Well, as the season draws to a close we start planning the next one. I am just back from one of the Sailing Committee meetings and I am pleased to say that we will have our class starts for next year. The provisional program shows Hunter 707 starts for the Wednesday evening series (A, B and Nigh) and the Autumn, Winter series. That is the same as this year. So no excuses we expect you back next year.

How should we score the racing next year? By default they will be calculated using the rolling handicap. If there is a solid vote for using open handicap (level rate) then we can do that. Please let me have your vote.

Congratulations to Blue Funk for winning the One Design Trophy this year. It would have been very close if Jetstream had managed one more race and not been counting a DNF. Results available at http://www.eastmore.biz/cgi-bin/YachtReport2001.pl?file=peyc%2Fpeyc_onedesign_05.csv&type=Result&class=H707&race=Series&x=25&y=12

Are you all happy to run this the same way next year? That is I nominate 9 or 10 races spread throughout the year and then consolidate the results from these into a series. Obviously for a one design trophy these are calculated on a level rating basis.

There was a poor turnout this year for the championships at Granton. The weather was not the best for sailing but the sun shone! I propose to nominate the Club's Yacht Regatta for 2006 (what was the Carl Dyson, this year the Lands of Loyal, who knows what for next year). Provisionally this is the weekend 30th September/1st October. Anybody got any other ideas or are you happy to go with this?

While writing a final reminder that the prize giving is on the 26th November. Murray Carmichael is bending my ear because there are no tables booked for the 707's. (For the record I am away at a wedding). Anyone interested should contact Maggie King, details in the handbook.

I believe that Silver Pony is sold - no details where she will be sailing. (Callum has defected to the SB3 - traitor!). To the best of my knowledge Code Z, 64, Hale Bopp and Joe Blob are all on the market. Also Baltika, Terry's old boat is for sale in Glasgow. So if anyone knows someone thinking of trying a 707 then now is a great time to buy one without having to travel. While mine is still in the water I am happy to arrange to take potential owners out for a sail.

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Phil Walter
Hunter 707 - Whippersnapper - GBR7043N
Web site : www.whippersnapper.org.uk