PEYC Carl Dyson Regatta 2004 - Hunter 707 Class Report

Hunter 707 Scottish Championships 2004

The 2nd/3rd October saw Port Edgar Yacht Club host the Hunter 707 Scottish Championships as part of their Carl Dyson Yacht Regatta. The Hunter 707s were scheduled for five windward-leeward races over the two days. The weather forecast for the weekend was for gale force winds.

A total of 7 boats had entered, including Code Z and Eh! who had recently returned from their successes at the Nationals.

The wind was blowing at over 20knots as the boats waited for the first race, there was no consensus in the 707 fleet on what sail setting to use. A variety of no reef, one reef and two reefs were seen. Code Z, Eh! and Joe Blob made the most of the conditions and pulled out from Jetstream, Scooter and Whippersnapper who were having their own race some way back. Breaking Wind blew out the jib and retired. Code Z took the first race. There seemed to be minimal speed difference between full and reefed main; it depended more keeping the boat moving through the waves and wind gusts.

On the run Code Z and Eh! were neck and neck when they looked behind to see Absolutely 2 (Mumm 36) bow out of the water and slowly catching them. Apparently the discussion Absolutely was how are they going to pass these ‘little’ 707s before they got to the leeward mark. Just then the decision was made for them as the running back stay parted and the mast bent like banana. Quick thinking prevented Absolutely loosing the mast, but it was left with a considerable bend.

The conditions for the second race were if anything were stronger. 40 knots gusts of wind were reported. After the start the same boats showed how to handle the testing conditions. The runs were exciting with some good surfing downwind with the spinnaker. Some non 707 boats commented on the impressive sight seeing the 707s with spray everywhere and spinnakers flying in conditions when they would not consider the spinnaker.

Timing when to gybe on the run was critical; in probably the biggest gust of the weekend when Code Z had just completed their gybe and looked behind and said glad we gybed then as Eh! got laid flat for what seemed like a long time. The crew of Code Z saying “we've never really discussed what we do when that happens”. Eh! soon had things under control and completed the race in second place.

After two exciting and exhausting races we were happy to head to the marina. Sunday was forecast for stronger winds, but when we arrived we were relieved to find a more manageable 12-15knots.

The racing was more competitive today when full sail could be used without being continuously overpowered. The stronger winds threatened to come in for Race 4 but never materialised. There was close racing and despite Code Z taking four first places they did not have it all their own way. In race 4 Joe Blob and Scooter read the conditions better and took advantage when Code Z was having a rare off moment. Further down the fleet most of the boats were having their own battles. In the end the wind held steady all day, the gales did not materialise and we all had some great racing.

Outside the 707 fleet the weekend claimed a couple of masts and a few spinnakers but with the exception of Breaking Wind’s old jib the tough 707s came through unscathed.

Dropping their third place Code Z counted a four first places to take the championship. Joe Blob picked up the other first place, but they finished third on equal points behind the more consistent Eh!. Full results available.

Overall Results : 1st Code Z, James Urquhart 4pts; 2nd Joe Blob, JP McCaldin 9pts; 3rd Eh!, Tony Wright 9pts; 4th Scooter, Robert Yates, 16pts; 5th Whippersnapper, Phil Walter 18pts; 6th Jetstream, Dermot Gorman, 22pts, 7th Breaking Wind, Steve Druitt 28pts.

Phil Walter
Hunter 707 - Whippersnapper