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Which sportboat to choose |
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gelders
Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 05 Location: Netherlands Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
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Topic: Which sportboat to choose Posted: 16 Apr 05 at 7:31am |
Im planning to buy a sportboat just to sail for fun with a small crew. I will be sailing off Scheveningen in Holland that is directly on the North Sea. I like the Hunter 707 but I have the following doubts. What about sailing the boat with a small crew 2 3 guys in a force 5 What about broaching in 7ft waves (quit normal condition with force 5) regards,
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J.Gelders
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Stefan Lloyd
Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 05 at 8:07am |
I owned a 707 for several years and raced it hard in the Solent. I also did a fair amount of 2-handed racing. A sportsboat, by definition, has light displacement and large sail area. Therefore in most conditions, the heavier the crew, the faster it goes. 707s normally sail with a crew of 5 and optimum crew weight appears to be around 450kg i.e. quite big guys (and sorry but that does probably mean guys). There is no crew weight limit in the class rules. Now, when you say "sail for fun" I'm not sure if you mean "race but not very seriously" or not racing at all. If you want to race the boat with 2-3 crew, I'd look at something that is meant to be raced with that number of crew e.g. SB3. If your question is: can you sail a 707 for fun with 2-3 light crew in force 5, yes certainly you can. I raced mine 2-handed in up to 20 knots, with spinnaker, including gybing. I raced it 2-handed without spinnaker in 25 knots and with a full crew in 35 knots. At the risk of sounding big-headed, I'd a lot of previous experience in racing dinghies and other keelboats and you need experience to sail a 707 in the way I have described. However exactly the same would go for any other sportsboat. They are meant to be exciting boats, not easy-to-sail boats. 707s are actually easier to sail than many other classes of sportsboat but it is all relative. Regarding size of swell, well again I think you will have similar issues with all sportsboats. Over 100 707s have been raced hard for nearly 10 years now. One sank a couple of years ago and swell played a part. I witnessed what happened at close hand and in my opinion, it was an avoidable accident. It is possible for the boat to be knocked down in a broach and if you do not close the hatch, large waves can enter. The same problem can happen with other similar boats; more than one J24 has sank in this way. You need to know what you are doing if you want to sail this kind of boat in difficult conditions. You certainly can sail a 707 in the conditions you describe, provided you are careful and have the skill and experience. You might want to talk to people in the class association; contacts are on www.hunter707.org.uk
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gelders
Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 05 Location: Netherlands Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 05 at 9:41am |
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J.Gelders
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sailor girl
Really should get out more Joined: 13 Jun 04 Location: Spain Online Status: Offline Posts: 1031 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 05 at 2:32pm |
how about a Laser SB3? a crew of 3 men or 4 light weights, alot of fun and people are great in the class.
Edited by sailor girl |
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Sailor Girl, Queen Of The Forum!
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Stefan Lloyd
Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 05 at 4:36pm |
SB3s are pure racing keelboats. I haven't sailed one but would certainly like to some time; they look a lot of fun. 707s are a bit different; some people see them as a "little yacht" in which it is possible to sleep at regattas (although when I owned one, I can't say I ever found that an appealing idea - the smell of damp sails and outboard fuel isn't my favourite combination).
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*GM*
Posting king Joined: 19 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 122 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 16 Apr 05 at 6:51pm |
Some hardy souls did the Scottish Peaks race in a 707 a few years ago...that must have been hellish - particularly for the runners! Good fun boats though - when you're using them for the purpose intended! |
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Stefan Lloyd
Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 05 at 8:30am |
They have done it several times in fact and he bought the boat for the purpose. When I helped run the class association I talked to the owner a few times - he was after a larger more powerful rig! Definitely hardcore.
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gelders
Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 05 Location: Netherlands Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 05 at 12:50pm |
With regards to making a choice of what kind of sportboat to buy when sailing it shorthanded and no racing, what about the Cork 1720 does anyone have any experience with this boat |
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J.Gelders
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Stefan Lloyd
Really should get out more Joined: 03 Aug 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1599 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 05 at 1:29pm |
The 1720 is a big hairy beast. Why do you want a sportsboat if you don't want to race it? They are all designed to be raced fully-crewed and have correspondingly low stability without crew weight. Wouldn't you be better off with something designed more for the purpose to which you plan to put it? |
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sailor girl
Really should get out more Joined: 13 Jun 04 Location: Spain Online Status: Offline Posts: 1031 |
Post Options Quote Reply Posted: 17 Apr 05 at 2:43pm |
ooh, 1720- brilliant boat!! but not exactly a 'chill-out' boat! more designed for racing
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Sailor Girl, Queen Of The Forum!
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