Doubling in size since its inaugural edition in 2024, the 2025 RS21 Canadian Class Nationals saw 12 boats compete for the title in Halifax, Nova Scotia, October 4-5. Hosted as part of Bedford Basin Yacht Club‘s One Design Fall Regatta – one of the largest one-design keelboat regattas in Canada – the RS21 fleet was the biggest class on the water, showcasing the rapid growth of this class across the country.
“The weather and wind made for two exciting days of racing particularly on the first day when the breeze built for planing conditions,” says Regatta Chairman, Matt Haley. “Racing was incredibly tight and tactical, with the 12 boats so evenly matched that every decision counted.”
CAN 318, sailed by Peter Van Rossem, Josh Wilby and Geo Jackson, took home the gold with only 1 point separating them from the closely contested second place: CAN 316, sailed by Thomas Elia, Mansell Styles, Samantha Mastel-Marr and Jack Warner. It was also a battle for third place, with tied points on the leaderboard. CAN 320, sailed by Julian Hill, Cole Bonnell and Samson Barbera taking bronze. Full results here.
Seven of the boats sailed in home waters from Bedford Basin Yacht Club, with the rest of the fleet representing from Kingston Yacht Club, Queen’s Sailing Team and Dal Sailing. “The buzz around the RS21 in Canada is on the cusp of becoming super exciting,” explains President of the RS21 Canadian Class Association, Andrew Boswell.
Notably, five of the boats made the 1500km journey from Kingston, Ontario, to join the rest of the Canadian fleet for the event. Optimised storage and towing are a big part of the RS21’s appeal. Managing Director at RS Sailing, Jon Partridge, explains: “The flat deck and removable keel allow boats to be stacked for transport, making it easier and more cost-effective for fleets to travel together.”
The Nationals was part of Bedford Basin Yacht Club’s One Design Fall Regatta and the RS21 was the largest fleet out of the 42 boats that participated. Other classes at the event included J/105s (8 boats), Farr 30s and Niagra 26 (6 each), and Melges 24 (3 boats). “There was even a Soling 1M remote control class with 7 boats,” adds Andrew.
With momentum building in the RS21 Canadian Class, plans are already underway for 2026. The Canadian Nationals follow the recent RS21 World Championship in Sardinia, Italy, where nearly 50 boats from 13 nations competed. RS21 International Class Manager, Liam Willis, added his support: “It’s fantastic to see not just local but cross-country participation. Glenn, Andrew, and the team are doing an epic job growing the class. We’re excited to hopefully see Canadian boats at future international events too; like the RS Games 2026 in Travemünde and the 2026 Worlds too, with dates to be announced soon.”
With strong participation and growing momentum, the RS21 Class in Canada is quickly establishing itself as a key player in the national one-design racing scene.
