Written by Peter Barton – RS Aero Class Association Manager
An RS Aero UK summary, keeping you informed…
A Message from UK Chair
Welcome everyone to the 2019 season although with so many RS Aero events over the past few months it is sometimes difficult to determine when one season ends and another starts except it gets warmer and I need to change wetsuits!
A big welcome to all the newbies to the RS Aero Class. For those of you who are new we hope you join in with the wealth of events we have planned combined with friendly social scene off of the water. If you are new come along and join in. If you need help there is always plenty of advice available online but also at events too, to ensure we can all get the most enjoyment from our RS Aeros.
This year promises to be more exciting than ever. We are continuing with the successful Northern, Southern and Thames Valley circuits. We have National, Northern, Southern, Youth, Inland, Master, Ladies, Spring and River Championships to look forward too! The Sustainability Open pt2 is at Burghfield on 11th May after pt1 was at Broadwater last month. We start the season with the Spring Championships at Island Barn on Sat 27th April (yes, this Saturday!) and finish the year with the End of Season Championships at Draycote on the 9/10th November where a fresh new RS Aero fleet has sprung up over the winter. When I say finish it is more an indication to say “change to your winter kit” for the winter series as activity does not slow in the off season. Did you know at the 2018/19 Selden Sailjiuce Winter Series the RS Aero 7 had the most entries of any class? Tim Hire finished 2nd Youth overall and the RS Aero 7s were 3rd in the Top Class contest.
Internationally, for the more adventurous, we have beautiful Lago Maggiore in June and the Europeans at Lake Garda in August which is a fabulous venue and it is going to be HUGE! In September the annual RS AeroCup visits Holland for an easy pop across the channel weekend event. Finally the 3rd World Championships is to be held in Melbourne, Australia over New Year!
Happy RS Aeroing!
Nigel Rolfe
RS Aero UK Class Chairman
Online Entries
Are now open for; Spring Champs, Lymington, Southern Champs, Maggiore, UK Nationals, Garda Europeans and the Australian Worlds! For each of these events you can enter now, adding your name on the happy list of entries, then pay later in time before the early entry period ends
All events can be found on the Class website;
– UK Event list
– Worldwide Events List
RS Aero UK National Championship 2019 – East Lothian YC, 24-28th July
Five days in the splendid harbour town of North Berwick, Scotland with their fantastic sailing waters, beautiful backdrop and welcoming local RS Aero fleet!
The Notice of Race is published and online entry now open! Enter now and pay by 10th July for the early entry rate. We have some great sponsorship lined up, more on that to follow.
Charter RS Aeros – plenty available thanks to RS and for this event Why not bring a friend or family member to compete? UK owners are also welcome to book them if more convenient than bringing your own.
Owner RS Aero delivery is available by the Class from Lymington or Rutland. Edinburgh airport is accessible for those who would like to fly in!
Click here to see the Event Page.
New UK Committee Members
We have some new members joining the UK committee, to be formalised at the AGM;
– Ladies Representative – Sarah Desjonqueres of Highcliffe has enthusiastically stepped up to the role of enthusing and inspiring more Ladies to come RS Aero sailing.
– Youth Ladies Representative – Lynn Billowes of Warsash (and of RS Sailing) will assist Sarah with a focus on our younger sailors transitioning into the Class and then working we retain their interest later.
– Sustainability Rep – Alice Lucy of Rutland will form the link between the RS Aero Class and The Green Blue, so that we may continue to work to make our sport more sustainable.
– UK Technical Rep – Mark Riddington of Emsworth will help assist owners in helping to protect our one design concept for the benefit of good racing in accordance with our Class Rules.
– Many thanks to Charlie Pearce, Matt Thursfield and Kate Sargent for all their efforts serving on the committee
Stay Informed
Keep in touch with Class activity via;
– The Class Website
– The Website Forum – Register to the website (pink box on left) and select Daily Digest Emails for one email update a day when there is news and info.
– Facebook – The busy RS Aero Class Facebook Group has nearly 2000 members and can be found here.
Join up – UK Class Membership
Fantastic to see so many RS Aero sailors join the UK Class already this year, thank you.
Class Membership is required to compete at class organised events, please do join up though even if you don’t plan to travel. There are many benefits and the amount of information and knowledge being passed through the Class website and Facebook Groups is a great resource and benefit to all RS Aero sailors – racers, cruisers, explorers and flyers! Certainly owners are seeing their subs back many times over with a solid class structure holding up used RS Aero values – so please ALL show your support.
Apply for membership here, it only takes a minute.
RS Sailors Club
RS Aero Class Association members receive an email invite to the RS Sailor Club in the RS Sailing Store where members will benefit from the current RS Sailors Club discount structure. By filling out a simple RS qualifying form linked from the invite, purchases there will not require any special promo code and the member’s RS Sailing Store account will simply reflect the offer prices. They will also be a part of the winter sail pre-order discount scheme available each September.
Discounts include the annual pre-order sail offer, up to 15% saving (Order Sept 2019, delivery Feb/Mar 2020).
Year around savings;
– 25% off Rope
– 15% off Allen Brother hardware
– 15% off Clothing
– 10% off Oakley sunglasses
Who qualifies? Current paid up Class Association members who have completed the RS qualifying form.
Head to the RS Sailing Store to use your savings!
Part Exchange – Ready for a Refresh?
RS Sailing are able to encourage existing RS Aero owners into upgrading to a new boat for the 2019 season with attractive part exchange offers.
If you are considering a new upgrade then now is a good time.
For more information and to discuss individual offers, please contact RS Sailing at info@rssailing.com or phone 01794 526760.
Charter RS Aeros
Thanks to the support of RS Sailing charter RS Aeros are available at most of our major events. If you have friends who are keen to try out an RS Aero at an event then do let them know, have them book up and bring them along!
This year Charter RS Aero bookings and payments are via RS Sailing’s online system, managed by Vikki Payne at RS here. Please take time to read the ‘Charter FAQ’ and ‘Charter Guide’ on that page.
Thank You
To our Class supporters who help make excellent events possible;
Rooster, Harken, Volvo, Noble Marine, Speed Six, Selden, The Green Blue and of course…RS Sailing!
