Solo Class
Latest news from the Solo fleet at Northampton Sailing Club
Solo Fleet
Latest news
2024 Racing Calendar
The 2024 Solo fleet racing calendar has now been agreed and you can find the full calendar here. It also includes some of the open meetings and other events that we’re aware of at the moment.
The Allen Solo Midlands Series 2024
The calendar has been published for the Allen Solo Midlands Series 2024. There are nine events with five to qualify and we’re hosting the event on Saturday May 25th. The full calendar is available here.
If you have any questions then please contact Maria: SoloMidlandArea@gmail.com
2023 Solo AGM and Social
The 2023 Solo fleet AGM and social event took place at The George in Brixworth on January 2024. As outgoing fleet captain, Maria presented her report, which you can read here
As Maria is now the Solo Midland Area representative, she has handed over the fleet captaincy to Iain Carpenter, who was elected unanimously at the AGM.
Solo Inland Championships 4/5 November 2023
We look forward to welcoming fellow Solo sailors for the Inland Championships on 4 & 5 November, and we’ll be joined by the National 12 fleet for their Series Finale and Inland Championships.
The bar and galley will be open during the weekend and we’ll be holding our popular bonfire night extravaganza on the Saturday evening.
More details and registration here: Solo Inland Championship – 4 & 5 November 2023 (webcollect)
Racing Report Update Spring 2023
With the Thursday series well under way and the first “Trophy day” for the Spring Cup now completed I thought it was time for an update.
After only one day of racing to count, Peter Warne leads the Solo Spring Series with three wins, Graham is in second and Fleet returnee Gordon in third. Racing resumes on Sunday 30 April and the last races are due on Sunday 21 May so let’s see if we can get a few more entries.
Following the very blustery first race, sunshine and more benign winds brought out a good entry for the second Thursday evening race. Six Solos sailed, Justin was RO & Robin on safety. Oliver Davenport showed us how to do it, leading all the way from the first mark, closely pursued by Peter for most of the race. On the last beat Peter got caught on the wrong side allowing Iain through to second. Graham and Maria weren’t far behind. With the wind dropping fast as the sun sank, Gordon elected to retire before getting becalmed at E.
The third race was held in even more wind than race one. Arriving to significant waves and white horses, some of the usual suspects decided the clubhouse held more appeal. Another big squall arrived before the start, Oliver was revelling in the conditions but Peter and Iain decided to reduce rig with a leech shortener and minimum dimension sail respectively making them a little late for the start. Iain made his bid for the Turtle Trophy by capsizing his boat while trying to find a space for his trolley on the disappeared beach, giving Peter a head start. Peter decided he had enough TT entries and sailed a more conservative race, allowing Iain through to second again! Only 8 boats finished, four retired!
Race four this Thursday (27th April) will be followed by the Early Season Solo Social so let’s get as many out sailing as possible.
The Spring Cup seemed in jeopardy, early forecasts suggested no wind, there was no RO or safety cover but Solo sailors are a pretty determined bunch and so five decided to get out and race, joined by three Lasers, two FFs and Gas & Kev playing with the B14. The morning races saw F1 – F3 winds with big shifts and holes. Iain benefitted from being Gate boat and managed to get away in both, very closely pursued by Peter in R1, Graham was third and Maria fourth. Rob was a little late starting. R2 had a little more wind and Iain seemed to be in the right place all the way to open a big lead from Graham. Peter and Maria found a huge hole in the wind and watched Rob sail through to third. R3 was held in stronger, more consistent wind and the B14 was flying at times. This time Peter and Graham seemed to be getting away early. Iain took up the chase and pulled through to lead at the finish and take the trophy, Peter counted a brace of seconds for second overall with Graham in third.
Iain Carpenter
NSC Solo Class Championships 2022
Sunday 4 September saw 11 Solos compete for the Brixworth Box and title of NSC Solo Class Champion. The weather gods provided a gusty, F2-4 from SSE-S with some pretty big shifts, the forecast rain only happening during the lunch stop. OOD Paul Hampden-Smith provided three interesting courses making for some great racing all day.
Race 1 was a trip around the reservoir with two beats and a run to give us a bit of everything including a first mark to Starboard. Boats converged from both sides of the beat with Gaz, Oli Wells, Graham, Kev and Justin all in contention at the mark. The rest of the fleet were close behind until the start of the second lap, which started to see some changes. By the end of the second long beat Ian Pinnell had joined the top three of Oli, Gaz and Kev and the lead swapped between those four as the shifts provided snakes and ladders for the whole fleet. At the end Oli had edged ahead from Kev, then Gaz then Ian P.
Race 2 was a windward/leeward course to provide plenty of tactical options with the wind picking up a little, most gusts accompanied by big shifts. The early leaders were Gaz, Kev and Oli again but Oli was staking a claim for the Turtle Trophy by rolling in to windward on the first run as a gust/shift took advantage of his slack kicker. Ian P proved adept at finding the best pressure on the runs to pull up to second behind Gaz who kept building a significant lead with Kev finishing third. Graham kept finding the fast way up the beats to take fourth.
So after two races Gaz was in a strong position with a first and third but it was still all to play for. Back to a typical Pitsford figure of eight for the last race it was the usual suspects of Gaz, Oli and Kev all very close at the first mark, this time joined by Iain C with Ian P just behind. All five picked up a good gust to blast down the first reach with never more than a single boat length between each for that lap. The rest of the fleet missed the gust and spent the whole race separated from the first 5 by quite a margin. Pete (waiting for his new Solo to be fitted out) ploughed a solitary furrow between the two groups in P&B’s 5923 and was catching up with the battle for third, a position being vigorously defended by Kev who just held off Ian P all the way to the finish. Up ahead it was always very close between Oli and Gaz, whoever won would take the trophy. At the end of the first lap Gaz had his nose in front and stayed there to the end, in spite of all Oli’s efforts, to become club Solo Champion, a well deserved win after all the time spent in the NSCA loan boat in July. Oli was second and Kev third. Behind Pete the racing was just as close for most of the race with the last lap seeing Justin work his way ahead of Graham and Maria.
The trophy, wine and beers were all presented after the racing, the afternoon and evening drawing to a happy conclusion with a BBQ enjoyed by most of those who took part. Chris White, who really should become an honorary member of the Solo fleet, helped out with the BBQ. Sue Warne spent the whole day taking some great photos which can be viewed here. A big thank you to both. The next trophy day is for the Autumn Trophy, watch out for more details so we can make that another great Sunday of Solo racing.
Solo Midland Area Championships 2022
11 – 12 June 2022
A 600 acre reservoir with fantastic facilities and a warm welcome awaits.
A Galley and Bar will be available for breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, with a 3 course meal available on Saturday night for those wanting to eat at the club. Camping will be available for the weekend, with prior booking, which also means you won’t have to drive anywhere on Saturday night.
https://webcollect.org.uk/nsc/event/solo-midland-area-championship
A training day has been kindly provided by the National Solo Class Association (NSCA), on Friday 10th June. Why not come and make a long weekend of it and get some training into the bargain.
Local expert, and top Solo sailor, Oliver Davenport will be taking you through your paces and giving expert advice and tips to improve.
Free to NSCA members (£15 to non NSCA members).
Book early to avoid disappointment.
https://webcollect.org.uk/nsc/event/national-solo-association-training
I look forward to seeing you there!
Dogs are welcome on site but must be kept on a lead at all times.
Northampton Sailing Club, Pitsford Reservoir, Brixworth, Northants, NN6 9DG
Bookings – info@northamptonsailingclub.org or call 01604 880248
Kev Hall – Solo Midland Area Rep
