After the Masters` I had to spend some days in St. Gilgen located at the Wolfgangsee lake in Austria, this to kill time before the our European Championship, only possible due to the kindness of the local Soling sailors, they were not only supporting the class but indirectly they also were showing the whole potential the class has it in this particular lake.
My greatest surprise happened yesterday, when I saw an owner arriving with his Soling to sail a handicap race during the weekend. This and more motivated me to write about it, especially since the whole week I’ve been counting Solings, the way they are used, which class of masts they have, the layout, etc.
Talking about the surprise first, it was really interesting to see how nicely done it was the boat deck, the shroud tracks, etc. I knew it was not original and talked to the owner (AUT 128 - Werner Heimberger). The boat an Elvstrom from 1974/75 without the typical colored edges, had a wonderful layout setting, this made me jealousy since the club boats we have in Argentina could have been better finished like this one.
This old boat looking like new arrived in a trailer like any other Soling to a Soling regatta. The crew were only two and performed well in the event on Saturday, like Peter Schaup who happened to go out sailing alone his own Elvstrom from 1975 (OE 48), initially with wind gusts of 20 knots you could see that the Soling no matter the crew had no troubles beating, reaching nor in downwind conditions, while many modern boats despite that sometimes going really fast, many times losing control and capsizing, or releasing the sails, with all these numerous crews needed with not less than five people, etc.
I was proud to see that re-layout from this old elvstrom who used the tutorial from the class.
While writing this article I had to write a bit about the next day of the regatta where four Solings were racing but now OE48 were not, since now Phoenix Stuart`s Soling USA 784 went to the water to race with Blashke, Schaup and Blashke, AT 101 with Moosgasser were also out there. All the solings performed weel all in the top 20 over 48 boats, light and tricky winds.

I started to think on the amount of people sailing their Solings not supporting the class in any way that don`t even realize that the class is directly responsible for the boat they own, the possibility to sail the way they sail, either with 1 person, 2 person or 7 people on board (lots of children we saw over Z160) as we saw this week, the possibility to sail with family, freshman crew, or experienced ones, no matter the wind condition, etc.

This surprising soling AUT 128 together with OE 48 or like the Z)160, OE73 which I managed to see sailing at the lake during the week, plus around the 7 Solings I saw laying in their buoys and the 9 boats parking at the Union Yach Club Wolfgangsee makes this a huge fleet, not considering that boats located in Attersee, Traunasee and Grundlsee are quite close, some less than 20 min ride.

Jan Linge the Soling designer would be really proud, not only due to the Solings around, but also because many Ynglings are also in the lake.

Many questions rise me seeing such potential and talking to the local fans, many presented valuable opinions and more questions but one thing for sure, the class in Austria is growing again, despite at the Masters and Austrian Championship where 20 boats took part, where almost half of the fleet where Austrians but many boats were in land parked like waiting for a sailor with the wish to sail more often.

Unlike many would think this is only a National Soling Association matter or task, I would say that we all as Soling sailors have a responsibility in the issue, inviting, teaching when necessary, learning as well, participating in the social gathering offered at the events, participating in the class advertise with the right arguments, etc.

Anyway slowly and no matter any international crisis, the Soling keeps his way, next week the most important event in Europe, the EC (www.solingeuropeans.com) will be held at lake Iseo, Italy and probably almost the same fleet at the worlds will be competing in the Lake with exceptions of the South Americans which probably are reserving resources to try to face the worlds in Toronto.

Many things can be done to improve, but one thing for sure, Solings are faster no matter the layout, the training or experience, you just need to proper trim the one, and sail the basics to achieve great results, even if you don’t like hiking, or your forestay doesn’t give you the desired or unkown amount of rake needed.

To the Soling fleets in their high sailing season, my best wishes, to those waiting the cold go away, just prepare for more and more exciting racing. And many thanks to all those Soling lovers, who make the class grow with their efforts and dedication. St. Gilgen has many of them for sure, and if you come to visit, you will enjoy: sailing, Soling, the land scapes, and the friendship.