Abbott Soling Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Soling is a definitive international racing keelboat, famously serving as the three-person Olympic class from 1972 through 2000. Designed by Jan Herman Linge in 1963, the boat was envisioned as a more accessible, transportable alternative to the 5.5 Metre class, winning a design competition held by the International Yacht Racing Union (now World Sailing). While builders like Borresen in Denmark dominated the European market, Abbott Boats in Sarnia, Ontario, became the primary North American powerhouse for the class. Under the direction of Bill Abbott Sr. and Bill Abbott Jr.—the latter an Olympian and multi-time World Champion—Abbott Solings earned a reputation for exceptional build quality and a competitive edge that kept them at the front of the fleet for decades. The design is characterized by its narrow hull, deep fin keel, and a spade rudder, all of which contribute to a vessel that is exceptionally sensitive to trim and helm.