Vintage Section

Racing a wooden Solo

I have sailed for over 50 years- learning in clinker Tideways sealed my future!  A long spell in Fireballs including a Severn was followed by two Severn Solos and then a wooden Boon in the 90’s. I sailed at Blithfield with another Fireball sailor that had " lost" his crew. Away from my club, the Northern circuit (so many clubs with real character), sometimes in the prizes and with a few race wins- before getting into my beautiful wooden Osprey. You can see a trend here! I bought my wonderful Miles Solo 12 years ago and use it when my crew is off doing other things (like winning the Osprey Nationals).

I like wooden boats of all types and have the backup of a barn at home for the hard winter weather after Christmas.  A car port would be almost as effective.  " Woodies" are seen as slow options to the FRP option, but I won two club all boat handicap series last year on the open water of Blithfield Reservoir, and I can normally come home first or second, fleet racing against some recent plastic Winder and Boons. It has been largely forgotten that the change to FRP was partly because decent ply was difficult to source at the time- and a skilled carpenter could make twice the money building kitchens rather than boats.

When buying wood, I would always go for a later double floor from around 4100. I have experience of both Miles and Gosling but am sure there are other nice options. The extra stiffness is good, and the later boats have the upgrades which allow modern rake settings. An upgrade to continuous controls is essential. It cost me around £100 and using Rooster Easy splice was well- easy! My boat came with a Cumulus mast- designed for those a little heavier than me. I looked at Selden’s measurements against the D+ and the strength changes are fairly small. Take into account I am sailing on flat water, often in lighter wind, I didn't change. My mast has inhaul fittings and must have been one of the early instigators? And actually if its " blowing old boots “, I am sat in the Osprey anyway. I have righting lines fitted but use them rarely since listening to some excellent advice from David Greening about having settings for the kicker for various points of sailing. When do I capsize most? When I start thinking I will capsize and stop "going" for it! I use the essential deep sided boom up cover and the wonderful Phil Scott for paint and varnish. Modern materials last many years and I think it will be more than 10 years before my spend of initial boat cost and hull maintenance, will get close to what a well-used FRP boat would have cost. Plus, I have had the pleasure of looking at a thing of beauty for all those years. And also not having to spend time searching for my boat on the beach after lunch- she stands out  Downsides? I think I am more cautious going for a closing gap- getting paint fixed is more involved than getting the gel coat repair kit out (again).

" Wood boats are much slower than FRP ?". Well, new boats tend to be faster than old ones. Certainly my boat misses out in marginal planing conditions when the " white boats" do better. I wonder if sea sailing would change my view? Personally, I believe that if you asked the top five helms at the Inlands to sail " wood " at a local inland Open they would all be fighting for the prizes. Many years ago, I was unhappy with the speed of my Solo of the time.  I spoke to Jim Hunt, and he invited me to his club and a sail in a fleet of a dozen club sailors.  Race 1 Jim was first and me second 25 yds behind. Race 2 Jim sailed my " slow" boat and me his Championship winning one. Unsurprisingly Jim was first with me 2nd and 50 yds behind this time as I thought he was taking the wrong tack up one beat (really!). QED!

Ian McDonald 4217