Whats happened to the RS500

I'm not sure of the full UK fixture list is out yet, but currently there is a Summer Champs at Hayling and End of Season Champs at Queen Mary. I expect any other opens will be run alongside other RS class events.

I don't think there's a speed difference new style vs old style sails apart from the obvious one you'd get with new sails; the bigger window in the new style jib does help when it's busy though.

I’ve sailed a 500 for around 7 years, and I’ve been the RS500 Class Association chair for the last few. You’re right that whilst the class is going from strength to strength in Europe it's been a bad few years for the class in the UK. I slightly hold myself responsible as I haven't invested much time to promote the class and our events on social media, forums like this and just to get out and sail it.

 The boat is great though, and the sailors are a friendly bunch there for fun racing, so I'm confident that numbers will recover in time. I have raced in a number of similar classes -   Laser 4000s, Fireballs, 29ers etc. and for me the 500 is the perfect mix of being relatively easy to helm, athletic and giving a sense of speed. I appreciate every sailor’s experience will be slightly different depending on their size / where they sail / what they are comparing against. The clubs where the 500s is concentrated do tend to be sea venues, which is really where the boat comes into its own.

 We have a some good events programmed for 2016 – the biggest event will be the Worlds, this year in Germany during the massive Travemunde week, and will be a fantastic event like all our Worlds have been. This event gets bigger and better every year. In the UK we are concentrating on less formal coaching and racing events, with the aim to encourage new entrants to the class. If you have an RS500 and would like to get involved please visit the website for details. There are also a number of clubs with small but active 500 fleets, and in 2016 we will also have a handful of open events and a nationals at Lymington, which will also host the 2017 World Champs. This will be a fantastic event and I’d encourage anyone who wants to get involved to borrow, loan or steal a boat to join in this event as it will be brilliant!

Originally posted by GarethT He wasn't Finn weight when he was in his 20's!

does one take that as a compliment or insult?

Originally posted by Bootscooter I'd guess that the nearest similar circuit now to what the LII had is the RS200.... mixed crews, big fleets, booze, girls and parties. That's where I'd be headed right now if I was in my early 20's.

Ha! Finn sailors don't get on too well in 200s I'm afraid Jon. I spent my early 20's trying to tap into that market but being 195cm and 95kg, I gave in and realised I was destined to spend my evenings socialising with large ale-drinking blokes, where the closest thing to a girl is likely to be the ageing barmaid or the wife of some unlucky sailor unfortunate enough to take her to the 'sea side' sailing event.
The upside is that the boats tend to be better for bigger people, or at least in my opinion they are

Edited by Jamesd - 08 Jan 16 at 9:28am

But the 3000 of whatever variety is basically a 1974 vintage hull shape. FB did a good days work when he rounded off Slithy Tove to make the Laser 2 hull, but it was 40 years ago for goodness sake.