Fleets & Boat Classes
Discover the boats sailed at Middle Nene SC
Solo
The Solo dinghy is a classic, one-design single-handed dinghy. Designed by Jack Holt in 1956, the Solo is the main single-handed dinghy at Middle Nene Sailing Club. The Solo dinghy is perfectly suited for our lake, offering a lively performance.
Originally designed in wood, competitive boats are now more widely available in Foam Reinforced Plastic (FRP) or composite construction (FRP Hull and Wooden Deck). It can be sailed competitively by helms between nine to sixteen stone, with good headroom clearance below the boom.
There is a good second-hand market for Solo dinghies, but keep an eye out for the boat's condition. Wooden boats should be thoroughly checked for rot. In addition to buying second-hand Solos, they are also available as a kit, part-built or complete.
Class AssociationILCA / Laser
The ILCA is a single-handed racing dinghy. Each dinghy is virtually identical whether they are brand new or 10 years old, meaning that the sailor wins the race, not the boat.
The ILCA is a challenging boat that rewards athleticism, subtle steering and trimming techniques, as well as tactical excellence. It is a singlehanded Olympic class boat for both men and women and is sailed at the club, national and international levels.
With over 200,000 boats in 140 countries, it is the world's most popular adult and youth racing sailboat.
Class AssociationRS 200
Adrenaline packed racing and a full-on social scene. The RS200 is one of the most popular two person sailboats of today. Perfect for moderate weight teams, it's a winner with mixed crews, young sailors and family teams - at clubs, championships and on the RS Racing Circuit.
Strict one-design rules keep the competition tight and the budget in control. So it's all about exciting sailing and a good time ashore in the RS community. This class attracts rock stars and newbies like almost no other.
An open transom allows the RS200 to virtually self drain after a capsize and a moulded self bailer quickly removes any remaining water. It features an asymmetric spinnaker with a single line hoisting system which is very easy to use.
Budget tip: Decent competitive second hand boats can be bought for about £3,500. RS200s - like many of the RS range - hold their value extremely well.
Class AssociationFlying Fifteen
The Flying Fifteen (Flying 15) is a twenty foot long double-handed keelboat. It is suited to a wide range of crew weights, and can easily be sailed by mixed crews. It was designed by Uffa Fox in 1947. The design has changed little over the years, but the rig and materials used have.
As the class has developed, the older boats have become less competitive against the newer boats in stronger winds so two "sub-fleets" have been created:
- Classics: Fifteens with sail numbers of 2700 and below, plus boats built by Copland, Shepherd and Wyche & Coppock with sail numbers over 2700
- Silvers: Boats with sail numbers 2701-3200 (which are not Classics)
From 2015 MNSC accepts Flying Fifteen boats up to and including sail number 3400. This means that the club is now open to the 'Classic' and 'Silver' fleets of the class.
Class AssociationIllusion
The Illusion is a one-design single-handed keelboat - based on a scaled-down version of Lionheart, the British 12 Metre Class yacht - and designed by Jo Richards and Neil Graham in 1981.
These performance single-handed boats offer superb racing in nearly any conditions, by sailors of all weights and ages. Boats are equipped with a standard main, roller furling genoa, and spinnaker, plus running rigging.
In the Illusion, the skipper sits above the 160kg keel, feet resting on the steering bar, leaving both hands free to control the sails. Bodyweight is no problem! With the aid of corrector weights, skippers can sail at a set bodyweight of 100kg or more, providing close racing in all conditions.
Enterprise
The Enterprise dinghy is a two person, non trapeze, non spinnaker one design double chine hull dinghy. Designed by Jack Holt in 1956, the design has withstood the test of time and the class provides some of the best sailing and racing to be found anywhere.
Over 20,000 are registered worldwide. It has excellent qualities both as a cruising and two-person racing boat. The Enterprise dinghy is also very seaworthy and can be sailed offshore with confidence.
It is a well established class which means that good class racing and open meeting racing is readily available all over the country. The National Enterprise Week usually attracts over a hundred entries. The class is also growing at a rate of approximately one hundred new boat registrations every year.
Enterprises are constructed using a variety of materials including glass fibre, composite (wooden decks on GRP hull), and conventional all-wooden boats.
Budget tip: Secondhand Enterprise dinghies can be purchased for a couple of hundred pounds. Care must be taken when buying wooden boats that need work.
Class AssociationRS2000
From 1998 to 2012 the 2000 was known/built as the Laser 2000
The RS2000 is a one-design class combining a traditional GRP hull and foam sandwich deck moulding with a modern asymmetric rig including a furling jib, reefing mainsail and single line gennaker hoist system.
A high boom provides plenty of headroom whilst the self-draining cockpit keeps the crew dry and drains quickly should the boat capsize.
The 2000 has established an enviable record as a resilient and versatile design; docile and forgiving for novices yet an exhilarating sail for more advanced sailors. Since its introduction in 1998 more than 2,350 boats have been built.
RS Vareo
The RS Vareo is a spinnaker powered single-hander that brings exciting performance within reach for all sailors - and even offers space for an occasional crew.
The stable hull, responsive rig and easy handling systems make the RS Vareo an attainable challenge, while two mainsail size options allow the relative novice to cut their teeth and expand the boat in line with growing experience.
If you are looking for a small boat that can help build the skills for performance sailing, or if you are looking for a family boat that you can also race competitively, the RS Vareo is an excellent choice.
Menagerie Fleet
The following classes are automatically accepted at Middle Nene SC:
Other classes may be accepted - please contact the club for more information.
Want to Join a Fleet?
Contact a fleet captain or the club to learn more about sailing with us.
Classes sailed here
No active boat classes are listed.