{"id":66707,"date":"2018-04-10T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-04-10T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/?p=66707"},"modified":"2023-05-30T03:06:26","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T07:06:26","slug":"the-utiltarian-design-of-the-s2-7-9-remains-sought-after-three-decades-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/racing\/the-utiltarian-design-of-the-s2-7-9-remains-sought-after-three-decades-later\/","title":{"rendered":"The Utiltarian Design of the S2 7.9 Remains Sought After Three-Decades Later"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\" <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n The Utiltarian Design of the S2 7.9 Remains Sought After Three-Decades Later<\/span>\n Evan Rodgers<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

It\u2019s late Sunday morning, and I\u2019m aboard Chris Craig\u2019s S2 7.9 for the National Championship. The mainsail slats as we wait for wind. A few sailors swim, and one practices backflips off his boat\u2019s bow pulpit while the race committee dispatches its mark-set boats in multiple directions to scout for breeze elsewhere on Lake Michigan. We soon hear their reports over the VHF radio: There\u2019s not much out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re wallowing in the middle of a large and stubborn high-\u00adpressure system. It\u2019s hot, and hardly September weather for Holland, Michigan, but we\u2019re optimistic. This time of the year is usually a sure bet for wind, which is part of the reason the S2 7.9 class scheduled its 2017 championship here. Plus, our host, Macatawa YC, provides a great home base and easy access to the broad lake, making it even more appealing. It\u2019s been \u201cthat kind of summer\u201d \u2014 one plagued with light winds. Still, everyone is \u00adtaking the drifting in stride. Maybe that\u2019s because S2 7.9 racers are a patient lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or maybe because they\u2019re just happy to be together again, assembled in this special place where the whole S2 thing started more than 30 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eight miles down 32nd Street from Macatawa YC is the \u00adsprawling Tiara Yachts boatbuilding plant. Today they build 30- to 53-foot luxury motor yachts, but from 1980 and 1994, the building was occupied by S2 Yachts, which put out an eclectic line of sailboats that included the 7.9. Riding the 20-footer movement of the late 1970s, which was sparked by the J\/24 and eventually included boats like the Merit 25 and Olson 25, the 7.9 hit a sweet spot with recreational racers. Its lifting daggerboard allows it to be ramp launched and floated in 18 inches of water, and its deck-stepped mast can be raised by two people, making it a perfectly trailerable raceboat. The 7.9s were also built to last and retain a good resale value to this day. Plus, there\u2019s an interior that packs in a lot for a 26-footer \u2014 three berths, a galley and a head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While other designs of the time struggled to catch on, the 7.9 was a comparative overnight success. One-design<\/a> racing fleets sprang up throughout Michigan and as far south as Nashville, Tennessee, and Florida. The 7.9, dubbed a “giant killer,” also excelled in PHRF and Midget Ocean Racing Club regattas. When production ended, 545s were built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Stephen <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Michael Kiss’s Bacio<\/em> keeps it in the family, including brother Stephen (left) and nephew David (right), who traveled to the class championship from Pewaukee, Wisconsin.<\/span>\n Evan Rodgers<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

