After years of development we believe the RS Aero is the most technically advanced boat in its sector. Which explains why it’s the most exciting and best-selling modern single-hander – and easily handled too!
Dynamic Three Rig System
From day one we assumed a requirement for three rigs of differing sail areas to cater for the desired crew weight range: RS Aero 5 – RS Aero 7 – RS Aero 9. We developed rigs with sufficient control to totally flatten and twist the head of the sail upwind reducing the healing moment. This allows a greater sail area to be carried which is a big benefit downwind and in lighter conditions.
Working closely with a world-leading carbon fibre tube manufacturer we have produced the three rigs using a common top-mast and boom, yet with radically differing stiffness in the 3 bottom sections. The differing deck-level bend and stiffness of the three rigs ensure the boat is well balanced, without resorting to a permanently pre-bent lower section for the smallest sail.
Even with the smallest RS Aero rig the sail-area to hull-weight ratio is significantly higher than most existing hiking single-handers, due to the incredibly light weight of the RS Aero. So even the RS Aero 5 enjoys the amazingly responsive feel that makes the boat so exciting. The largest rig is 5.5kg lighter than the equivalent in aluminium alloy and cutting-edge production method provides for tight stiffness and weight control.
The tracked mast and halyard are more practical than a sleeved luff making rigging much easier when stepping the mast in a breeze and suiting full length top battens. The rig is positioned well forward in the boat to provide a good distance between the mast and the centre-mainsheet to reduce sheet loads and for ease of gybing, without the risk of snagging associated with a transom led mainsheet.
Sails
This is the greatest area of conflict between styling pressures and the performance requirements of the RS Aero!
It is not possible to produce a Mylar sail that will cope with the wide range of mast bend of a responsive carbon rig, in different wind strengths and on different points of sailing. This is due to the lack of bias (diagonal) stretch of the fabric. Mylar film is stable in all directions. We have, therefore, chosen a high denier Dacron sail fabric with a low filler content that offers good durability and a high level of user-friendliness.
Find out more about the RS Aero.
Head to the RS Sailing Store for official RS Aero parts and kit!
