707 Northern Championship at Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club
by David Smith 21 Jul 2016 09:59 BST
16-17 July 2016
Close at the spreader mark during the 707 Northern Championship © Dave Kitchen
The 707 Northern Chamionships were held at Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club on the 16th/17th July 2016.
The first highlight of the event was exhibited by the great relationship between Hartlepool Marina and the Club when locking in and out of the basin. Trophies were awarded by the Harbourmaster for no good reason at all, with local boat Sharky winning every time. Normally such officials don't even like the yachties, but Hartlepool is a very different kind of place and the antics and craic was brilliant, and appreciated.
Wind for the first day of the event was forecast 10-15 knot offshore but ended up in a 18-30 Kn epic which provided fantastic sailing in relatively flat water conditions. Race Officer Dave Kitchen and his team did well to get four races were held on a well-laid course providing great beats and planing conditions downwind. Many boats had more excitement than required with Valhalla shredding its spinnaker by putting its mast through it (how did that happen?) and others with broaches and hairy gybes.
In these sunshine and increasingly windy conditions there were no heroics on the start line and all the races went off well. Race 1 was won by Seaword helmed by Andy Marshall with More-T-Vicar second. In fact all of the races were won by Seaword but the pursuing boats were always on her tail but by keeping a straight head, and the consistancy of no foul ups, meant they won the day with four deserved firsts. At the end of racing More-T-Vicar were lying second two points ahead of slightly weight challenged four-man Rammie.
Saturday evening was hosted in the Clubhouse by Mickey Early and we were entertained by the Sharky crew, including one of their crew being the singer and guitarist in the live band. This was enhanced by the introduction of a Swedish Blonde at the bar - actually a real ale alas, but she helped the night go along so that many could not remember the way home.
Sunday was lighter altogether and more like the forecast of 10-15 knots. A shorter course was laid to ensure that 3 races were run. Racing was so close between all of the boats and the race officer had his work cut out to ensure he got the order right upon finishing as all six boats were often within 30 seconds at the finish line. Rammie seemed on form leading at the windward mark in all races but eventually, and frustratingly, overhauled by Dara's gang on Seaword giving them seven wins in a row. This left Rammie in second place overall and More-T-Vicar third.
Thanks must be given to sponsors Profix and Hartlepool Marina and for the great organisation of Hartlepool and Tees YC. It is a great clubhouse and everyone agreed that with such a facility we would be delighted to return to any future events, if they'll have us.
Overall Results: (top three)
1st Seaword – Andy Marshall/Dara O'Malley
2nd Rammie – David Smith
3rd More-T-Vicar – Carl Allen