Last weekend, sailors competed on the Sneekermeer for the Open Dutch Solo Championship. This was the baptism of fire for the self-built Solo 673. The first day was a bit of a shock: after some jostling at the start and a poor race, the results were not what we had hoped for (20, 1 and 24). The results were much better on the second day, and with a 1, 3, 3, 1 and the two worst races discarded, the contest was still wide open after day 2. Pim van Vught was in the lead, followed by Menno Huisman and Jelmer Kuipers.
The tension mounted when Paul started the final day with a 1; after all, three first-place finishes could still win him the Championship. Pim van Vught, the series leader and a member of the national squad, is an outstanding sailor. He even competed in the 49er class at the Olympics this year. Pim sought Paul out before the start of race 9, and Paul could not beat him in that battle. With Pim taking first place and Paul fourth in this race, Pim van Vught was assured of the championship. Paul finished the series in first place and, having won 5 races, was happy with second place overall. Menno Huisman, known from the Valk class, finished third.
The construction of Solo 673 has not gone unnoticed; the Leeuwarder Courant is also covering the boat’s construction today.
The results can be viewed here:
https://www.kws-sneek.nl/wedstrijden-3/onk-solo/deelnemers-uitslagen?steID=6&catID=5971&code=101