Long Live the National Solo!
by Doug Latta 27 Feb 2019 16:10 GMT
Doug Latta in his Solo 6000 © Errol Edwards
Doug Latta reflects on his first six months as President of the NSCA, and the deep-rooted strength of the class that is outlasting many others.
Having bought my first Solo in June 2014, and doing my first Nationals in July 2016, it still seems part of a dream that two years later I became the President of one of the most active and widely sailed Classes in the UK. With well over 650 members of the Class Association last year, and over 100 boats entering last year's Nationals, 60 boats competing in the Winter Championships in February this year, it seems there is no stopping the boat first designed by Jack Holt in 1956.
With it's double chine design and flat bow at first glance you might be forgiven for thinking the National Solo is a boat from another era, but scratch the surface and you find a modern one design dinghy, with current boats built in FRP with incredibly robust construction, a handful of very high quality builders from Winder Boats to Ovington, Boatyard at Beer not to mention the opportunity to buy a beautiful wooden boat from builders such as Gosling Dinghycraft. There is a large pool of second-hand Solos available at a price that is surprisingly achievable for most pockets.
With a wide range of rig set-ups to suit sailors with a wide range of weights and builds, it is little surprise that competitors range from slight ladies sporting flexible rigs to those of a heavier stature well over 90kg who are able to compete with powerful masts and sails. Sail construction from the top sailmakers such as North Sails, HD Sails, Hyde and P&B not to mention several smaller sail-lofts such as Morgan and Edge utilising the latest exotic materials such as ODL and Kevlar alongside Dacron so essentially there is a set-up for all, enabling the most athletic and those of many years of experience to compete side by side.
World class sailors such as Charlie Cumbley, Tim Law & Ellie Cumpsty compete against a very strong field of sailors in a busy Super Series encompassing National Championships, Winter, Spring, Inlands and End of Season Championships not to mention a growing International presence with fleets in Holland, France and Portugal coming together in an annual Nations Cup in 2019 this takes place in Carnac in July. Regionally there are seven Area series, with Open Meetings happening all over the country with around 80 Open Meeting scheduled throughout the season.
So what is it about the Solo, that makes it so enduring and a Class that has outlasted many newer designs and today is still fighting off the plethora of new dinghy designs?
It all starts with the club sailors, who up and down the country, typically make up the backbone of a huge number of club fleets, with many being the only class with their own class start. I am fortunate to be a member of two clubs, Portchester SC in Portsmouth Harbour and Hayling Island SC. For a small club, Portchester has a fleet of Solo enthusiasts, who really enjoy competing against each other, with some taking part in every single club race over the six month sailing season, racing on Wednesday and Friday evenings and weekend and trophy races too. Some have been top class sailors in the past competing in Olympic classes and development classes alike.
Only the Solo offers the opportunity to race side by side in a boat which won't break your back, doesn't leave you bruised and battered with its comfortable deck design and deep cockpit and generally well mannered sailing characteristics. No strange acrobatics required to release the mainsheet from the aft quarter after a gybe, and no need to replace a flimsy sail design after just a few races.
Hayling Island by contrast boasts one of the largest Solo fleets in the country with around 80 boats in the dinghy park and with a weekend's racing comprising over 30 boats on the committee boat start-line, the need for Open Meeting attendance sometimes seems unnecessary. HISC Solo sailors accounted for nine of the top twenty at the Nationals in 2018, so there is certainly a high level of expertise!
By my own estimate, on a typical weekend in June or July, there could be anywhere between 1000 and 1500 Solos being sailed up and down the country and in Europe. That level of responsibility does of course exercise me somewhat, as together with a very hard working and experienced Committee our responsibility is to maintain the value of every sailors' boat, to put on an exciting and challenging circuit, and above all to remain the guardian of the most excellent design to ensure ongoing tight and close racing.
In 2019 the NSCA will be supported by a plethora of top-class sponsors, from Magic Marine and North Sails supporting the Super Series, Harken the End of Season Championship sponsor, Noble Marine Insurance the Winter Championship not to mention the Vintage Solo Classics (for boats of 20 years and older) supported by Salcombe Gin. The regions are also well supported by sponsors such as Winder Boats, HD Sails, Harken, Hyde Sails and Chichester Harbour Gin with other sponsorships still in final discussions.
2019 will also see the opportunity to try a Solo, and for those interested, please keep an eye on our up to date website www.solosailing.org.uk as well as National and Regional Facebook pages.
I see a continued and exciting future for the Class, and look forward to meeting as many Solo sailors as possible both at the RYA Dinghy Show, on the water around the circuit, and at the Clubs we visit this year. I urge all Solo owners to join the NSCA, the more of you that join, the more we can to do ensure our class remains as active and successful as it is today.
At the show this weekend
The National Solo Class is very well supported at the 2019 RYA Dinghy Show in association with Yachts & Yachting and Suzuki. With no fewer than 6 Solos on display, two on the class stand and others on show at Hyde Sails, Rooster Sailing, Barton and Ovington Boats. P&B will have their latest works prepared Solo on the class stand and we understand it will be very noticeable.
The second example is a 30 year old Beckett which was rebuilt by Kevin Gosling a number of years ago and is owned by Mike Barnes. Now under the guardianship of former Class President and current Class Publicity Officer Will Loy, it has undergone further refurbishment and will be seen at many of the big events in 2019, including the Vintage Championship.
The Committee will be in full attendance and as always look forward to meeting friends new and old to talk about all things Solo.