The RS100 Owners Thread

Must admit as I was reading the story, which was brilliant IMO, I was thinking exaclty the same. What a shame they didnt feel your input was valuable enough for at least one of the demo/prototype boats if not a full production model.

Ian, a great read, and shockingly some of it I did not know! We all - and particularly Paul  - owe you a debt of thanks for your contribution:

For RS, it all started in autumn 2007 at our dealer conference, where we floated the idea following discussions over the Vareo. As we had worked with Phil Morrison on the Vareo, and we would be seriously affecting its future with this project, I called him soon after and discussed the ideas - more of a 14 foot hiking 800 or a singlehanded B14 or Blaze with kite would have been closer to our discussions back then!

We then parked our discussions for a few months during our busy months, and then in the summer of 2008, I called Phil again, to find he had agreed to work with Luca on what was to become the D-One. We decided it was too similar a project to do both, and we decided to speak to Luca to investigate working together, which eventually proved fruitless for several reasons. The following few months proved a real dilemma as we really felt the market did not need 2 new classes delivering a similar package! In fact we definitely had sleepless nights over this.  

Back pedalling a bit, during this time (early autumn 2008), Paul Handley contacted us with some early ideas of his and Ians (I did not realise the extent of Ian's involvement at this time).  But we were not ready to press the button - we had the moral dilemma of the Vareo and Luca's project - and we were working through an analysis of market sizes, prices, and the different concepts under discussion. It is worth mentioning that we had several real enthusiasts chasing us, including Tim Garvin who many of you know through this forum and the D-One, who had a host of good ideas. 

The period upto Christmas 2008 was all about focussing in on a concept - and Paul and Ians sketches increasingly looked like where we wanted to be. Boat Show 2009 was when I met up with Paul and we agreed to work together. Awaiting feedback from the dealers and getting buy-in to the project from them delayed pushing the button until March, but by then it had been myself and Alex sitting with Paul at his laptop (instead of Ian - I guess) on and off for several weeks, so we had not lost time. 

We did not meet Ian until the launch of the prototype - not even when we analysed the 1/4 model in April 2009 - but his enthusiasm, understanding of the compromises of design, and calm sense was an immediate help to the project. We were in fairly constant touch, but in some ways I wish I had known all of the history - the man is as modest as he is knowledgeable!

Interestingly one of the very few people to see photos of the model at this time was James Brace - Turnturtle himself - who then wrote one of the most passionate e-mails I have ever read, ending by offering us his credit card, and if ever we had doubts, they were dispelled then!

But you know every RS class has a story behind it - the belief, passion, unsung heroes, risk and reward. Reading Ians very personal account reminds me how great it is to work with passionate sailors and great boats.

If you have any other ideas, Ian.....?

The timeline of all this is facinating to be honest.

I had called Phil Morrison as well around the same time to be told that he was busy working on something already. That's when I contacted Nick with ideas....morelike hounded him probably

Not being in the trade I had no idea of "compromises of design", I just had a list of "must haves"

Timg

that'll teach you to try and take your wedding ring off lol