11 Ladies from Greystone SC, Dublin, Ireland, enjoyed a week at Minorca Sailing in early May.

A great tune-up at the start of the season.  Great to meet you, girls.

Heather Chipperfield

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=422

Heather Chipperfield

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

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 RS200’s it was Sean and Heather Craig from the Royal St George who came up trumps with a perfect score card of four firsts. The battle for second place was tight, with Clive Coffey and Helen Cassidy from Newcastle Yacht Club edging out the Royal St George father and son pairing of Ian and Tom Simington on count back.

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 - Sean & Heather Craig (RStGYC); 2nd - Clive Coffey & Helen Cassidy (NYC)                    

3rd - Ian & Tom Simington (RStGYC)

Following the excitment at Highcliffe SC, the RS200s, 700s and 800s meet again for their next Gul Grand Prix at Eastbourne Sovereign SC on 12/13 May.

The starts are 1300hrs on Saturday, 1100hrs on Sunday, with 3 races/day scheduled. Race briefing at 1200hrs.   There will be catering at the club throughout the event and a lively evening at the club on Saturday.   Other details, including local accommodation and directions are at http://uk.rs700.org/index.asp?selection=Events&uid=378&fleet=RS700&detailevent=1   The entry fee is £35 for RS200s and 800s, and £25 for RS700s.

Please note that under the terms of the class rules, either the helm or crew needs to be a member of their RS Association to enter his event, and that the membership year runs from 1 January to 31 December regardless of when you join.    You can become a member on-line at -

RS200 - http://uk.rs200sailing.org/

RS700 - http://uk.rs700.org/

RS800 - http://uk.rs800.org/

or contact membership@rs-association.com for a form.    

As this series is sponsored by Gul, you will also need a Gul sticker on the bows of your hull, both sides. All other stickers should be taken off. There will be stickers available at registration.

Have fun!

Regards,

Heather