Please select your home edition
Edition




RS Sailing: A Year of Celebration, Competition, and Community in 2024

by RS Sailing 25 Dec 05:00 NZDT
A Year of Celebration, Competition, and Community in 2024 © RS Sailing

As we reflect on an incredible year, RS Sailing extends a heartfelt thanks to all the dedicated members of the racing community, from those organizing small local regattas to the passionate competitors and volunteers involved in high-profile international World Championship events.

The spirit, camaraderie and commitment to the sport of sailing is what drives RS Sailing forward, and we're immensely grateful for everyone who helped bring these experiences to life in 2024.

A Historic Start: RS Fest Miami

The 2024 season kicked off with the inaugural RS Fest Miami, marking RS Sailing's first-ever multi-class event in North America. Held at Coconut Grove Sailing Club, this landmark event saw RS21s, RS Aeros, RS Fevas and RS Teras racing under the warm Florida sun. The event laid the foundation for RS Sailing's growing presence in North America and provided sailors of all levels the chance to experience the excitement of competitive racing, the RS way.

A 30th Anniversary to Remember

From May 17th to 19th, 452 sailors in 287 RS boats gathered at Hayling Island Sailing Club to celebrate the 30th Anniversary Regatta. This milestone event honoured 14 of RS Sailing's iconic racing classes and the dedicated sailors who have made them legendary.

The atmosphere ashore harked back to the early days of RS, when the company brought together different classes at events to boost participation. There was a vibrant mix of youthful enthusiasm from RS Tera and RS Feva sailors, alongside the seasoned camaraderie of RS legends who have been part of the community for three decades.

While the sailors competed fiercely in the challenging light winds, they also relished the festivities onshore, perfectly embodying the balance for which RS Sailing is renowned. Thank you to all the sponsors and the 130+ volunteers who made the event a success. During the prize-giving, RS Sailing's Co-CEO Jon Partridge expressed his gratitude to everyone involved, a moment you can relive here. The regatta was a fitting tribute to three decades of RS Sailing's commitment to inspiring and shaping the dinghy sailing community.

The RS Aero: A Decade of Success

The RS Aero marked its 10th anniversary in 2024, and what a decade it has been for this iconic British-built single-hander. With multiple events throughout the year, culminating in a memorable World Championship, the RS Aero continues to serve as a catalyst for one of the most vibrant single-handed classes in the world.

The anniversary also marked the production shift of the RS Aero to RS Sailing's own facilities in Cowes, Isle of Wight. This move ensures tighter quality control, a lower carbon footprint, and reduced build costs, all of which benefit the customer. The first RS Aero hulls manufactured in Cowes were released in the autumn of 2024, with high demand already ramping up for 2025 deliveries.

Charity Challenges and Community Spirit

In addition to the racing calendar, RS sailors also embraced several charity challenges this year, using the trusty RS Aero as a tool to raise awareness and funds. Among the most remarkable was the Three Lakes Challenge - a non-stop, dinghy version of the famous Three Peaks Challenge, where Ken Fowler and RS Aero Class Manager Peter Barton, sailed the three longest lakes in Scotland, England, and Wales, covering a staggering 1,336 miles in total. This challenge, following on from Ken's incredible efforts in 2023, raised significant funds for Cancer Research UK.

In a similar vein, a team led by RS Sailing's Operations Director Richard Frost, embarked on a gruelling journey, cycling over 200 miles (including 5,000ft of elevation) from Coningsby, Lincolnshire to the Southampton International Boat Show. This 3-day challenge wasn't just cycling; the team towed an RS Aero behind them. The event raised over £14,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, in memory of the late, much-loved colleague Maciej Nowaczyk, who sadly lost his battle with cancer in February this year.

A Season of World-Class Competition

2024 was packed with exciting international competitions. One of the standout events was the RS Feva World Championship, held in Bruinisse, where 340 sailors from 18 nations gathered for an unforgettable week of racing. This event exemplified the global growth of the RS Feva class, with sailors from diverse countries making their mark in the top 20.

Shortly after, the RS500 World Championship was hosted in Bruinisse as well, with many RS Feva sailors stepping up into the RS500 class, continuing the progression of competitive sailing within the RS community.

The RS Tera World Championship broke records before it began; selling out registrations more than three months in advance of the event. 120 sailors took to the waters in Greve, Denmark, with some excellent racing and plenty of new friendships made.

