Naturally we are hugely disappointed that the RS900 has not been selected as the women’s Olympic skiff. It was recommended for selection by ISAF’s Equipment Committee who carried out the most detailed examination of all the entrants and judged it to best fit the criteria – a spectacular boat that would suit the size of sailors specified.

However, in the end the argument around the ISAF Council table focussed on the advantages of an elite skiff (RS900 or MacKay 49erFX) versus the universality offered by the 29erXX through low cost and existing distribution of the 29er hull. This focussed the voting and the MacKay won out due to its advantages of an established common platform with the men’s skiff and the fact it was liked at the trials due to its performance through being the biggest.

We at RS are proud that we met the criteria and developed an ideally suited boat that is a true credit to our own team, the suppliers involved and the RS name.

We will, of course, forever be convinced that the RS900 would have been the best boat for the women’s skiff, able to be sailed by Asian women as well as their western counterparts – affordable enough to build a wider class and develop women’s skiff sailing into a significant part of our sport. So we are genuinely sad tonight that this is not to be.

I would especially like to thank the many international sailors whose encouragement and support for the RS900 has been incredible.

We congratulate MacKay Boats on their successful selection campaign and wish the FX Class well for the future.

www.rssailing.com

New RS International Class Associations and Websites

RS boats are spreading around the world fast and a new structure for each of the Class Associations has just been launched to support this growth and enable RS sailors everywhere to join their International Association.

Any RS sailor can now join their International Association – the cost is low and it gives everyone a say in the future of their Class, plus access to a vast amount of information and some fabulous events! In countries where a National Association already exists, the fee is a little higher and automatically gives membership of both the International and National Associations.   Joining one fleet’s International Assocation gives you reciprocal membership to the other RS Associations.
We believe the launch of our new International Associations is an exciting step for the growth of our classes all around the world.

The International Associations are responsible for major event planning, maintenance of Class Rules, Class communications (including websites) and all other aspects that allow every owner and crew member to enjoy their RS. All this work creates the one-design ethos which ensures RS boats hold their value long term. It is, therefore, crucial that all RS sailors support their International Class Association by joining.

You can access and join each RS International Class Association via www.RSsailing.org – and navigate from there to the National web pages.  These new RS websites are all new and are still being tweaked; we would appreciate your comments.   They are yours so if there is anything you would like to add at any time – news, tips, photos – please let us know.   The new sites have forums – these will be the place to find the answers to your technical questions and chat with fellow fleet sailors.   They will ultimately replace the yahoo groups. The forums are linked from the UK and International websites making us a truly international community.  

Please join up.

Heather Chipperfield
heatherc@rs-association.com

I visited Fraglia vela Riva last week for a meeting about the large multi-fleet event in July.  As usual the club was very welcoming and professional but I was delighted by the environment.  Instead of the building site we saw in 2010, the rebuild of the Spiaggia degli Olivi next door has been completed and is now an excellent restaurant and lively night spot.  The lagoon has been dug to 3m and is available for our use, together with surrounding boat parking.

Spiaggia is separate to the sailing club, but they are working closely together and we hope to have some lovely parties there in July.

I hope loads of you will make the journey to Riva del Garda.  It really is worthwhile!

Full details and entry form at http://www.rssailing.org/champs/cindex.asp?eid=303

Heather Chipperfield

The RS400, RS200 and RS Feva Irish traveller series kicked off this weekend in the idyllic surrounds of Lough Ree Yacht Club.

A brisk North-Easterly blowing down the Lough greeted the RS teams on Saturday morning. The conditions were made tougher with a sharp chop, heaped up by the gusty conditions. Not “ploughing the bow” into the waves was the key to upwind speed. Remaining in full planning mode and keeping the show on the road in the gusts was the order of the day downwind.

Race officer Vincent Rafter and event organiser Donal Herraghty did a fantastic job to squeeze four windward leeward races in on Saturday in anticipation of the gale-force winds that led to Sunday’s racing being cancelled. The quick turnaround between races was greatly appreciated by everyone on the water.

In the RS400’s former 49er campaigner Robert Espey and crew Michael Gunning from Ballyhome Yacht Club took the top stop. The pair finished level on points with Simon Hutchinson and Trevor Darcy from the Royal North but took top spot with a lower discard. The Royal St George pairing of Emmet and James Ryan finished in third place.

The level of quality in the RS400 fleet has certainly risen with some high calibre additions to the class. The strength of the Northern fleet which had fourteen RS400s competing in the Ballyhome Icebreaker Series this winter was certainly evident in the testing conditions.

Photos of the event will be posted this week at http://www.lryc.ie/. Visit www.irishrs.com for details on upcoming Irish RS Traveller events.

1st - Robert Espey & Michael Gunning (BYC); 2nd - Simon Hutchinson & Trevor Darcy (RNIYC);       3rd - Emmet Ryan & James Ryan (RStGYC)  

Round two of the Gul Grand Prix anf Bolle Northern Tour took place over the weekend of 22/23rd April at Royal Windermere YC.