The Slikkers family founded the S2 company, hence the \u201cS\u201d in the name. Its sailboat line represented the company\u2019s restart after selling its successful powerboat line to AMF. Designed by the late Scott Graham and Eric Schlageter, from Chicago, the first 7.9s were sold as the Grand Slam line, and although the name clearly represented what they hoped it would be, the boat was soon rebranded 7.9, which is the boat\u2019s length in meters \u2014 that\u2019s 25 feet 11 inches for imperialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s a testament to Graham and Schlageter’s \u00adutilitarian design that the boats remain sought after three decades later. “The value has stayed in the boats because they’re well-built and because of the price point,” says Tim Bosma, who has crewed aboard the 7.9 Hot Tamale<\/em> since 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bosma also maintains the class\u2019s one forum and some of its databases, so he has a good handle on what\u2019s out there on the open market. \u201cA while back, my skipper and I picked up one in Traverse City, Michigan, with a trailer, for around $7,000,\u201d he confesses. \u201cWe\u2019ll fix it up and sell it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The boat is a \u201cblue-collar boat,\u201d says Craig, who has been sailing 7.9s since he was 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few people spend a lot of money on their boats, and class rules allow up to only two new sails a year. “Show up with bottom paint and race against boats with polished, clean fiberglass bottoms and still do well,” Craig says. “Boat age isn’t a delineating factor.” For example, the oldest boat at the championship is hull No. 7, owned by Drew \u00adHilger, of Bay City, Michigan. No. 7 was built in 1981, and Hilger changed his sail number to 007 and named the boat Bond Girl<\/em>, which is a reference to his wife’s employment at Gougeon Brothers Inc., manufacturers of West System epoxy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had it for three years,\u201d Hilger says. \u201cI don\u2019t think it had seen much use, but it was also never upgraded. None of the blocks were ball-bearing, the cam cleats were not too friendly, and it had a lot of wire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The unspoken rule in 7.9 sailing is \u201cthe more the merrier.\u201d To a point, of course, because the cockpit can accommodate only so many elbows.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Like many other 7.9 \u00adowners, the Hilgers bought one because they wanted a boat to race and cruise. \u201cIt just checked all the boxes. We took ours to Leeland [Michigan], sailed out to south Manitou Island, and spent three nights there,\u201d he says. \u201cWith a 30-footer, it\u2019s a three-day cruise to get there. We just put it on the trailer and were on the island later that day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s championship is Hilgers\u2019 first one-design event with the class, and they eventually learn that all S2 7.9s seem to move at about the same rate of speed, which means that once positions settle down in a race, there\u2019s not much passing to be had, give or take a few nearby boats. And, it doesn\u2019t seem to matter how many crew one has onboard. The unspoken rule in 7.9 sailing is \u201cthe more the merrier.\u201d To a point, of course, because the cockpit can accommodate only so many elbows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCrew weight is not a big deal in this class,\u201d says Macatawa sailor Michael Kiss, \u201cwhich means you can sail with anyone you want: Bring family, guests aboard \u2014 it all works.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"S2 <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Allegiance to the S2 class is more than skin-deep.<\/span>\n Evan Rodgers<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

For the Holland championship, Kiss is sailing with his wife Tovi, son Mitchell, brother Stephen, nephew David and family friend Michael Norris. They finish fourth in the 28-boat fleet, winning the family trophy for the top boat sailing with three or more family members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, aboard Second Wind<\/em>, Don and Jean Bergman are sailing with their two sons. Don and Jean are veterans of the Sunfish class, with Don boasting of 30 Sunfish world-championship appearances to date. A few years after Don’s previous wife passed away, he married Jean, and began looking for a boat they could sail together. They’ve owned Second Wind for 28 years, which isn’t a rare accolade in this class, but their ages \u2014 Don is 86 and Jean is 78 \u2014 are noteworthy, especially after they win one of Saturday’s races. “It was so much fun,” says Don, “and the crew loved it. We got into the lead early and just protected it all the way around.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before heading into Saturday\u2019s final races, Bergman was \u00adthinking it was the last regatta for his team, but after winning a race, he\u2019s now motivated for more. \u201cWe\u2019ll definitely do Detroit (site of the 2018 championship) next year,\u201d he confesses, \u201cand maybe a year or two after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming from singlehanded-sailing backgrounds, the Bergmans both like to steer, which creates an unorthodox system on board Second Wind<\/em>. “We started with him steering, but the problem is he wants to look around and see everything on the course,” says Jean. “I don’t have to do that. I can focus on just sailing.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They agreed that Jean would drive upwind and Don would take the helm on the downwind legs. \u201cIt\u2019s not the greatest idea, but it works for us,\u201d says Jean, who sits behind Don as he gets the boat in position for the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I can get us in the right place,\u201d he says, \u201cI hand the tiller over to her with about five seconds to go, and she takes it from there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the Hilgers, the Bergmans travel extensively with their boat in tow, but with Holland, Michigan, as their home port, going to other regattas, such as Chicago, 85 miles away, or Racine, Wisconsin, \n75 miles away, usually means sailing or motoring. For them, the boat is capable of handling just about anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Don <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Don and Jean Bergman \u2014 with 28 years in the S2 7.9 class and a combined age of 164 years \u00adbetween them \u2014 show no signs of slowing down as they lead the 28-boat fleet to the finish line in Race 4 of the class championship.<\/span>\n Evan Rodgers<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

