Tomorrow will see the start of The RS Aero Pacific Coast Championship, the title will be competed for over two epic days racing on August 1/2.
With 21 boats entered this is an incredible turn out for sailors local to The Gorge in North America. Having been downscaled from a World Championship event in early April, the CGRA and the North American RS Aero Class have worked tirelessly to run an event in its place if it was safe to do so.
The Gorge is a popular favourite with the North American RS Aero Class returning annually to the World Class venue. Although it’s no longer a World Championship event there promises to still be fierce competition amongst the fleet and an opportunity for the sailors to relish the freedom of racing again after a difficult first half of 2020. A large portion of the fleet is traveling from the 30 boat strong Seattle fleet where they have been sailing weekly. A few sailors are traveling from California with the fleet rounded out by locals from Oregon, making this a true Pacific Coast Championships.
RS Sailing is proud to have partnered with the Columbia River Gorge Association over the years, their constant professionalism and dedication to the sport make them one of the best event organizers in the world, combined with one of the best sailing venues in the world, there are just so many reasons to sail in the Columbia River Gorge. The CGRA, RS Sailing, and the RS Aero Class have worked tirelessly to ensure that the event is conducted safely in the current environment. In the end, keeping with a regional event was seen as important to not encourage distant travel and CGRA are enforcing strict COVID regulations.
The Gorge is a unique sailing venue creating a wind-tunnel between the beautiful mountains that rise from the waters edge to nearly one mile vertically high in places. The afternoon thermal breeze pipes up against the Columbia River’s current to provide some fantastic long downwind rides through awesome scenery.
With the breeze looking light across the weekend at Cascade Locks, sailors will be challenged with tricky, shifty conditions, busy start lines and plenty of sun! These RS Aero sailors are in for a glamourous weekend of competitive sailing!
Stay tuned to the RS Aero Facebook Group and website over the course of the weekend for updates! Watch out for those shifts and good luck to all the sailors competing!
