RS21 Tuning Guide

Created by Jake Sorosky – West Coast Sailing

The RS21 is very weight and rig responsive.  While very stable and easy to sail, the platform is extremely responsive to good sailing. The mast is incredibly responsive in all conditions. The backstay is a key component in making the boat go fast, in light to moderate breeze it is almost a fulltime job. Once the breeze comes up, much less adjustment is necessary and the vang and mainsheet are more important.

Weight placement is very critical as well. In the light, weight forward is critical with a slight heel angle upwind seems to be fast and feels good for the drivers. As the breeze comes up, the crew is pretty snuggled up on the hiking pad.  Downwind, moving the weight fore and aft is critical for maximizing speed along with picking target boat speeds to maximize VMG may be the way to go as the boat is very comfortable sailing very high. Looking to accelerate constantly ends up being counterproductive until its well into the 20 kt range. Picking puffs to get more speed and work down looks to be the way to go.

Light air: Light air has quite a high emphasis on twist and keeping power in the rig. Getting the boat up to speed is easier than it seems. Maintaining good relative sheet tension between the sails is the key to keeping the speed and height. Downwind, taking the jib down is key to having good manoeuvres. Late boom jibes are the way to go.

Medium air: Playing the backstay to manage power in the wind variations. Driver trims, trimmers play backstay.  Weight placement is key and moving body weight in and out is going to make a difference. Downwind, finding the crossover for taking the jib down will be to make the manoeuvres easier and better soaking angles downwind.

Med-Heavy air: Vang sheeting becomes more important. Using the vang and cunningham to set the main shape and use the backstay to power up the rig. Playing these settings is the key to the average tenths of a knot of boat speed.  Downwind, finding a good target number for the conditions is key to good VMG. Don’t chase the plane if you don’t have to. Many weight placement adjustments as the speed increases and decreases.

Breeze On: Vang sheet hard. May need to ease the jib a little for puffs. Cunningham and vang adjustments for the breeze are key. Downwind, don’t let the boat off a plane but don’t forget to go downwind as well. Using your weight to keep the boat pitch is critical. Weight back in the puffs and back forward in the lulls.

Base is set at 8-10knots | *Full turns on the adjusters.