707 Northern Championships – THYC

Team Racehorse (Rudi, Jimmy, Karen, Mike & Sam) took part in the 707 Northern Championships at Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club (THYC) last weekend.

We arrived Friday afternoon, towing both Bruce T for Leeds Uni and Racehorse. With temperatures soaring to 28°C, it felt more like the south of France than the north of England! Under the blazing sun, we quickly stepped the masts and launched the boats—with a frosty cider or two to keep us motivated.

Jimmy and Karen had already sailed Firebird up the coast the week before, giving us a trusty mothership moored right beside us—a perfect base camp and party boat rolled into one.

Friday evening at THYC lived up to its usual high standard. The 707 fleet always feels like an extended family, and it was great catching up with old friends over good banter. A power cut across Hartlepool, brought on by the heat, added an extra challenge for the bar staff—but in true sailor spirit, we still managed to keep the beer flowing.

Saturday brought more sunshine and near-perfect champagne sailing conditions. We managed three solid races before some unpredictable 180-degree wind shifts forced the Race Officer to abandon Race 4. Naturally, we headed for the bar instead.

Racehorse results – Day 1:
Race 1: 3rd | Race 2: 6th | Race 3: 6th

That evening, the good times continued with live music and dancing late into the night—classic 707 fleet vibes.

Sunday morning saw a dramatic shift in conditions. With 30-knot winds and big gusts, things got lively. While locking out, we bumped into Adrian and the crew of Greymalkin, returning to Scarborough after venturing as far as the Farne Islands post-Jaunt North.

Race 4 was intense from the get-go. Upwind knockdowns kept everyone on edge, and at the windward mark, all eyes were on whether the front-runners would dare hoist their kites. MTV led around the mark, closely followed by Seaword. Seaword popped the kite and disappeared in a burst of spray, MTV had to follow suit, then Sharky—cue a series of epic wipeouts.

We chose discretion over valor and white-sailed the downwind leg. Even without the kite, we hit 13 knots—a testament to the conditions. In a 707 fleet, when only three boats fly spinnakers, it’s a sure sign it’s too windy to race. The Race Officer agreed and made the call to abandon further racing.

Jimmy and Mike jumped ship onto Firebird to take advantage of the early finish and set sail for Scarborough. By the time Racehorse was packed up, prize giving attended, and the boat trailed back home, we could see Firebird just off Scarborough Headland—perfect timing all around!

Another brilliant 707 weekend. Huge thanks to THYC and the crew of Sharky for hosting such a fantastic event. We’ll see you all at the next one!