ONK 26
OPEN NEDERLANDS KAMPIOENSCHAP SOLO
Dutch Solo Nationals 2026
IJsselmeer, Medemblik · 18–20 September 2026
Organised by KZ&RV Hollandia · Watersportverbond
The podium: bronze, gold and silver on the harbour wall at Medemblik, with the historic Solo championship trophy and the Watersportverbond championship banner.
The weekend
Saturday was simply too windy to race. The IJsselmeer can turn ugly quickly, and the race committee made the right call. Instead the class sat down to a proper meal and an easy Saturday night with a quiz — the sort of evening that reminds you why the Dutch Solo scene is such good company. The talk around the tables already drifted towards the Nations Cup in 2027.
Sunday looked as if the breeze was still building. The fleet headed out into white horses and a large, mixed swell. It was a proper Force 5–6 day: wet, physical and not for the faint-hearted. Upwind, waves crashed over the deck. I have never been so full of water on the beat. Downwind was hold-on-and-don’t-fall-in sailing — planing, surfing and trying to keep the boat under you.
The racing
Menno Huisman had a good lead for much of the day. He looked the man to beat upwind, settled and strong in the lumps. Then the runs told a different story. Pim van Vugt was simply so quick downwind that he overhauled Menno and took the championship overall.
That is Pim all over: Olympic-class boat speed married to a Solo that he has now learned to sail as well as anyone in the country. Once he found the groove off the wind, the gap closed and then reversed. Menno stayed honest and took a well-deserved second. Chris B. completed the podium in third — a fine result in a fleet that does not give anything away on home water.
Results — top three
Pos | Helm | Nat | Notes |
1st | Pim van Vugt | NED | Overall winner — overhauled Menno downwind |
2nd | Menno Huisman | NED | Led for much of the day; held off the pack |
3rd | Chris B. | GBR | Bronze on a big, wet IJsselmeer day |
Prizegiving
Back ashore the Watersportverbond championship banner came out, medals went on, and Pim collected the wooden case with the silver model Solo — the same historic trophy that has carried the names of Dutch Solo champions for decades. Menno Huisman’s name is already on the perpetual plaque from 2020; this time he stood one step down. The traditional harbour dunk followed: the new champion into the IJsselmeer, friends leaning over the rail to haul him back onto the pontoon, still grinning.
The championship trophies: the cased model Solo and the perpetual plaque of past Dutch Solo champions, from Cor Jan Schouten in the 1970s through Menno Huisman, Jelmer Kuiper and Bart de Regt to this year’s winner.
Looking ahead — Nations Cup 2027
The Dutch Solo class has now posted the dates. The Solo Nations Cup 2027 will be held in Bruinisse, Zeeland, on the Grevelingen, from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 June 2027. Venue is Aquavitesse. In 2027 the Dutch fleet hosts again, and they are already calling it a week to put in the diary. Get booked up. It will be a great event — the two fleets know each other well, the hospitality on both sides of the North Sea is first class, and a week of Solos in a decent breeze is as good as dinghy sailing gets. Details and entry: soloklasse.nl/evenement/solo-nations-cup-2027-bruinisse/
Thanks to KZ&RV Hollandia, the Watersportverbond and the Dutch Solo class for the welcome, the race management and a Saturday night that more than made up for a blown-out day. Force 5–6, white horses, a soaked boat and a proper fight downwind: that is what you come to Medemblik for.
Pim van Vugt — Nederlands Kampioen Solo 2026
Medemblik, September 2026
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