We want to take this opportunity to thank Banque Populaire, Federation Française de Voile and RS Sailing France for their efforts this last decade – after an amazing program, we are sad to see it end. But it’s not all doom and gloom, the vision continues to thrive in France and the RS Fevas continue to be a special boat for many.
How did the project work?
After an incredible 8 years, we are saddened that this amazing project has come to a halt as a consequence of the pandemic. The focus of this project was to support clubs on the supply side, providing equipment for beginner, intermediate sailors and encouraging youths (12-15 years) to participate in double-handed sailing. The idea was to make organise championships and supply the RS Fevas at competitions, meaning sailors could just turn up without having to worry about the logistics of bringing their own kit.
This project was generously supported by Banque Populaire who contributed 25% towards 26 RS Fevas at club level and helped to organise the championship events. Due to the successes and positive feedback, the RS Fevas have since been integrated in the Fédération Française de Voile training program and used as a championship boat! The fleet are used for tuition, clubs, leisure and racing – they really are the perfect all-rounder! We have seen project success in the Alps, the South West and Normandy but RS Sailing France are determined to continue developing the program nationwide.
Why the RS Feva?
After trialling a variety of styles, the RS Feva was selected for its exciting performance, modern styling and practical features that make it the ultimate steppingstone in the pathway of lifetime sailing. People tell us all the time that it’s an inspirational boat for the young, it demonstrates the value of teamwork and is a great introductory boat for double-handed sailing. We love the adrenaline rushes, how it performs incredibly and being able to share those moments with your friends by your side… literally!
Project Successes
There have been so many moments of joy, success and benefits from this project, so we’ve summarised our top three:
- Youth participation was declining, so this project was created as a youth pathway for double handers; as a result, we’ve seen an increase in participation on a national level!
- By supplying equipment at events, we have reduced the complexity for participants at events; being able to borrow a boat or not have to worry sometimes make the experience more agreeable
- A strong infrastructure of RS Fevas has been created in France that can still be used today; we love that it remains an award winning, special boat and we hope everyone can experience the pleasure of sailing a Feva
If you want to find out more about the RS Feva and if it’s the right boat for you, click here!
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