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The Soling 1 Meter Class Rules
can be downloaded here:
The Soling 1 Meter kit
is a radio-controlled scaled version of the Olympic class Soling racing boat (with class sail symbol Omega, Ω). The model boat can be purchased as
a kit in hobby stores, or ordered directly from the manufacturer, Victor Model Products for ~ $135 (plus $14 for shipping). The
boat is also available factory assembled for ~ $560 (plus $45 for shipping). The
radio controls (transmitter, reciever, servos) add an additional cost of between $75 and $140.
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| Soling 1 Meter (S1m) |
Sail Symbol: Ω (Omega)
Length: 39.38"
Beam: 9.25"
Height: 64.50" (approx)
Keel Depth: 8.50" (approx)
Weight: 10 lbs (class minimum)
Sail Area:
600 sq. inches
Pictured above is a line drawing (and digital photo) of a Soling
1 Meter (abbreviated S1m) class model radio controlled (R/C) sailboat(with class sail symbol Omega, Ω). Every boat that is a member of
the class has the same size and shape of hull, type of rigging, sail area, weight and dimension - making each boat the same
as every other. This way it is possible to ensure equal performance of the boats and permit 'level-boat' racing - where
the skills of the skipper are more important than the performance of the boat!
Soling One Meter class model sail boats are the most common
type of radio controlled sailboat in the United States. There are more than 850 boats registered with the class association,
and almost 420 registered in the local region. Like 'big boats', there are local, regional and national championships.
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| Click to see the on-the-water photo page! |
The boat is controlled by a radio transmitter in the hands of the boat’s
skipper. The radio transmitter has two joysticks that each skipper operates. The two joysticks send signals over two separate channels on a single radio frequency
that is assigned to the individual boat/skipper. On the boat is a radio receiver
and two battery powered electric motors or servos. Signals from the radio
transmitter are interpreted by the radio receiver and translated into instructions to change the position of the servos. One
servo controls the position of both main and jib sails together (allowing the sails to be trimmed), the other the position
of the rudder (allowing the boat to be steered).
The boat is propelled by the natural
action of the wind and water on the hulls, sails and rigging. There are no engines,
no propellers. The skipper controls where the boat is pointing and the position of the sails, and the best skipper
is able to do this in a manner that permits their boat to get around a prescribed course faster than the rest of the fleet!
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