Solent Sonata boom

One of the most exciting fleets in the Solent for 2021 is shaping up to be the venerable Sonata, the 22ft David Thomas trailer-sailer design from 1976.

Over 30 boats are already entered for the 2021 nationals, which will be held in Cowes from 15-18 August, and active racing fleets are rapidly growing in Cowes, Poole and Weymouth.

Used boats have been selling within 24 hours of being listed, and the class association is drawing up a map of where the surviving one-designs are currently sailing. Over 400 Sonatas were built by Hunter Boats over a 20-year period and around 250 have been traced.