707 Class at Ford Cork Week 2000

One Design is Best !

It was a credit for this class to have 35 entries from this impressive sports boat one design competing hard and enjoying Irish life during Ford Cork Week 2000. Boats had travelled from all over the British Isles to race for not only the Ford Week trophies, but also the Gloags London Dry Gin Celtic Area Championship and the Swansea - Cork Ferries Perpetual Trophy. Hunter 707’s are light and easy to trail one design keel boats which mean most crews tow with large family size cars or in the case of the Barret lads sailing Marvin from Lowestoft a converted ambulance! Bombshell and Wild Oat from Ireland were joined by committed turnouts from the Lowestoft, Burnham and Hamble fleets making it a closely contested week of high calibre which decided only during the last day.

High pressure produced initially very little wind and overcast skies for Monday’s Coastal Race which was won by Iain May in Charlie Fish followed by Sandy Fielding’s Cygnet in second and resulted in the fleet finishing of Big Sovereign Rock near Kinsale. It was a long trip back assisted by the lure of Murphys ! Monday night involved a well attended lively class dinner which was held in the neighbouring village of Myrtenville. Ali G made an appearance in guise which brought the house and village down. Firestar’s crew produced an Irish enacted rendition of head, shoulders, knees and toes! The lucky winners of the evening’s entertainment went home with garish lime green tee shirts which certainly made an impact during the week.

The winds remained light for the Harbour Race, with clear blue sky which again became overcast and left the fleet struggling to finish against a strong flood tide in a rapidly fading breeze. Cacciatore owned by Stephen Butcher and Martin Jones led the fleet home for this Tuesday Race followed by David and Phillipa’s Doddle. Tuesday night meant it was class BBQ night washed down with the local ‘Black Stuff’.

The remainder of the week comprised conventional laid courses with sea breezes dominating on Wednesday and Thursday. Sparkle sailed by Paul Curtis made form by winning the first of Wednesday’s Course 4’s. David Barrow at the helm of Cygnet followed with Simon Perry’s Giraffe taking his second third of the week. The second race was won by Charlie Fish, followed by 3 Little Pigs sailed by Nick Roberts.

Thursday presented lighter sea breezes, and windward leeward courses. 3 Little Pigs produced two wins, Fish and Cygnet placed seconds and Cacciatore and Cezanne sailed by Barnaby Hartley and Chris Fox gained thirds. A Gloags Gin party pursued on the pontoons after sailing, and Charlie Fish were presented with the Swansea - Cork Ferries Perpetual Trophy by senior representative Alex Maguire. Iain May and the Charlie Fish crew made the traditional gesture by filling the trophy not dissimilar to the FA Cup full of Murphys and later Champagne. The gin party got things swinging for the evening which progressed into a long session in the extensive array of Ford Week entertainment tents.

Finale Friday was the day for Olympic Trapezoids and with superb conditions a day to remember. This in addition to the guaranteed Irish hospitality was what the class had travelled from afar for and it was served up in style with the best race management of the week providing true lines and well laid courses. Compression of the high pressure had created a stiff but warm Easterly breeze which allowed excellent racing including screaming reaches for which David Thomas designed this extremely popular One Design. Brilliant blue skies, sunshine, clear blue water and rollers created close exciting racing and the hangovers were rapidly washed away or forgotten. Cezanne showed impressive form when the breeze was up closely taking the first race from 3 Little Pigs who fought hard with Cacciatore. ‘Pigs’ won the final race with Cacciatore and John Lewis’ Baby Beluga from Burnham close behind in third. However, a run of three firsts and two seconds in the last five races submitted by 3 Little Pigs was never going to counter their poor start to the week. It was a consistent Stephen Butcher and Martin Jones who by notching up a win, one second, two thirds and their remaining results excluding an OCS in the top five took Cacciatore to victory winning the Ford Week 707 Class and Gloags Celtic Area Championship.

Overall Results:

1st Cacciatore     Stephen Butcher & Martin Jones
2nd 3 Little Pigs  Nick Roberts
3RD Charlie Fish   Iain May
4th Cygnet         Sandy Fielding
5th Cezanne        Barnaby Hartley & Chris Fox
6th Doh            Tom Davidson & Andrew Aldwinkle
7th Giraffe        Simon Perry

More Information:

• YachtsandYachting.com Hunter 707 Page
• Ford Cork Week Website