President’s report guy Mayger I wonder if when drawing the lines for the Solo that Jack Holt (OBE) would have thought that his creation would still be going some 70 years later? In designing his little singlehanded dinghy, he hit upon all the ingredients to make a fun yet challenging boat to sail. Easy to race, but a boat that requires time, attention to detail and a realisation that it’s the skill of racing that makes this class so enjoyable.Over the years, many have pondered the subtleties of the rules, originally intended for home-building, but within that framework the result is that the boats go very much the same speed but with the option to customise your setup to make it feel just right for you. The super close racing has been the proving ground of many great championship sailors over the years, far too many to list here for fear of missing someone out! But a look down the champion roll call sees sailors who have honed their skills, often taking them onto major wins in other classes, but always coming back to the Solo for the real cut and thrust of boat-on-boat racing. Beyond the hardcore racing, the Solo continues to be one of the backbone national classes of the UK club racing scene. Every weekend you’ll find Solos racing across the country from small lakes to open water venues, all proviiding the proud owners with a great sailing experience and many stories at the bar post-racing. As class President and a former employee, I doff my cap to Mr Holt for providing so many of us with an amazing little boat that has, and continues, to provide so much fun, both on and off the water.
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