2026 Results | Solution Class Association

The nationals was hosted superbly at Warsash Sailing Club over the weekend of 5-6th September with 6 races across the two days, attracting 24 registered competitors, our largest ever turnout to date.

Day One opened with light winds making it a long slow transit from the river to the race area. Race One started once a course was set for the challenging wind that was yet to swing to the forecast direction. Threats of black flags with the Blaze/Fire fleet following on the second start soon evaporated as the wind speed dipped in the last 90 seconds, leaving the whole fleet embarrassingly shy of the line. Once the gun had gone and some boat speed was generated, the fleet split left and right with most opting to head inshore to dodge much of the ebbing tide. This group also had some benefit from a few gusts rolling off the land. Most maintained a favourable position to the windward mark of what proved to be an optimistically large trapezoid course.

As the fleet progressed downwind, the gaps between the lead boats and the middle of the fleet started to compress and desperation to find some pressure rose. Within the last 50 meters to the second mark, the tide had become the dominant factor, and the challenge was to avoid contact and make some progress. The Solutions were joined in the melee by the lead Fires. As boats cleared the mark and found some wind, there were large position changes depending on how wide they had rounded the mark and relative cover by other boats. Progress was very slow and as the time approached 40 minutes, the Race Officer decided to finish everyone at the fourth mark, the only other option might have been to abandon the race. Having established a good gap on the rest of the fleet, local sailor Ian Morgan kept clear ahead to secure first place followed by Nick Martin then James Jarvey.

There was a long delay before Race Two as the wind finally edged to the forecast direction and strength. After a complete reset of the course, we were able to resume the series. The Solent wave pattern built with the wind to make the next two races hard-going and tipping an advantage to the regular sea sailors. This time the fleet was poised on the line and got away cleanly. Again, there was a clear split upwind with the lead group merging at the windward mark from left and right. The reach was an exciting leg picking the way through the waves and the run opportunists to surf and go by the lee if you got it right. The lead group seemed more content with multiple gybes to optimise speed and position, some got it wrong and got the opportunity to inspect the bottom of their boat! Two long hard laps saw Ian Morgan dominant with Jon Steward (Lee on the Solent) and Kevin Clark (Royal Southern) finishing 2nd and 3rd.

Race Three followed a similar pattern with Ian Morgan opening a bigger gap at the front but with Kevin Clark finishing just ahead of Jon Steward. The fleet trailed back to Warsash on a long beat to arrive tired at the end of almost 6 hours on the water.

Day Two came with sunshine and lighter winds against tide providing choppy wave patterns. It was a long beat to the race area and fatigue would come into play later that day. The local competitors demonstrated how to manage the conditions and in Race four they dominated the front of the fleet. Good upwind and downwind techniques edged them into the top ten (note to self, go sea sailing more often). Ian Morgan secured first place again with Mike Davis (Calshot) taking second and Richard Gibbon (Lee on the Solent) in a close third.

The conditions prevailed for Race 5. Another clean start and a more compact fleet still at the windward mark. There followed exciting reaches and a more complex issue to optimise the boat speed on the runs. Capsizes occurred both upwind and downwind as errors crept in with tiredness. Ian Morgan capped things off with another bullet with Col Smedley (Calshot) taking second ahead of Jon Steward.

Race Six seemed to be in slightly lighter wind, but a few headed back the club including Ian Morgan who was in an unassailable first position. The final race was closely contested throughout the fleet and there were constant place changes. This continued to the final mark where the lead 3 boats engaged in a massive luffing match that resulted in Richard Gibbon falling out on a gybe. Jon Steward then led to the line with Col Smedley in a close second. Richard's quick swim saw James Jarvey (Waveney & Oulton Broad) came through for third place.

It was another long day afloat with a run all the way back to the river. The final result saw Ian Morgan first (for the fifth time), Jon Steward second and James Jarvey third. Ralph Morris (Toddbrook) was awarded the Ted Funnell Memorial Trophy for finishing mid-fleet and Paul Field (Benfleet) the Sheepdog Trophy prize for being the last placed competitor to have finished every race. Jon Steward's second was enough to secure the Solution Traveller's Trophy for 2026.

The Solution class continues to grow as a bespoke one design dinghy supported by James Jarvey (boat builder) and Ian Morgan (sails), both of whom are active Solution sailors. A big thank you to Warsash sailing club for hosting a great weekend.

Report: Tom Whittingham Photos: David Swift Warsash SC

Our 100th open event, the Inland Championships at Carsington Sailing Club, was certainly one to remember. It took place over the weekend of 26-27 July and we enjoyed the great facilities and support offered by our host. The weekend carried the risk of much needed rain and strong winds. Whilst we only got a drizzle on Sunday the strong winds certainly arrived. The wind slowly built on Saturday into a very gusty and shifty backdrop for some very exciting and challenging sailing.

The first of 5 races saw 12 boats make the start line but only 9 made the finish. The long beat and very tricky conditions at the windward mark followed by epic downwind legs brought attrition and quite a few capsizes. For some, discretion was exercised and the safety of the shore sought. In a closely contested top 4; Jon Steward led the way to a bullet closing out Ian Morgan who was followed by Col Smedley and Mike Davies. Tom Whittingham just held off Martin Tubb in a very tight finish followed in turn by Dave Staley, Stephen Timbey and finally Martin Munden. Richard Brown, Kathryn Clark and Ralph Morris had decided to retire.

