RS 500

The feedback is that our suggested number for the RS500 at 972 seems to be about right - though some clubs are using 964 and still getting the right kind of results. With mixed abilities in the fleet I should imagine it will settle around 972 after returns.

In terms of weight, the nationals was won convincingly with 140kg, and the inlands at around 125kg, though within the top ten boats at the nationals there was variations from 120 through to 155+kg. In any new class, it tends to be technique dominated to begin with, and also theres a few years where owners get to grips with tuning which affects the results. 115kg would certainly be the lower end for the RS500, its this reason that the smaller S main and Jib is available - giving you the stepping stone that you need to get the skills. If you're stepping up this makes a big difference.

Interestingly the national champion winning helm also happened to be the ISAF Youth World Champion in a 29er and is quick to comment that the RS500 has 95% of the ultimate speed of the 29er with a fraction of the trickiness and instability. Thats not a criticism of the 29er.. but is a huge advantage for the RS500.

In terms of its general ease, the RS500 is not beyond any average dinghy sailor - like all high performance boats they take practice and perseverence. A normal sunday every week/every other week user would get good reward after just half a dozen sessions. Its not normal to be able to 'do' a boat like the RS500 if you're stepping up a performance rung, so one single 'demo' or test sail can often be a really bad indicator of suitability. Unfortunately theres no easy answer to this!

PM me or mail if you need any other stats on the RS500

Why perpetuate growth failure?

I think it's a terrible mistake to attempt to force the old onto newcomers.

Sure Fireballs were great in their day, but that's been and gone.

Same as any conventional symmettric boat, I can't believe anyone coming
fresh into the sport would want to go down that path.

Its why classes inevitably stagnate and die.

Moving from a laser 3000 to a Fireball just because others are misguided
enough to hang on to the past must be a mistake imvho.

But what do I know? Only the modern stuff clearly.

If your club has a fleet of Fireballs I'd get a Fireball.  You'll learn a lot more about sailing and enjoy the comraderie.   I think buying a 500 in such circumstances would be divisive and I also think it might be a bit of a handfull for you.

I would have thought a 500 would plane to windward in flat water and the right wind strength but in most conditions it won't.  The 29er is a completely different boat and having sailed one I can tell you its not very stable and although you're the right weight its a total commitment sort of boat requiring some dedicated training and regular sailing.  It does plane to windward in quite a wide range of conditions.

Originally posted by G.R.F. 8 stone & 10.5 Stone? Get the V3000, but get the RS500 rather than an ancient boat like a fireball surely, do they still make them even? .

They definitely do and they're bloody good boats

The PY seems low at 972. - 972 is about right.
Is it very difficult to sail to this? Its not a beginners boat, but at the same time its not a hard boat to sail.  Its really easy to trapeze off.
What are they like in light winds in a handicap fleet? Being a trapeze boat its always going to be slightly disadvantaged in the light stuff, but its not completely impossible to beat the 200s and the like.
Are they manageable in a blow? Yup, although the first few gybes with the kite up, you will probably go for a swim.

Also would go with the 2:1 jib set up, I mainly go with the 1:1 system, but in a blow and back to back races, I find the jib feels surprisingly powerful.

Also where do you sail?  As some clubs have 500 fleets and others have 3000 fleets.  Sailed both boats, and they are both great. 

Given your sizes, you're on the light end for the 500, maybe the 3000 would be more suited.  Still if you have a fleet for 500s at your club, you're not stupidly too small for it

Edited cos just read your latest post.


Edited by Fans1024