Solo class End of Season Championship Preview and latest rig news
by Will Loy 24 Oct 17:41 BST
Thresher 4145 awaiting fit-out © Will Loy
The Ferry Marina EOS Championship will take place at Draycote Water SC on Saturday Nov 15th and this event, along with the recent Inland Championship provides competitors with a chance or two to win a 3-4 day break on the Norfolk Broads, courtesy of Ferry Marina. The lucky ticket will be drawn at the EOS Prize Giving alongside the North Sails Super Series Draw so two great reasons to be there.
Oliver Davenport has had a spectacular year and has this series wrapped up but the podium is yet to be confirmed: Mike Sims, Andrew Wilde, Paul Davis, Chris Brown and Chris Bunn best of the rest.
The EOS is normally the last major of our NSCA calendar but with the Midland Championship cancelled more times than a British Rail commuter train, the Area Rep, Jonathan Swain has somehow managed to squeeze in a date and venue still in 2025.
Northampton and Nov 29 are therefore the revised details, if you live ion the Midlands or just fancy pot hunting then get there before it freezes over.
Obviously this event will not count towards the Super Series, those prizes will have already been decided at the EOS. Blame the Weather Gods!
In between those two dates is the Draycote Dash, the first of the Sailjuice Winter Series events and Chris Brown has advised me that you can do the EOS, leave your Solo at the club for the week and compete in the Dash (Nov 22-23) then leave it there another week before trailing it to Northampton for the Midland Champs. Seems a good plan if you are single, happily married to an understanding partner, a pro sailor... or you want to be single.
The NSCA Committee have already compiled and published the 2026 events calendar, making sure the big events do not clash, the highlights are the Nation's Cup at Quiberon which should be attractive to both UK and Dutch participation and the National Championship at Royal Torbay which is over 4 days. Measurement and registration will take place on the 5th before battle commences 6-9th). No excuses, 100 entries please.
The class is as active as ever, new builds, new ideas on rig options and a vibrant publicity and media team to make you famous.
The Solo continues to provide tight one design single handed racing with rig and hull options to suit weight and skill level. Early FRP versions (year 2000) are available at under 3k and adding a new rig will get you up to speed on a budget.
For the discerning Solo enthusiast, wooden versions still exist and can compete if you get every shift right, the real satisfaction is the look they still draw from any who loves varnished wood. That said, my Thresher 4145 bucks the trend and following a second hip operation I hope to once again rig up on the slipway with the plastic fantastics in 2026.
I have NSCA permission to investigate a mast to match the B Plan sail, shorter but with similar mast bend above the hounds thus making the rig more user friendly and this may appeal to lighter, older members or those who want to experience the Solo without being overpowered.
Look out for the 2026 Solo Magnificent class magazine early next year for updates but for now you can enjoy the Oct 25 edition via the Solo website.