The conditions worsened for Race 2 making upwind sailing unpredictable in the gusts and the downwind legs manic. It did however set up the contest of overall lead with what was to be a recurring pattern of Jon Steward establishing a lead with Mike Davies hot on his heals. Col Smedley held on to secure 3rd place. Martin Tubb came through for 4th after Tom Whittingham succumbed to a gust but recovered to finish 5th again. Stephen Timbey and Ian Morgan both retired and sadly injury put pay to the rest of the Inlands for Ian.

There was no let up for Race 3 with many regretting being underdressed for the conditions. Conditions at the windward buoy became even more erratic and the gybes at the bottom of the course even more challenging. After 4 gruelling laps it was a 1-2-3 for Jon Steward, Mike Davies and Col Smedley. Martin Tubb secured 4th ahead of Tom Whittingham with Stephen Timbey back in the fray to take 6th.

Conditions for the Sunday was forecast to deliver even stronger winds and gusts. With Ian Morgan injured and many deciding it was outside their personal limits only 4 intrepid sailors ventured out. The course was detuned to triangle-sausage-triangle with the windward mark laid clear of the really shifty zone behind the headland. It made for a more manageable and closer 4th race with Jon Steward again taking the bullet ahead of Mike Davies and with Tom Whittingham scoring 3rd ahead of Ralph Morris. At this stage, Ralph Morris headed for the shore leaving Jon Stewart, Mike Davies and Tom Whittingham to test themselves in the prevailing condition for the 5th and final race. Jon Steward and Mike Davies continued the close battle for the lead with Jon going on to take a full card of bullets ahead of Mike Davies with Tom Whittingham losing ground to finish 3rd.

Congratulations to Jon Steward, the new Inland Champion, thanks to Kathryn Clark for the 100th event celebratory mugs, and to Carsington SC for being great hosts.

Report: Tom Whittingham Photos: Martin Tubb

The second Solution Open of the year was part of Great Yarmouth and Gorleston SC’s 77th Beach Regatta on 27th and 28th June. 3 local Solutions were joined by 11 visitors.

Some of the visitors stayed a few extra days to make a holiday of it. Jon Steward decided to take the shortest scenic route from the south coast to admire the sights of central London. It could be the first time a boat has gone over rather than under Tower Bridge!

The weather was amazing and the sailors were thankful for the breeze out on the water. The small Phantom fleet started first and we were second away ahead But hang on a minute, it was a general recall in the first race, which is most un-Solution like. I don’t think we’ve even had a handful of general recalls before in total, ever.

Making the most of his new boat, Ian Morgan, from Warsash won all three races on Saturday, although he was pressed hard by Jon Steward from Lee on the Solent. Gorleston local Paul Jarvey claimed third in the first two races and Richard Gibbon from Lee on the Solent third in race three. Ian was a clear overnight leader with Jon second and Paul third.

The sailors and partners were treated to an excellent meal at the club on Saturday evening.

Sunday brought a stronger offshore breeze which was shifty with some big gusts. Ian gave an impromptu sail setting training session on the shore before once again showed his form by winning the first race of the day with James Jarvey making the most of the conditions to take second from Jon. The second race went to form with Ian, Jon and Paul taking the honours. This secured Ian and Jon as first and second respectively, so they ducked out of the last race. Local Ian Hearsum made the most of this to take the win in the final race, in one of the first Solutions ever built, with Richard Gibbon taking second and Paul Jarvey third. This give Paul third overall just ahead of Richard.

The Solution class would like to thank Gorleston for putting on such a great event, with special thanks to Richard Brown and Louise for all their hard work.

Report: Martin Tubb Photos: Many thanks to Bob Girling GYGSC

A central location and hot weather attracted a record 17 Solutions to the beautiful Emberton Park SC for the first open meeting of the year. This year is the 20th anniversary for the Solution class and the 70th anniversary of Emberton Park SC, so it was a fitting venue. Day 1 started with hints of wind appearing randomly across an otherwise glassy water surface. By the afternoon, a vague direction could be discerned, enough at least to set a course, and the fleet got away with a surprisingly clean start. The boats then dispersed around the lake as everyone tried to anticipate where, and when, the next breath of wind would appear. Col Smedley led for most of the race but was overtaken on the final downwind by Ian Morgan with James Jarvey in third. The variable wind saw a postponement for the second race, and then three course changes before finally getting under way. This time Col held on to the lead with James second and Ian third.

For day two, the wind had increased slightly, and served up a full mix of gusts, lulls and direction changes, going from becalmed, to planing, and back to becalmed in minutes. After a chaotic start to race three, Jon Steward and Ian Morgan quickly took the lead and despite Jon leading for most of the race, Ian again managed to overtake at the last minute and take the race. The start for race four developed from chaos into mayhem, with a number of boats over the line and others rafted in a becalmed huddle. Some managed to get away cleanly and scored their best results. Ian and Jon again took first and second with Richard Brown third. The course was changed for the final race to give a long first beat diagonally across the lake. By now, the wind had picked up, and so had the punchiness of the gusts. Jon again took the lead and this time held on to it, winning the race. Ian was second and James third. At the end of the event, Ian Morgan's consistency paid off and he took first overall, Jon Steward's strong second day was enough to secure second. Col Smedley took third, James Jarvey fourth and Tom Whittingham, another consistent performer, was fifth.

As a small, inland lake surrounded by trees, Emberton Park was always going to be a good test of boat handling. Penalty turns and near misses abounded, but everyone left happy and damage free. Thanks to EPSC for the warm welcome, close racing and wonderful food.

Report: Col Smedley Photos: EPSC