The RS21 World Championship in L'Escala, Spain delivered fierce competition, with big winds and big waves providing a challenging and exhilarating week for competitors. Similarly, the RS Venture Connect World Championship, held in Rutland, UK, also saw plenty of wet, wild and windy conditions for sailors to enjoy.

New Horizons: The RS CAT12

RS Sailing also expanded its offerings in 2024 with the RS CAT12, a new catamaran designed to be lightweight, fun, and perfect for beginners, hire centres, and sailing schools. The RS CAT12 launched at La Rochelle Boat Show in October, embodying the spirit of simplicity and accessibility for the growing beach market.

Celebrating the RS Community

At the heart of everything RS Sailing does is the community. From local training weekends to World Sailing international competitions, the growth and success of RS Sailing is fuelled by its passionate sailors and dedicated partners. As Commercial Director Michiel Geerling puts it, "The RS Family is more than just a group of sailors and sales partners; it's a vibrant community of passionate sailing enthusiasts, each contributing to the growth and success of the brand in their own way."

Looking ahead, Co-CEO Jon Partridge added, "As we look to 2025, RS Sailing is poised for an exciting year of doing what we do best; making boats for sailors, by sailors. Thank you to our team, our worldwide dealers, our partners - and most importantly, the sailors - for your continued dedication."

Here's to another year of growth, innovation, and community as we enter into 2025 with excitement and enthusiasm! RS Sailing - celebrating the past, embracing the future.

Related Articles

RS Sailing to Exhibit at boot Düsseldorf 2025
Excited to introduce the RS CAT12 and meet the RS Marine Group Team RS Sailing is excited to announce our participation at the 56th edition of boot Düsseldorf, one of the world's premier boat shows, taking place from Saturday January 18th to Sunday January 26th 2025. Posted on 7 Dec
Save up to 40% at RS Sailing Store
celebrating Black Friday with incredible savings now live RS Sailing Store is celebrating Black Friday with incredible savings now live! Take advantage of limited-time offers and get your hands on top-quality gear at unbeatable prices. Posted on 29 Nov
Entry officially opens for RS Fest Miami 2025
The second edition of RS Sailing's multi-class event in North America Get ready for RS Fest Miami 2025! The second edition of RS Sailing's multi-class event in North America. The three-day regatta will be a celebration of all things RS – hosted in tropical Miami by Coconut Grove Sailing Club. Posted on 28 Nov
RS Sailing Newsletter: New Boat! RS CAT12
Also news on the RS21 & RS Venture World Championships The peppy younger sister of the RS CAT16 & RS CAT14, this catamaran brings simplicity back to entry-level sailing. It maintains many of its older siblings' trademark characteristics and adds some new innovative features. Posted on 20 Oct
RS Sailing Unveils the RS CAT12
A Dynamic Multihull Bringing Simplicity Back to CAT Sailing Simple, fun and zippy! The RS CAT12 brings buoyancy and easy handling to the catamaran sailing world. This latest design from RS Sailing bursts onto the scene as the peppy younger sibling of the RS CAT16 and RS CAT14. Posted on 29 Sep
RS Aero - Exclusive 10 year anniversary offer
Excitement is building towards the Southampton International Boat Show With the 2024 Southampton International Boat Show only two weeks away, excitement is building at RS Sailing for the opportunity to welcome visitors onto their magenta carpet and talk all things RS. Posted on 2 Sep
The RS Aero – 10 years on
It's been quite a decade for the iconic British-built single-hander The RS Aero celebrates its tenth birthday this year. It's been quite a decade for the iconic British-built single-hander and it's inspiring to see a new RS dinghy be the catalyst for creating one of the most vibrant single-handed classes in the world. Posted on 27 Aug
RS21 selected for the ASEAN Cup
Ideal for multi-location format as six boats can be packed into one shipping container The ASEAN Cup will start the first leg of the competition in Melaka, Malaysia in October, before it moves onto Shenzhen, China in November and then Koh Kong, Cambodia in March 2025. The RS21 is the ideal fit for this multi-location format. Posted on 26 Jul
BJ HHH announced as China RS Sailing Distributor
The first shipment of boats is due to arrive in China this month Beijing HHH Sports Technology Co. Ltd. (BJ HHH) is officially announced as the new Chinese distributor for RS Sailing as the first shipment of boats is due to arrive in China this month. Posted on 9 Jul