Solo Classes

The  French Solo Classes dominate the single handed racing scene thanks to innovative management and enthusiastic class structures, by every measure they dwarf the UK activity.

Number of active skippers: 400 +
Boats racing: 400+
Boats built: 30 per annum
Solo Miles raced?
Design offices staff employed...
Sailmakers, riggers, builders, prep teams.
Sponsors spend.

The key to this success lies in the exciting modern designs of the boats, fast planing hulls with moveable ballast and innovative sail plans, competing in strict one design races with well funded teams. The courses sailed are a mixture of short and long  highly testing events.

Ambitious young skippers can follow a well marked career path from Mini to Figaro and on to class 40 over many years of exciting racing in fast boats.

In contrast the mixed handicap racing model favoured in the UK has limited prospects since old heavy displacement boats can win on corrected time and there is no incentive for design or development. Here is a full list of all the exciting designs that have been built and are racing in the UK since 2000.

We welcome contributions to the Class Mini 6.50, Figaro and  Class 40 pages from skippers, designers, and builders active in the class contact us.