Hunter 707 Class Association

Southern Area Championships 2007

After a week of gales and heavy rain the Hunter 707 fleet was blessed with a weekend of fine weather in the Solent for the Southern Area Championships, hosted once again by the Royal London Yacht Club.

Perhaps some of the fleet were waiting for the weather forecast to improve before committing themselves to the event as of the twelve entrants, five were listed as ‘late entries’ and Peter Dickson’s ‘Star-Born 3’ were such a late entry that the name did not even appear on the entry list published on Friday.

With the usual baggage service not available this year some of the Hamble – based boats staying overnight at Cowes delivered their own luggage on Saturday morning. Luckily the brisk Westerly breeze and ebbing tide made this an easy starboard fetch to the new pontoon at RLYC. Notably, Phil Bennett (Blowfish) had efficiently organised a van to transport the East Coast visiting boat’s luggage on Friday afternoon; although sadly his own crew arrived late on Saturday morning and so ironically ‘Blowfish’ was forced to sail the first three races on Saturday carrying their bags below! Paul Gray’s Beaver Hunter meanwhile had demonstrated their navigational skills on the trip to Cowes by making contact with Bramble Bank.

The RLYC’s usual familiar ‘Twin Wakes’ committee vessel had suffered an engine failure and hence an alternative vessel was commandeered by the Commodore Jamie Clark.

Race 1 was held in the westerly breeze which had strengthened to a brisk force 4 providing champagne sailing conditions on blue water under a blazing sun and cloudless sky. The RO set a windward leeward course of two laps. The East Coast boats showed their early pace whitewashing the Solent boats with Richard Barnes’ ‘Cacciatore’, Beaver Hunter and Feeling Touchy taking 1st 2nd and 3rd places respectively. The remainder of the fleet enjoyed their own battles and the competition was close at all levels.

In Races 2 and 3 it was James Hayward’s Mad Dog who saved the Solent fleet’s pride scoring a 3rd and 2nd with Cacciatore and Beaver Hunter taking the other podium places.

There was plenty of action throughout the fleet. ‘Beaver Hunter’ were seen performing some rapid turns after a very solid sounding collision at the windward mark with a starboard tacker. New fleet member Paul French’s ‘Turbulence’, (which he and his girlfriend have totally refurbished over the winter), were seen enjoying a broach leaving the windward mark. The Gorman’s ‘Censored’ were apparently having all kinds of difficulties which began on Friday with their foredeck crew breaking his foot and continued on Saturday when their jib halyard parted in race 1 and the mainsheet tackle blew up in race 2. (OK, that’s enough excuses –Ed.).

At the finish of Race 3, the Committee Vessel found herself unable to anchor owing to a faulty windlass and despite the crew’s best efforts was not holding station. After a protest for redress, Beaver Hunter and Surfeit were subsequently awarded joint 3rd places.

Overnight leaders were Cacciatore (4pts) followed by Beaver Hunter (6pts) and Mad Dog (9pts).

Those attending the dinner at RLYC were treated to the usual spectacular views over the Solent from the balcony of the bar followed by a very pleasant and relaxed meal after which skippers regaled one another with accounts of their individual comedic dramas on the race course. Judging by the jaded condition of some crews on Sunday this may have continued for some time.

Sunday dawned similarly hot with a cloudless sky and a westerly lighter breeze which steadily built up to a useful sea breeze. Racing was able to commence on schedule. The Race Officer’s again overcame adversity in the form of a failed RIB motor and managed to set a good windward leeward course around Air Canada and Hillhead. Cacciatore again headed the fleet with Beaver Hunter hot on their heels and ‘Blowfish’ (now unencumbered with luggage) coming through to finish third.

As tradition demanded the fifth and last race was set around familiar Solent marks of Air Canada, East Knoll, Hill Head and finally a long challenging fetch across the Solent to finish at Snowden close to the RLYC. ‘Beaver Hunter’ arrived first, followed by ‘Star-Born 3’ finally showing their pace and ‘Cacciatore’ close behind.

After the application of one discard the podium places were occupied by the ever consistent ‘Cacciatore’, ‘Beaver Hunter’ and ‘Mad Dog’ respectively.

The tired crews were rewarded with cold beer on the RLYC balcony, and a warm reception and praise from Jamie Clark. Everyone taking part had enjoyed a great weekend of Solent conditions at their best and the customary friendly hospitality of RLYC. An invitation was extended for the fleet to visit again in 2008 and I would be very surprised if we don’t take up that offer.

The fleet were able to leave the convenient mooring at RLYC’s pontoon and make another rapid and easy one-tack trip back to Hamble.

Patrick Miles
Class Chairman

Results


			No of Starters:	12	12	12	11	11
			Start Time:	1110	1230	1345	1035	1150	Total
Pos	Sail No	Entrant	Boat	Race 1	Race 2	Race 3	Race 4	Race 5	Points	Place
1	7115	Mark Dell	Cacciatore	1	2	1	1	3D	5	1
2	7046	Paul Gray	Beaver Hunter	2	1	3D	2	1	6	2
3	7097	James Hayward	Mad Dog	4	3	2	8D	4	13	3
4	7063	Mike Foster	Surfeit	5	4	3	6D	5	17	4
5	7116	Peter Dickson	Star-Born 3	8D	6	6	7	2	21	5
6	7003	Pohilip Bennet	Blowfish	6	8D	7	3	6	22	6
7	7092	G Kimber	Feeling Touchy	3	12	5	5	13D	25	7
8	7103	T C & J W Gorman	Censored	10D	8	8	4	8	28	8
9	7114	T A Wakefield	Flying Low	7	7	9	13D	13	36	9
10	7067	Nick Morgan	3 Little Pigs	9	9	10D	10	9	37	10
11	7118	Patrick Miles	Darkness	12D	11	11	9	7	38	11
12	7081	Paul French	Turbulence	11	12D	12	11	10	44	12