Where have all the recing gone??? I raced a 1994 35.5 with good success for several years before retiring and mainly cruising for the past 5 seasons. Recently sold the 35.5 and moved up to the convience of the more accomodating 37.5. Thinking about racing again and was surprised to find almost no racing info on any of the Hunter forums. Having raced several makes of boats over my 25 year of racing I have found well prepared 35.5 & 37.5 Hunters among the fastest and most race worthly production boats from the 1987-1995-6 era. The newer ones don't race well because of the inability to put larger head sails up for lighter wind conditions. I think all of the legend era Hunters are capable with well tuned rigs, slick bottoms, folding props and well cut sails of being race winners. Surely there are racing hunter still out there. Would be interesed in hearing from anyone with Hunter racing experience particularily with the 35.5 and 37.5 Hunters. Come on guys let us talk up our racing more. Don Williams Shaman, Pensacola, Fl
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Racing Responses
I guess we can see how many Hunter Owners are interested in racing - or maybe there are no interested racers in your size range. I've club raced our 1986 deep draft 28.5 successfully for about 17 years. She is well set up and sails easily to her rating, out pointing many 'racier' manufacturers boats. None of the newer Hunters in that size range perform as well or even have a comparable PHRF rating. I assume the 35.5 is in a similar situation -- Don't know anything at all about the 37.5 though -- good luck
I guess we can see how many Hunter Owners are interested in racing - or maybe there are no interested racers in your size range. I've club raced our 1986 deep draft 28.5 successfully for about 17 years. She is well set up and sails easily to her rating, out pointing many 'racier' manufacturers boats. None of the newer Hunters in that size range perform as well or even have a comparable PHRF rating. I assume the 35.5 is in a similar situation -- Don't know anything at all about the 37.5 though -- good luck
There sure are some out there...
I know I exchanged several e-mails with a 40.5 owner who made boat of the year several times. It was tricked out but basically stock. I have done well in several overnighters in my 40.5. However, it was in Cruising Class. Well-prepared later generation Hunters do well too. Most run in Cruising class rather than PHRF. Every year I see more out there in local races. I think those of us who race in Cruz don't make a big deal of it since most racers don't consider it real racing, and to a degree it isn't. Still, it gets people out on the water building skills, developing teamwork and pushing the boat. The base PHRF numbers on the left coast seem a bit low for Hunters, tho. Rick D.
I know I exchanged several e-mails with a 40.5 owner who made boat of the year several times. It was tricked out but basically stock. I have done well in several overnighters in my 40.5. However, it was in Cruising Class. Well-prepared later generation Hunters do well too. Most run in Cruising class rather than PHRF. Every year I see more out there in local races. I think those of us who race in Cruz don't make a big deal of it since most racers don't consider it real racing, and to a degree it isn't. Still, it gets people out on the water building skills, developing teamwork and pushing the boat. The base PHRF numbers on the left coast seem a bit low for Hunters, tho. Rick D.
We still race
We actively race our 356 in the PHRF Non spinnaker fleet ont he Chesapeake Bay. In fact we won Sturady night in a Moonlight Regatta at Fishing Bay after 14.5 miles of winds from 20- knots down to 4. We were first to finish and corrected on the rest of the fleet. We had just competed in Southern Bay Race week down in Hampton where we finished 4th overall. Considering it being our first time to the area I was very pleased with our results. It's fun to beat guys in their own backyard. We need more Hunters on the line!
We actively race our 356 in the PHRF Non spinnaker fleet ont he Chesapeake Bay. In fact we won Sturady night in a Moonlight Regatta at Fishing Bay after 14.5 miles of winds from 20- knots down to 4. We were first to finish and corrected on the rest of the fleet. We had just competed in Southern Bay Race week down in Hampton where we finished 4th overall. Considering it being our first time to the area I was very pleased with our results. It's fun to beat guys in their own backyard. We need more Hunters on the line!
Hunter Racing
I've got a 35.5 that I've done some racing on, but on a shoestring budget, and when the admiral allows. Unfortunately, I'm not close enough to the boat to get regular practicing in with my crew, who are all a little new to sailing bigger boats, but they have great heart. We did a couple of races last year, including the Chicago-Mac, and have two lined up for this year, the Queens Cup and The Hook. We've learned a lot, about the boat, about each other, and about the sport. But we'll probably always fall more into the "cruising" class of racers. There is a 110 mile solo race at the end of our season that I hope to be able to squeeze in as well. T J
I've got a 35.5 that I've done some racing on, but on a shoestring budget, and when the admiral allows. Unfortunately, I'm not close enough to the boat to get regular practicing in with my crew, who are all a little new to sailing bigger boats, but they have great heart. We did a couple of races last year, including the Chicago-Mac, and have two lined up for this year, the Queens Cup and The Hook. We've learned a lot, about the boat, about each other, and about the sport. But we'll probably always fall more into the "cruising" class of racers. There is a 110 mile solo race at the end of our season that I hope to be able to squeeze in as well. T J
Cruising Class
I've raced in cruising class in many regattas mostly because I sail Jib and Main with only one crew member and don't pay for the various club, US Sailing and PHRF registration fees for only one or two serious races per year. I've noticed our corrected time, particularly in light air, was faster than many of the Class B PHRF boats. We've enjoyed starting in the cruising class after the PHRF A & B and Non-spinnaker boats and passing many of them before the finish line. I feel an older mast head deep draft Hunter can be set up to be a significant PHRF racer.