A good turnout of 18 boats came to the start line for the first race in very light and shifty conditions. Wayne and Deb Fletcher settled into the conditions and took a convincing win ahead of Paul Allen crewed by brother Mike, and Martin Cooper crewed by Alex Oyston.   Race two, sailed in similar testing conditions saw Allen take the honours followed by Fletcher and Hamish Gledhill, crewed by Simon Dowse, in third place.  The westerly breeze refused to play ball and downpours threatened most of the afternoon.   Race three saw Fletcher back to winning ways while Cooper took second and Peter Snowdon, crewed by Pippa Fletcher, finished third.

Race four was the real talking point in the evening. Starting in a  southwesterly breeze, which fell away to almost nothing, the wind then began to fill in from the northwest This left the fleet with two long fetches and a short run to the spreader mark! The race officer allowed the race to run it's full distance of three laps but Allen who was leading at the bottom gate and Snowdon, immediately behind him had lost count of the laps. These two boats started another lap while Fletcher calmly sailed for the line and a third win of the day. Dave Exley, crewed by Nigel Hall, and Gledhill also took advantage of the leaders mistake to take second and third respectively.

The usual excellent dinner was provided by the club on Saturday evening, and some folks went out on the town perhaps a little longer than they should have!    

Sunday morning dawned with bright sunshine but little breeze. The forecast was not looking good, just 7mph forecast. However, the race officer took the fleet out and, as they sailed out to the race area the breeze began to fill in from the north building steadily to a force 2.   Race five again saw Team Fletcher romp away with Exley finishing second and Gledhill third.  Race six again saw Fletcher take line honours with Cooper second and Caroline Exley, crewed by Jude Allen, taking third place.
A seventh race sequence was started but abandoned as the breeze died away to nothing.

Wayne thanked the club for it's excellent hospitality, and the race officer for his skill and persistence in some very testing conditions.

Great to see that 17 boats made it to RWYC last weekend - report, results and photos will be on-line shortly.

The RS400 events are coming thick and fast. Next event is at Tenby SC on the bank holiday weekend - 5/6 May, as part of the Tenby Regatta.

The RS400s should have their own start and sail a ww/lw course as part of the regatta. The first scheduled starts are 1200hrs on Saturday, 1100hrs on Sunday, with a race briefing at 1100hrs. There are 3 races scheduled on Saturday, 2 on Sunday. There will be catering at the
club, and possibly a social. If not, there are loads of great pubs etc. in the town.

There are loads of local campsites. For details, and other accommodation, and directions see
http://uk.rs400.org/index.asp?selection=Events&uid=311&fleet=RS400&detailevent=1

Irish Inland Championships are hosted by Lough Ree YC on 28/29 April.  All welcome.

It is requested that you enter in advance.   NoR and Entry forms are at http://www.rs-association.com/docs/NoR_RS200.400_IrishInlands2012.pdf

Please note that either the helm or crew ill need to be partof he RS200 or RS400 International Class Assocation to ake part in this event.  See 'Join Now' on home page.

Lots of details and entry form at Championship site at http://www.rs400.org/champs/cindex.asp?eid=303

Fraglia vela Riva is situated in beautiful and historic Riva Del Garda, in the North West corner of Lake Garda in Northern Italy.    Wonderful sailing, sunshine, pasta and friends!  The town of Riva is particularly attractive and has a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants.   For non-sailing friends, or those extending their trip, there’s lots to do including mountain biking, windsurfing, hill climbing, canyoning, beach activities, canoeing etc.

Garda is well known for being a sailing and windsurfing mecca, largely due to the thermally generated ‘Ora’ wind that kicks in from the south usually around 1200hrs, and builds regularly up to a F4+.    The racing will run from Monday to Friday, both weeks.  The RS100, 700 and 800 Europeans will be from 16 – 20 July, and the RS200 and 400 Eurocup and RS500 Worlds from 23 - 27 July.    We have arranged 2 courses with Fraglia vela Riva, and, on week one, we plan to race the RS700s and RS800s on one alongside the popular western cliffs, and the RS100s in a more central lake location to hopefully get calmer conditions and more tactical racing,   On week 2, the RS200s and RS400s will have the cliff course, and the RS500s the ‘calmer’ course.

The club has been in existence for over 80 years, and has a deserved reputation for hosting events to World Championship level. You can be sure that the race management will be spot on and the support staff are used to dealing with foreign competitors.

The social side of Garda is part of the charm of the regatta – with the Ora turning up at lunchtime, there’s no need to get to the dinghy park until 10:30, so this helps to encourage later nights. Evening entertainment usually consists of finding a lovely restaurant, then decamping to a bar to discuss the days racing. If you’re on holiday with your partner there are some lovely romantic venues.

The club will host a dinner with a DJ on one night each week.  We will make sure we celebrate the opening ceremony to the 2012 Olympics on 27 July.  The RS500s will have a Swedish and a Dutch Party, and there may be other socials arranged.  The club will serve pasta after racing each day except party night.   This is all included in your entry fee.