GP14 world champion Shane MacCarthy is known for his exploits across a number of sailing classes, most recently the Fireball dinghy, (winner of the Munsters in Killaloe) but perhaps less known is his Solo dinghy form.
It turns out the Greystones Sailing Club champion has been the owner of a double-chined Solo for a couple of years for 'messing about in'.
Like the beloved Geep, the Solo was designed by Jack Holt in 1956. The Solo is sailed in the United Kingdom, Holland and Australia....and now Ireland.
Originally designed in wood, competitive boats are now widely available in Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP) or composite construction (FRP hull and wood deck) as well as wood.
2006 was the 50th anniversary of the design.
MacCarthy says he has no serious Solo campaign plans but very much enjoys taking the dinghy for an evening spin.