707 National Championships 2009 13 Aug 2009

The 2009 707 National Championships were hosted by Island Sailing Club at Cowes from 25th to 29th July, the week before Cowes Week. The Island Sailing Club made the 707 fleet most welcome with an excellent race team, brilliant sailing and fantastic socials. It was great to see two Scarborough boats Second Fiddle and Humdinger and “Well done!” to Betty and crew for winning the week.

The Burnham boats mentioned and their overall positions are: 2nd Baby Beluga, 3rd Marlin, 4th Beaver Hunter, 5th Muttless

With plenty of breeze forecast, the first race on Sunday 26th July was excellent. Marlin, Matt Rainbow, was first followed by Betty, Jon Powell, then Baby Beluga, John Lewis, Nick Tressider & Dave Hanson. The second race saw Betty back on form with Baby Beluga in second and Beaver Hunter, Paul Gray, in third.

On Day Two the crew of ASBO arrived to find their boat sinking due to a faulty log which was then fixed. The breeze favoured the heavier crews and Betty had another good day. In Race 3 Betty came first with Beaver Hunter and Second Fiddle (Anthony Dearden) in second and third respectively, Race 4 was Beaver Hunter, Baby Beluga and Sparkle (Paul Curtis) and Race 5 Betty, Beaver Hunter and Baby Beluga.

Day Three was also another good day for Betty with two more wins but they then decided to become the pin on the second race. Marlin, Baby Beluga, Muttless , Phil Bennett and Neal Fulcher, and Humdinger, Glyn Simpson, all got places.

Going into the last day Betty was unstoppable but the rest of the placing was still to be decided. Betty notched up firsts in Race 9 and 10 but Race 11 became much fresher. Muttless and Marlin led the fleet, with an exhilarating last run which saw Muttless losing its bowman, Dan, temporarily overboard. Phil Bennett managed to pluck him out by the scruff of his neck and drop the kite to finish just in front of Marlin.