We are proud to announce that the RS Venture Connect Class has been formally awarded World Sailing Class status, following a unanimous vote at the World Sailing Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Saturday, 8th November.
The decision was ratified during the 2025 World Sailing Conference in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, where the World Sailing General Assembly approved the RS Venture Connect Class’ application.
Dan Jaspers, RS Venture Connect International Class Manager, commented: “This success marks the culmination of a huge amount of hard work and we are grateful for all those that helped us along the way. Together with the team at RS Sailing we look forward to continuing to support the work of Para World Sailing in growing Para Inclusive Sailing globally.”
Designed by Phil Morrison and first produced by RS Sailing in 2010, the RS Venture Connect is a versatile keelboat renowned for its safety, stability and seaworthiness. The self-righting keelboat version features a lifting bulb keel and twin rudder system for superior control, while a tapered mast enhances performance and handling – offering peace of mind for instructors, students and sailors alike.
In 2014, RS Sailing introduced the innovative Seated Control System (SCS), expanding the boat’s accessibility for parasailing. The intuitive ‘plug-and-play’ modular setup allows quick reconfiguration to accommodate a wide range of physical abilities, making it easy for training centres to adapt to individual needs efficiently and affordably.
In international racing, the RS Venture Connect made its global debut at the 2018 Para World Sailing Championships in Sheboygan, USA, and has since become a mainstay on the international stage. The inaugural RS Venture Connect World Championship took place in Oman in 2022, followed by events in Germany and the UK, with the class Worlds soon to return to Oman in December 2025 as part of the World Sailing Inclusion Championships.
Its unique ability to level the playing field for all athletes – regardless of physical ability – has made the RS Venture Connect a popular choice for para inclusive competitions, having been showcased by major organisations such as SailGP, as part of the WE Foundation SailGP One Sport Race on multiple occasions. These events feature SailGP athletes teamed up with para sailors to highlight the sport’s growing commitment to inclusivity.
Michiel Geerling, Commercial Director at RS Sailing, commented: “At the heart of the RS Venture Connect is its adaptability. Whether used for sailing instruction or inclusive sailing programmes, this boat opens the liberating experience of sailing to almost anyone. It’s fantastic to see the class formally recognised with World Sailing status. We look forward to seeing participation in sailing continue to grow – and the RS Venture Connect at international competition level, makes this truly open to all.”
The RS Venture Connect is the sixth RS Sailing class to be awarded World Sailing recognition. It joins this accreditation alongside the RS Aero, RS Tera, RS Feva, RS500 and RS21.
Jon Partridge, Managing Director at RS Sailing, was also at the World Sailing Conference in Ireland. He added: “The RS Venture Connect has proven to be a vital part of para sailing around the world, and the team has worked tirelessly – both as a class association and as a manufacturer – to ensure it receives the international recognition it deserves.
The Inclusive Worlds in Oman, at the start of December, has already been oversubscribed in the RS Venture Connect categories, which is fantastic to see. Across both the USA and Europe, we have some very exciting plans for 2026, and we look forward to building on this momentum.”
