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| Hunter Europa |
Hunter Boats started life close to the Wakering marshes near Rochford back in 1969. A few years later the company moved to a new custom built factory off Sutton Rd, in Rochford where the building of Hunter boats continues to this day.
The first famous sail-boat was the National Squib, designed and finished by Oliver Lee and first moulded by Hunters (then called the Essex Boat Company) in 1968. The Squib flourished, achieved National Status, and is still built to this day (not by Hunter Boats), with total numbers now above 800.
A year or so later, one Michael Poland asked Oliver if he could put a lid on a Squib, so that he could go cross Channel JOG racing in a boat that would cost less than a full set of B&G instruments. Oliver relented, and designed a proper fibreglass lid to go on the Squib. Since Michael Poland’s other favourite pastime was hunting, the new model was called the Hunter. And so began the new Hunter line. Oliver designed several other Hunters for the renamed Hunter Boats Ltd between 1969 and 1975; the 16′ lifting keel Hunter 490, the 23′ Hunter 701, the Tracer (a mini Squib with lifting keel) and the revamped Hunter 19 that changed her name to the Hunter Europa. All sold well, and multiplied in yacht harbours in the UK and abroad.
A year or so later, one Michael Poland asked Oliver if he could put a lid on a Squib, so that he could go cross Channel JOG racing in a boat that would cost less than a full set of B&G instruments. Oliver relented, and designed a proper fibreglass lid to go on the Squib. Since Michael Poland’s other favourite pastime was hunting, the new model was called the Hunter. And so began the new Hunter line. Oliver designed several other Hunters for the renamed Hunter Boats Ltd between 1969 and 1975; the 16′ lifting keel Hunter 490, the 23′ Hunter 701, the Tracer (a mini Squib with lifting keel) and the revamped Hunter 19 that changed her name to the Hunter Europa. All sold well, and multiplied in yacht harbours in the UK and abroad.
Perhaps the most famous exploit was David Blagden’s epic success in the 1972 Observer Single-Handed Transatlantic Race. His diminutive Hunter Europa 19 “Willing Griffin” survived many Atlantic storms and finished the race, the smallest yacht ever to do the official Single-Handed Transatlantic. Visit your library and find “Very Willing Griffin” by David Blagden. It’s an inspiring read
The Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race was conceived by Francis Chichester and Herbert “Blondie” Hasler in 1956. The whole idea of a single-handed ocean yacht race race was a revolutionary concept at the time, as the idea was thought to be extremely impractical; but this was especially true given the adverse conditions of their proposed route — a westward crossing of the north Atlantic Ocean, against the prevailing winds.
1972 Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race
| Skipper | Nation | Yacht | Type | LOA | Time(D H M) | Place |
| Alain Colas | French | PEN DUICK IV | Tri | 70 | 20 13 15 | 1 |
| J.Y Terlain | French | VENDREDI TREIZ | Mono | 128 | 21 05 14 | 2 |
| Blanden David | British | WILLING GRIFFIN | Mono | 19 | 52 11 06 | 37 |
Hunter 19/Europa
Details
| |
| Built From: | 1972 |
| Built To: | 1982 |
| Number Built: | 782 |
| Designer: | Oliver Lee |
| Specification | |
| Length Over All (m): | 5.78 |
| Length at the water line (m): | 5.24 |
| Beam (m): | 1.87 |
| Draft (m): | Fin 0.91, Shoal 0.68 |
| Air Draft (m): | |
| Displacement – fin (kg): | 681 |
| Displacement – twin (kg): | NA |
| Ballast (kg): | 340 |
| Sail Areas (sq m): | Main 7.80, Jib 6.30, Genoa 11.10 |
| Berths: | 2 to 3 |
| Engine: | O/B |
| Remarks: Hunter 19 built Sep 72 – Feb 74, Hunter Europas built 74 Nov 82 | |
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