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    Posted: 15 Oct 19 at 7:46am
What problem are these proposed changes trying to solve? The cynic in me wonders if this is being led by the predominant builder, who is likely the only one building in sufficient numbers to be able to afford the tooling changes. I don’t want to move to a fixed rudder, I don’t want to (responsibly) dispose of 3kg of lead, I don’t want to need to varnish a carbon mast. I do want a simple, practical, high quality singlehander with big fleets. The Solo is that boat.
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Posts: 1314 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Neptune Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 19 at 7:15am
I think people are over hyping the one design bit...talk to a fleet of solos and they will tell you that boat is faster upwind, those designs quicker downwind (even in Boat yards marketing) and you’ve a completely open sail maker choice, selection of battens ( some v. Expensive).

3 kg won’t make some one suddenly lose, nor would it make them win.

The transom thing is neither here nor there. The coffee table removal though would probably just make it nicer to sail, you’d have more space, less bruises and if you’re using it as a seat chances are you are not sat in right place anyway.
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Posts: 8956 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 19 at 6:58am
For a boat designed to be built from flat bits of ply, I think the Solo looks good. I like the look of Holt's double chine boats far more than the single chine ones.
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Posts: 1345 		Post Options Post Options   Quote davidyacht Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 19 at 6:41am
Originally posted by H2

The main selling point of the solo is the increasingly rare opportunity to sail in a fleet at a club level and also the large / competitive Nationals. I have never heard anyone say what a lovely boat it is to sail or to look at! Its a nasty looking boat that seems to push water around is the most common thing that owners tell me but for so long as people show up and race them each weekend it will continue to be popular. That does not mean it cannot be improved!

I have raced lots of different classes of dinghies over the years, and I am happy to attest that the Solo is a lovely boat to sail, I particularly enjoy big wind days, where it is really good fun to sail downwind and in waves.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

But the key point you make is true, that it offers some of the best one design racing to be had, which is why I am no fan of tinkering with the rules.
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Posts: 3048 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jeffers Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 19 at 6:07am
Originally posted by Woodman

" I have never heard anyone say what a lovely boat it is to sail or to look at! Its a nasty looking boat that seems to push water around "

I think you mean its a nice looking boat ( in a slightly retro way ) that pushes water around.

Big smile

I have said it on a number of occasions actually. I borrowed a Solo of a clubmate for a couple of weekends some years back.

I was pleasantly surprised at how nice the boat was to sail. The speed etc.. doesnt matter when you have others to sail against and it was far more comfy than the Laser I was sailing at the time.

At the end of the day it wasn't quick enough for me though. Then the D-Zero came along.
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Posts: 440 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ian.r.mcdonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 19 at 11:41am
I respect your view, but for example, lowering the minimum weight beyond that which a significant number of the older boats can reach is not within sensible improvements in my world.


Or perhaps I am the only owner of a " no corrector" Solo that is still an Association member and nobody else cares?

The FRP boats are faster, I enjoy beating them. Perhaps I should just abandon this discussion and look forward to beating frp boats next autumn when mine is then 3 kilo plus over the new minimum weight
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Posts: 6662 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JimC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 19 at 11:29am
Originally posted by ian.r.mcdonald

Its a One Design so you can buy it confident that someone will not choose to "improve" it.

I don't believe there is such a thing as a one design that hasn't improved over its lifespan. I can't think of a class where you could build a new boat to precisely say 1965 specification and be competitive with a current state of the art boat.
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Posts: 440 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ian.r.mcdonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 19 at 11:12am
And it's even nicer to look at a beautifully crafted and varnished deck!

I am looking forward to getting mine back from painting and "pushing some water around"
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Posts: 19 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Woodman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 19 at 10:59am
" I have never heard anyone say what a lovely boat it is to sail or to look at! Its a nasty looking boat that seems to push water around "

I think you mean its a nice looking boat ( in a slightly retro way ) that pushes water around.

Big smile
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Posts: 440 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ian.r.mcdonald Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Oct 19 at 10:33am
Originally posted by H2

The main selling point of the solo is the increasingly rare opportunity to sail in a fleet at a club level and also the large / competitive Nationals. I have never heard anyone say what a lovely boat it is to sail or to look at! Its a nasty looking boat that seems to push water around is the most common thing that owners tell me but for so long as people show up and race them each weekend it will continue to be popular. That does not mean it cannot be improved!


And of course the advantage is that at the moment we are all having to "push the water around" in a similar boat. Its a One Design so you can buy it confident that someone will not choose to "improve" it.
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