707s on the Clyde at Mudhook Regatta

Always close starts with 707s at the 2018 Mudhook Regatta © Neill Ross

707 Cacciatore at the 2018 Mudhook Regatta © Neill Ross

Ben Robertson from Cacciatore receives the Cup during the 2018 Mudhook Regatta © Neill Ross

The 707 Class travelled to the home of Fife and McGruer, the famous classic yacht designers and builders at Rhu on the Clyde, for the Mudhook regatta on the weekend of the 16/17th of June.

Mudhook YC is a charitable group of yachties who don't actually have a club, but do organise a very well run event. So, eight 707s started day one in pouring rain, but at least there was a decent breeze. Hats on and three interesting races in the East Patch area of the Clyde.

The Robertson family of helm Ben plus parents Sarah and Stuart and their other regular team were obviously working well together in spite of this being their first outing this year. Straight to the front and an unassailable lead in race one caused a few of us to mutter but I do recall them actually being pretty sharp last time they were out..

The day ended with them on two firsts and a second – not a bad start.

Seaword had a well-deserved first in race two, but were in the fray in the other races and as the competition is now so good, it is hard to recover, and the key is to get clear air and keep it.

Jetstream were again up there but this time competing with the new team from Partial Pressure. This is the part Class-funded boat which is one of two sponsored for 'deserving groups' of people which we aim to encourage into the fleet (ask for details), and they are doing us all proud and becoming a real threat to the expected form with the fleet. Helm Andy McKeown is starting to nail the tactics and already has worked out boat speed. They were lying second after day one with a 4, 3, 2, and Jetstream on 2,4,3.

Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club hosted an excellent Friday night Italian themed dinner and Helensburgh SC a Saturday evening barbeque, both fitting the bill in every way.

Day two produced much better conditions with light to moderate winds and even some sun.

Cacciatore got ahead but closely pursued by Seaword and Rammie, who got into a fun tacking battle on the last leg as a gap had opened up between them and the rest of the fleet. This doesn't happen often and normally such tactics would be costly.

Cacciatore on day 1 at the 2018 Mudhook Regatta - photo © Neill Ross

Jetstream won the last race having got clear from the start, and Cacciatore and Valhalla coming in a wee bit behind.

Mudhook Yacht Club presented Cacciatore with the Wylie Trophy, a cup originally won by a 19ft lug rigged cruising boat called 'Whaup' in 1891 for a race over a 12 mile course. Whaup was owned by a Mr A.W. Steven of RCYC. This Mudhook YC-owned trophy has been fought for ever since. It was presented at that time by Admiral R. Sinclair Scott, and this time by Fiona Watson, the wife of Mudhook YC, Admiral Johnnie Watson.

Autism On The Water and Code Z prepping spinnakers during the 2018 Mudhook Regatta - photo © Neill Ross

The racing was difficult, the competition fierce, and a number of teams are coming along at great pace this year, so the Northern, Eastern and National Championships are going to be closely fought and could be won by any of a dozen boats.

Finally, thanks must also go to the crew from Rhu Marina who went beyond the call of duty to launch Cacciatore after they had missed the tide due to a road accident on the Friday afternoon – they came in and launched them at 5am so they didn't miss any of the racing; great service, and with a smile.

Overall Results:

707 Jetstream at the 2018 Mudhook Regatta - photo © Neill Ross