An interview with Craig Perez about the 2024 RS Aero North American Championship
by David Schmidt 4 Sep 03:00 NZST
September 6-8, 2024
RS Aero World Championship © Steve Geenwood
For decades, the Laser (er, "ILCA") was the top dog when it came to athletic, singlehanded racing. That changed (for a number of reasons, ahem) in the early 2010s, and the effect accelerated in 2014 when RS Sailing unveiled the RS Aero. The Jo Richards-drawn pocket rocket is built of GRP and epoxy and carries a bow-to-stern hard chine for stability and an mostly open cockpit, making it a fast, lightweight ride.
Better still, the 13.12-foot boat (LOA) is available in four different rig-size configurations (5, 6, 7, and 9 square-meter sails, each with a square-top head), allowing sailors to match their skill level and bodyweight to conditions.
Add wind and a skilled sailor, and the Aero rips.
Not surprisingly, the boat has gained international traction and has won numerous awards. More importantly, it has attracted many great singlehanded sailors and has earned a strong reputation for delivering competitive racing.
Take, for example, the 2024 RS Aero North American Championship (September 6-8, 2024), which is being hosted and organized by the Richmond Yacht Club (RYC) in Richmond, California, with racing taking place on the often-windswept waters of San Francisco Bay. (N.B., the event is also serving as US Sailing's 2024 US Singlehanded Championship.)
I checked in with Craig Perez, regatta chair of the 2024 RS Aero North Americans, via email, to learn more about this high-level one-design regatta.
Can you please tell us a bit about the current state of the RS Aero class on San Francisco Bay, and the kind of competition levels one can expect to encounter at this year's North Americans?
As with any new class that hits the market, there will be struggles. In the San Francisco Bay Area, and Northern California in general, sailing is down from the heyday of the seventies and eighties. However, there are pockets of strong activity such as the San Francisco Bay. There are still fleets of 10-15 boats mixing it up, mostly at healthy yacht clubs.
The RYC is one of those clubs.
The Aero arrived in the Bay around 2016 to mixed reaction. However, the fleet has now grown into a solid fleet of 12-15 sailors ranging in skill level from solid intermediate to three past national champions in other classes. In fact, everyone in the current fleet has won at least "one" race outright. Not many fleets can claim that!
With one regatta a month, and at least two fleet rallies a year, the fleet is tight and very supportive of one another. With US Sailing adding the "singlehanded" sailing championships to this regatta, the competition should be strong.
Weather-wise, what kind conditions can sailors expect to encounter off on San Francisco Bay in early September? What are the best-case and worst-case wind scenarios?
The weather on the San Francisco Bay is the "end of summer" conditions so it can be anything from 5-10 knots to 20-25 knots of breeze. The race committee will be attempting to keep the sailors in 15-18 knots using Angel Island as a blocker, and moving the racecourse north or south to create these optimal conditions.
The tides will be in a "flood" condition so the water should be on the flat side of things.
What about fog? Do you see this playing role in the racing?
This time of year, fog will likely not be an issue.
I've spent enough time on San Francisco Bay to know that it's a mighty complicated piece of water. How much of a factor do you see local knowledge playing on the Southampton Shoal Race Area and on the Olympic (Berkley) Circle Race Area?
The Olympic Circle (on the windy side and choppier water) will be used if the winds are lighter. The winds are steady with shifts that dictate strategies. In general, go left for the breeze, go right for the current.
Southampton Shoal (on the lighter side and flatter water) will be used if the winds are higher. Using Angel Island as a blocker, the same is true as the Olympic Circle: go left for breeze, go right for current.
Both areas are approximately a 30-35-minute sail from the club.
If you could offer one piece of advice to visiting (and local) sailors, what would it be?
Come early for great sailing practice and site sightseeing. San Francisco is right there and is a fantastic place to visit. The Golden Gate Bridge is breathtaking! You can walk or bike across!
Napa (wine country) is a 45 minute drive away. You need to put this on your schedule to visit.
Also, wear a wetsuit!
Do you have any entries that you're eyeing for podium finishes? What about any dark horses who you think could prove to be fast, once the starting guns begin sounding?
Yes, we have some great sailors coming to this regatta!
Marc Jacobi, who is a past Aero world and national champion, has entered. There are three Australian sailors flying in and one of them is a national champion in the "7" rig.
As for dark horse, Steve Smith, an Australian transplant, is a past three-time Fireball national champion as well as a world-class Fireball and 505 sailor.
So top competition is definitely on the menu!
What kind of evening entertainment do you and the other event organizers have planned?
Presently there will be a welcoming pizza feed on Thursday night before the racing starts on Friday. Saturday night with there will be an Aero dinner.
Along with the regatta trophies, US Sailing will be awarding the US Sailing Champion to the top man and woman in the "5" and "7" rigs. There will also be "daily" trophies for each race.
Can you please tell us about any efforts that you and the other regatta organizers have made to try to lower the regatta's environmental footprint or otherwise green-up the event?
The RYC actively participates in all efforts to minimize our environmental footprints. We are a "sailing club". We use the wind and nature to provide our entertainment.
For this regatta, daily trophies are glass beer mugs, and all of the regatta trophies are laser-cut wood. The club also provides "watering" drinking fountains to refill water bottles, no plastic bottles!
Is there anything else that you'd like to add about this year's RS Aero NAs, for the record?
The club is providing great racing, free housing, charter boats, free and adequate parking, camping in the parking lot, hot showers, zero entry docks, amazing views of the city of San Francisco, and a great clubhouse.
Without hesitation, this is one of the best—if not the best— places to sail in the world! We will exceed your expectations!
The RYC is welcoming with the motto: "This club was built for fun"!