After over 30 years of sailing Solo- 4217 has been sold and I am off to a new single handed dinghy class
Apologies for this statement! The Solo has many good points- but I am very much enjoying the active conversation and amusing interaction with the other owners in my new boat. Its taking some pleasant adjustment
Ian ducks!
I'm really enjoying my new (very old) Solo, and I think I'm going to sell my D-Zero and get a newer Solo in the new year.
I'm around 88kg, and sail at Emsworth at the top of Chichester Harbour, which can get choppy and we tack lots to stay in/out of channels. With this in mind, from what I've read I think a Winder Mk 2 or an Ovington/Boon would suit ...... although I'm not 100% sure I understand why! Budget will be around £5k.
Any thoughts?
Solo Open Meeting
I as the Solo Fleet Captain look forward to welcoming Solo Fleet members from FGSC alongside Solo Fleet participants from near and afar to our annual Solo Open Meeting shortly
Sunday 19th October 2025
• Either 3 or 4 Races ( weather dependent ) 2 in the morning / the remainder after lunch
• £15 entrance fee
• Bacon rolls available before racing - £2.00
At inland club level, my 25 year old Miles is up with the FRP boats and finishing towards the front. Clearly the frp boats are better in waves and being sailed by the fastest sailors are at the front in the bigger events.
On inland water- assuming good sails and settings- how far ahead at the finish will a new frp boat be ahead of well maintained, double floor wood ? assuming the same level helm ? Is a swap justified?
Assuming the owner has a barn and a varnish brush!😂
I suspect Solo " omerta" means I wont get many/any answers😄
The 6000+ mik2 Winder was 30 seconds behind me last night at Blithfield.
Wheres that varnish brush!😉 another season in the antique ( with a new cover)
I would buy a mk2 Winder with M2 mast for your weight and also as its the option that will sell the fastest if you want to change again.
But remember the variations in hull shape are using the small differences allowed within the rules. These variations are there as practical allowances to allow the wooden builders of the past some discrepency. Its not to allow any significant performance changes
A boat that has been taken care of with decent sails is the one to buy. And check the seller isnt keeping their best sail hidden, ready for their new boat
Some years ago I bought a new Solo that I was convinced was slow. I spoke with Jim Hunt and he invited me to his club so he could have a look.
Race 1 Jim was first in his national championship boat and I was second. We then swapped and Jim sailed my " slow" boat. He won with me second😉