Harken Solo Inland Championship at Rutland Sailing Club - Preview
by Will Loy 13 Sep 2016 11:48 BST
17-18 September 2016
A big fleet is expected for the Harken Solo Inlands © Mike Wilkie
It's September so it must be time for the Solo Inlands, sponsored by world leader in dinghy equipment innovation, Harken.
Rutland Sailing Club is hosting the most popular event on the National Solo calendar and with a Windguru forecast of 8-11mph on Saturday and 14-19mph on Sunday (as of 6am Tuesday morning but subject to change, other weather stations are available), the omens bode well for a top class event.
Before the main event there is a free training day, provided by the NSCA and always well attended. The forecast for Friday, if it comes to fruition, should provide the trainees with plenty of opportunity to improve their boat handling and gybe technique. I have made a special request that we don't practice starting as the fleet seem to do plenty of that in the actual races.
The Harken Inland Championship, this year also incorporates a Vintage Championship as part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations. Any Solo built before the year 2000 (when FRP construction was introduced) will be eligible and I have high hopes of making the podium in 3847, a 1989 example from Bob Beckett.
The format for the Inland Championship is 6 races over the 2 days (11.30am start Saturday) and the first 2 races each day will form the Vintage Championship. This is especially helpful to me as I am always too tired to do the third race of the day!
Off the water, and in an NSCA first, we have booked entertainment for the early evening 60th celebrations. No, not my speeches, though my wife finds them amusing. Instead we have hired "The Peas" are a very well known 2 piece band and with 100 Solos expected at this prestigious event, should ensure stupid dancing and out of tune choruses.
If that is not enough, the draw for Solo 6000 will take place at 8pm in the main bar area. 849 members have the chance to win this amazing prize, supplied by Winder Boats with further support from HD Sails, CB Trailers, Creation Covers, Noble Marine and Selden. Again, huge thanks to Dave Winder, our other generous suppliers and our own Nick Hornsby who brokered the deal.
This promises to be a memorable Championship with racing, partying and the knowledge that we are part of an amazing success story that Jack Holt began in 1956. Why not hitch up your National Solo and join us?
The Harken Inland Championship also forms part of the North Sails Super Series and with this and the EOS to go, there are currently 23 qualifiers with another 18 requiring one more result. North Sails will once again provide a brand new North Laminate mainsail to one of the lucky qualifiers at the draw which will take place at the EOS, Oxford S.C, October 29.
The NSCA is gratefully sponsored by Noble Marine who keep us on the water 24-7.
Watch out for a video report of the event on Monday 19th September, I will be too busy partying to type!