RS500 ...

There will always be the argument that there are too many classes, and initailly looking at the gap where the RS500 is meaning to fill, I thought that gap could have possibly been filled by the Buzz, Laser 3000, Fireball, Laser Vago and a few other boats that have been mentioned. Quite a number of responses to this thread have been arguing that we don't need another class as there are other boats that cater for the stated market. However, it might be best waiting to see what RS produce before writing off a boat, the RS500 could be a step forward from boats like the Buzz and 3000. If boat designers didn't produce new classes, we wouldn't see a move forward with technology within the marine industry and wouldn't have classes which a lot of us enjoy sailing. For instance, if designers looked at the High Performance market back in the early 90s, observed the Iso, Boss and Laser 5000 and decided that gap in the market had been filled, we wouldn't have the 49er, RS800 or Laser 4000.

It isn't difficult to see where the gap in the market is really. It's nothing to do with sailing. They just want to have all the numbers in their catalogue.

RS100 coming soon?

I agree with Neil It is just a company trying to squeeze out other clases. Reducing fleet racing to being something only done at championships. Not good for the sport at all. 

I’m sure the RS guys have done their research but it looks like they are pretty much just trying to redesign a laser 3000, which comes at a bad time since the V3000 has arrived  Between the Vago and V3000 this ‘gap’ is pretty comprehensively covered I think. As others have mentioned, the dinghy market is saturated with single wire classes already, catering for pretty much every crew combination.

I just hope the guys selling the V3000 have the money to compete with the inevitable large marketing campaign from RS and it doesn't kill it off

Maybe someone should tell all the teenagers currently sailing the fireball that the boat is to big for them.

The guys who won the silver fleet at the fireball worlds are 18, the guys who won the bronze fleet are both 14 and I can think of several other 14, 15 and 16 year olds currently sailing fireballs without any trouble at all.

This just highlights the stupidity of a marketing-driven approach to dinghy design. How on earth can anyone say that pairs of sailors between 18 and 23 stone are not catered for??? For God's sake, 9 stone helms and 14 stone crews are not uncommon in FD world. Anyone want to make a list of suitable boats that have established circuits, freely available entry-level boats and are a lot of fun. Starting with the Fireball, maybe?

Don't let this nonsense influence you, people. The loss of sailors from the sport at 19+ has NOTHING to do with a lack of classes for them to sail.

This stuff may be good for RS growth figures, but does the sport of dinghy sailing nothing but harm