Bull 7000 wanted

I've owned Rampage 7172 for over 10years, used for cruising and racing. Just got back from Falmouth Week (220mile road trail from Southampton) won the IRC Div 1 Royal Cornwall Regatta & St Mawes Regatta, and came 2nd in two of the Windward Leeward Mini Series, not bad for a difficult IRC rating of 0.963. I also cruise regularly along south coast and think nothing of going away for a week, but usually weekends.

Boat is a blast off wind, very stable, and OK upwind (go for speed not pointing, use smaller jib to punch waves). Its a very handy club / regatta racing boat, not an IRC killer by any means, but great fun. Trade off for the accommodation is that it gets cramped tacking with 4 due to coach roof, sails very well with three, but like any small boat likes rail weight, although has good form stability

Fractional kite is great in breeze and points high on a reach (a bit of a regatta weapon), mast head kite is very controllable easy to recover and launch. Due to the canting pole you can soak it downwind in light air and get under the big gusts in breeze making very stable

I regularly sail on my own with the kids using all sails, boat has fixed toilet, decent cooker & sink arrangement. Large cockpit and double purchase on jib sheets without need to winch makes life easy. Bunks are as good as on big boats, with a double under bridge deck and large V berth up front. Engine holds away into a locker and the convenience of twin companion ways is amazing.

Hull and rig are holding up well, I have just got a new trailer this August to make better use of its trailing capability. Only week point is the lifting keel block & tackle arrangement, it works well but makes me nervous, have been thinking of a demountable crane, not so convenient but more belt and braces.

I am considering selling my Bull, if I can find something better that is raced in Solent in numbers (J-80, J-70 maybe, but they have short comings), struggling with present boats on the market which are not as good as the The Bull 7000 for all round use and trailing, with the Bull fun factor.

Greg Young the Bull 7000 designer told me over the summer that he is in discussion with a French builder to look at fresh design, although he would not change much as the design was so forward thinking anyway. Maybe carbon mast and bowsprit.

Come and have a look and a sail, I dry sail in winter from Warsash Sailing Club, use Universal Marina on The Hamble in Summer for convenience.

If you can find a well cared for Bull 7000 snap it up, they are an outstanding trailable mini cruiser / racer for sailors with spirit.

Russ