\u201cOne time, Jean and I were coming back at night, our motor quit, and our lights went out,\u201d says Bergman. \u201cThe radio was telling everyone to get off Lake Michigan because a killer storm was coming, but we were right in the middle of the lake. So, we took the main down and sailed with our small jib. Jean was steering while I spilled the jib every time a 40-knotter hit. We couldn\u2019t even see our compass. We just kept going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

It\u2019s a testament to Graham and Schlageter\u2019s utilitarian design that the boats remain sought after three decades later.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Paul Letour, of Nashville, was 40 years old before he got his first sailboat. \u201cI fell in love with the sport and went through a couple of boats,\u201d he says. He didn\u2019t understand one-design racing but grew into it and figured it out. \u201cThere were a couple of 7.9s where I live, so I joined up with them and never looked back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letour then made the bold decision to attend a national \u00adchampionship. \u201cWe felt we were pretty good sailors, so we thought we\u2019d see what we could do,\u201d he says. \u201cIt was on Lake Erie, and out of 30 boats, we came in 30th. We went back with our tails between our legs, but I\u2019m stubborn enough that I said, \u2018Guys, we\u2019ve got to do better.\u2019 So, we kept going back and getting a little better each time. I wouldn\u2019t go away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A retired dermatologist, one of Letour’s boats is named Itch<\/em> and the other Scratch<\/em>, but it’s more than just an homage to his former profession. “Itch is a synonym for a passion,” he says, “and a scratch boat is the boat you’ve got to beat, something you’ve just got to go after.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Tom <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n When the wind is up, it’s all business aboard Tom Wernette and Roger Pollack’s Dart<\/em>.<\/span>\n Evan Rodgers<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n

He especially likes the ability to easily transport the 7.9: \u201cPut it on the trailer. Come to Nashville. Go to Racine. Go to Holland. It\u2019s all so doable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility also ranks high on his list of the 7.9\u2019s best attributes. \u201cThis is a boat that, with attention to detail, you can sail to its numbers in maybe two years,\u201d he says. \u201cI have friends in Nashville who sail other boats, and it will take them 15 years before they can race them like we do ours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At age 72, Letour maintains two 7.9s. He keeps one at each of the two yacht clubs in the Nashville area, which naturally makes him the local spark plug and salesman. Letour eventually convinced other owners to travel to Nashville for an annual event called the Equalizer, which is held on J. Percy Priest Lake. It\u2019s become a regular part of the 7.9 circuit, in large part due to Letour\u2019s Southern hospitality, which includes housing competitors and \u00adserving them his famous gumbo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there\u2019s plenty of enthusiasm among 7.9 owners today, like any boat that\u2019s no longer in production, the boat does present its challenges: It\u2019s balsa-cored, which, according to Bosma, is rarely a problem in the hulls. \u201cOnce in a while you\u2019ll find some wet spots in the deck,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there\u2019s the issue of replacement parts. The class recently found a company to build a dozen masts to class specs. Next is sourcing a builder for replacement rudders, a topic the fleet tackles at the annual meeting one evening after racing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just another issue, like the other ones,\u201d says Letour, \u201cand like those, we\u2019ll get it figured out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which is to say it\u2019s like waiting for wind to complete a class championship on a warm Michigan day. Even if the breeze never materializes, they find a way to enjoy it. The company couldn\u2019t be better.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Good times roll with one-design racing fleets<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Dave Powlinson","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20180410","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"159","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"One-design racing with 7.9s offers flexibility and fun.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"The Utiltarian Design of the S2 7.9 Remains Sought After Three-Decades Later %%sep%% %%sitename%%","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"BHMZHA7NVYFNIRD6MJ4AM3R2BU","arc_website_url":"utiltarian-design-s2-79-remains-sought-after-three-decades-later\/","custom_permalink":"","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar-full-header","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":false,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","ad_targeting":"","ad_settings_ads_on_this_page":true,"ad_settings_automatic_ad_injection_into_the_content":true,"sponsored_url":"","social_share":true},"categories":[159],"tags":[232,1053,178],"class_list":["post-66707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-racing","tag-one-design","tag-s2-7-9","tag-sailboat-racing"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66707","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=66707"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/66707\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=66707"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=66707"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sailingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=66707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}