Team Doddle had a reasonably consistent week - scoring the most first places during the week - but had to count an eighth and a couple of sevenths so were unable to make any effect on their overall scoring. Paul Gray's Beaver Hunter finished two points astern, in fourth place overall.

Overall the class enjoyed one of the most memorable 707 championships in history, on and off the water. At the prizegiving dinner at the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club on Saturday during the last night of Burnham Week, it was more than evident that this interesting strict one-design class seems to be making a huge comeback which is not surprising considering the current, buoyant second-hand market. According to newcomer to the fleet, Mark Ellis, one of the biggest attractions to the class apart from the close racing, is the incredible value for money. Good competitive second-hand boats are currently being snapped up for £5-6,000.

(Report reprinted with permission from Sue Pelling/Yachting World)

Full results