I've raced in cruising class in many regattas mostly because I sail Jib and Main with only one crew member and don't pay for the various club, US Sailing and PHRF registration fees for only one or two serious races per year. I've noticed our corrected time, particularly in light air, was faster than many of the Class B PHRF boats. We've enjoyed starting in the cruising class after the PHRF A & B and Non-spinnaker boats and passing many of them before the finish line. I feel an older mast head deep draft Hunter can be set up to be a significant PHRF racer.
yea Hunter racers
Good on You. I mostly simgle handled my 35.5 on a cruise from Pensacola, Fl to Isa Mujures and back. They are very fast and easily handled boats. Good luck on your race.. Don of Shaman
Good on You. I mostly simgle handled my 35.5 on a cruise from Pensacola, Fl to Isa Mujures and back. They are very fast and easily handled boats. Good luck on your race.. Don of Shaman
Hunte racers
Thanks for your reply, Prior to my 35.5 I had an older 33 Hunter and one of the better racers in the area was a deep draft 28.5 Hunerers. It alway did very well in most of our races. Good luck in your races.. Don of Shaman
Thanks for your reply, Prior to my 35.5 I had an older 33 Hunter and one of the better racers in the area was a deep draft 28.5 Hunerers. It alway did very well in most of our races. Good luck in your races.. Don of Shaman
Thanks for your reply
Hi Rick, I agree with you. Even if your main interest is not racing the quickest way to build boat handling and sail management skills is thru racing. I don't know a better way to have 4-6 hours of fun then 2 hour of socializing with people with the sailing interest. Keep it up you guys. Don of Shaman
Hi Rick, I agree with you. Even if your main interest is not racing the quickest way to build boat handling and sail management skills is thru racing. I don't know a better way to have 4-6 hours of fun then 2 hour of socializing with people with the sailing interest. Keep it up you guys. Don of Shaman
Non-spin recing
Hi Thand for the Response, Prior to my 35.5 I raced an 81 33 Hunter. with great success. The first 3 years I raced non-spin. After buiding my confidence and skills, I move up to spin racing and found that I did just as well in spin as I did in non-spin. While cruising, mostly sindle handled, I found that lessons learned racing in sail management greatly enhanced my cruising. While cruising I learned a great deal more about navigation and anchoring. Racing and cruising made me a much more complete sailor. And of course, all you sailors know the The time you spend sailing don't count against your life span. Good luck in your cruising and racing. Don of Shamsn
Hi Thand for the Response, Prior to my 35.5 I raced an 81 33 Hunter. with great success. The first 3 years I raced non-spin. After buiding my confidence and skills, I move up to spin racing and found that I did just as well in spin as I did in non-spin. While cruising, mostly sindle handled, I found that lessons learned racing in sail management greatly enhanced my cruising. While cruising I learned a great deal more about navigation and anchoring. Racing and cruising made me a much more complete sailor. And of course, all you sailors know the The time you spend sailing don't count against your life span. Good luck in your cruising and racing. Don of Shamsn
Don, You Old Dog
Haven't heard from you in years. Used to race against you and a few times with you ( on your S-2 Majic ) Glad to hear you're still mixin' it up. I now own a small Hunter and soon I'm going to get back into PHRF racing. Those were certainly great times we all had racing. Later. Mike Lively Perdido Bay
Haven't heard from you in years. Used to race against you and a few times with you ( on your S-2 Majic ) Glad to hear you're still mixin' it up. I now own a small Hunter and soon I'm going to get back into PHRF racing. Those were certainly great times we all had racing. Later. Mike Lively Perdido Bay
Old friend
Hi Mike, Nice to hear from you. I certainly do remember the racing on the old S-2. That was a lot of fun. I never see any of the guys from your old crew, are they still around? We got to get in touch. I live just north of the base now in Bay Meadows Lake. Give me a call at 850-377-1977. I'm reired now and always looking for some one to go sailing with. What are you sailing these days. We are going to race the Patriots Day race on July 8th. If you aren't racing that one would love to have you come over and race with me. I have been cruising so much lately I really don't have a crew. We don't get quite as serious about it as we use to. Seriously, give me a call. As Ever. Don
Hi Mike, Nice to hear from you. I certainly do remember the racing on the old S-2. That was a lot of fun. I never see any of the guys from your old crew, are they still around? We got to get in touch. I live just north of the base now in Bay Meadows Lake. Give me a call at 850-377-1977. I'm reired now and always looking for some one to go sailing with. What are you sailing these days. We are going to race the Patriots Day race on July 8th. If you aren't racing that one would love to have you come over and race with me. I have been cruising so much lately I really don't have a crew. We don't get quite as serious about it as we use to. Seriously, give me a call. As Ever. Don
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