With around 120 competitors and the 707s reputation for close racing and a good party, the 2005 Hunter 707 championship, being sailed from Weymouth and Portland Sailing academy, 7 – 10 September, is set to be nationals to end all others this summer.

Front runners on the 707 circuit this season have been Pocket Battleship and The Sweeney. Pocket Battleship started the season with wins in the spring series and eastern area champs and The Sweeney have the southern area champs under their belt, but these two have not come face to face since the Royal Southern June regatta when The Sweeney snatched victory in the last race.

2005 Scottish champions and last years’ runners up at the nationals, Code Z are again making the trip and will be one to watch out for, along with their compatriots Eh! who have been putting in solid performances in a number of south coast events.

Boats on form in recent events are Sword, second at the last Royal Southern regatta, Miss Moneypenny second in the southern areas and regular top five finishers Beaver Hunter and Cacciatore and Baby Beluga from Burnham are also likely to be in contention.

Black Sheep may have been sold, but 2004 championship winning crew members can be found on Darkness and Doh! And the last time Chilli Chaser was at the 707 champs was 2003, when it won in the hands of Ian Southworth, under new ownership and not seen on the circuit this year this may be an unknown quantity.