Soling To Celebrate 50th Anniversary At 2015 Worlds

The International Soling Class will celebrate its 50th anniversary at its 2015 World Championships in Castiglione della Pescaia, Italy from May 21 to 28.

Between 1964 and 1965 Jan Linge finished the design details for what would become the Soling and started production. The boat was constructed using plastic reinforced fiber glass, something quite new at that time and allowed fast production initially in Norway, then Scandinavia, to eventually be sailed around the World.

Over the years, the boat was produced in many countries and currently can be produced in two different continents (Europe and America). Wide spread construction was in response to an IYRU ( ISAF) request to fulfil a boat equipment slot for the Olympic games as well as for new a racing class itself. It was a huge success and its current numbers speak for itself. The Soling is considered a larger One Design Class, maintains fairly strict class rules, and boats are often closely checked at the end of boat construction and prior to major events.

After ISAF single numbering began, 2551 boats were built roughly seven years after the first boats were built. It is estimated that there are 4,000 boats worldwide, sailing for pleasure or racing using handicap or class rules. All of them come from the same and unique master mould with all its defects, but remain quite the same despite raw material, building and finishing improvements. Nowadays, it is easy to find boats with 30+ year’s difference competing closely against each other.

Over its fifty years, Soling’s were raced for 28 years as the biggest Olympic sailing vessel. It was arguably the hardest sailing medal to achieve for a few reasons. For three Olympic Games the Soling event combined two different disciplines: Fleet and Match Racing. It required crews of three with different body biotypes in one team. While the Olympic times are gone, the last event being Sydney 2000, the class may be “amateur” but maintains a high level of competition that in many ways frightens professional sailors.

The 50th Anniversary of the class is up and running with many special events planned worldwide. The highlight will be the World Championship that will be held in Castiglione della Pescaia, Italy from May 21 to 28 ( www.solingworlds.com). Other highlights will be the continental events such as the European Championship to be held in Berlin, Germany from September 12 to 19 ( www.solingeuropeans.com ) and the South and North American Championships.

The organizers of the World Championship announced the Notice of Race and entries are flowing in, not only due to the incredible racing, but for the special 50th year Gala Dinner to celebrate the occasion amongst the racing teams and old class friends. ISAF President Carlo Croce will be one of those in attendance to recognize the likes of Paul Elvstrom, Buddy Melges, Dinny Reed, and Bill Abbott (senior).