100th Solution class event - Inland Championship 2026 at Carsington Sailing Club

100 Solution class events © Solution class

The Solution Class Association staged their 100th open event and Inland Championships at Carsington Sailing Club over the weekend 26-27 July 2026 and enjoyed the great facilities and support offered by our host.

The weekend carried the risk of much needed rain, we got some drizzle on Sunday, and strong winds, and that is what we got. The wind slowly built on Saturday into a very gusty and shifty backdrop for some very exciting and challenging sailing.

The first of five races saw twelve boats make the start line but only nine made the finish. The long beat and very tricky conditions at the windward mark followed by epic downwind legs brought attrition and a quite a few capsizes. For some, discretion was exercised and the safety of the shore sought.

In a closely contested top four; Jon Steward (Lee-on-Solent SC) led the way to a bullet closing out Ian Morgan (Warsash SC) who was followed by Col Smedley and Mike Davies (both from Calshot SC). Tom Whittingham (Bowmoor SC) just held off Martin Tubb (Leigh & Lowton SC) in a very tight finish followed in turn by Dave Staley, Stephen Timbey (North Staffs SC) and finally Martin Munden (Combs).

Richard Brown (Gt Yarmouth & Gorleston SC), Kathryn Clark (Warsash SC) and Ralph Morris (Toddbrook) had decided the conditions were put off limits.

The conditions for Race 2 worsened making upwind sailing unpredictable in the gusts and the downwind legs manic. It did however set up the contest of overall lead with what was to be a recurring pattern of Jon Steward establishing a lead with Mike Davies hot on his heals. Col Smedley held on to secure third place. Martin Tubb came through for fourth after Tom Whittingham succumbed to a gust but recovered to finish fifth again.

Stephen Timbey and Ian Morgan both retired and sadly injury put pay to the rest of the Inlands for Ian.

There was no let up for Race 3 with many regretting being underdressed for the conditions. Conditions at the windward buoy became even more erratic and the gybes at the bottom of the course even more challenging. After four gruelling laps it was a 1-2-3 for Jon Steward, Mike Davies and Col Smedley. Martin Tubb secured fourth ahead of Tom Whittingham with Stephen Timbey back in the fray to take sixth.

Conditions for the Sunday was forecast to deliver even stronger winds and gusts. With Ian Morgan injured and many deciding it was outside their personal limits only four intrepid sailors ventured out.

The course was detuned to triangle-sausage-triangle with the windward mark laid clear of the really shifty zone behind the headland. It made for a more manageable and closer fourth race with Jon Steward again taking the bullet ahead of Mike Davies and with Tom Whittingham scoring third ahead of Ralph Morris.

At this stage, Ralph Morris headed for the shore leaving Jon Stewart, Mike Davies and Tom Whittingham to test themselves in the prevailing condition for the fifth and final race.

Jon Steward and Mike Davies continued the close battle for the lead with Jon going on to take a full card of bullets ahead of Mike Davies with Tom Whittingham losing ground to finish third, and that is how the final result came out.

100th Solution class event - Inlands at Carsington - photo © Martin Tubb

Congratulations to Jon Steward, the new Inland Champion, thanks to Kathryn Clark for the 100th event celebratory mugs, and to Carsington SC for being great hosts. See you at Warsash for the Nationals first weekend in September!

Overall Results:

100th Solution class event - Inlands at Carsington - photo © Martin Tubb

100th Solution class event - Inlands at Carsington - photo © Martin Tubb