Aero 9

Might even be worth suggesting a return 'to the boards' ..... maybe not.   I suspect any boat existing now or in the future however will still be found 'wanting' by some - it was ever thus.

 It is much easier, since the sector is unlikely to ever respond 'appropriately' for some, that they   adapt their approach rather than expecting the equipment to be modified, 'improved' or for class associations to rip up their rule book and respond with enthusiasm to the would-be forum revolutionaries etc etc.  So  1) Choose something, a boat type, that suits you in the general sense  2) Work out through training what makes it 'go' rather than seeing everything to do with it 'sub-optimal' when you cannot achieve things instantly. 3) Train with others who already know how to make it 'go' and start going to class events.  4) 'Keep at it' and then afterwards 'Keep at it' even more  5)  Try and enjoy the  learning process... If you do all of the above you will, with reasonable certainty, end up doing pretty well.  Oh and lastly try and stay mostly off the web negatively for enough time to get through 1-5 above before you are tempted to try yet more alternatives !

And do try an Aero out some time would still be the 'nudge' from me for GRF ... It is about as close as you will ever get to your long list of 'wants'.  Seriously and all ‘forum banter’ digs  aside.  (And in case anyone wonders - I don't even own one)

 

Good luck with that one Mr Barton !!

Edited by Cirrus - 18 Sep 20 at 6:41pm

I did demo the Aero, almost from day one of its appearance and I was indeed impressed and don't hesitate to reccommend it, take pride in fact that it's a quiet British success story selling the world over. The Problem was I demo'd the D0 on the same day and at that venue (Grafham) they were chalk and cheese, the D0 excelling in every way so convincing I put the deposit down immediately.

Then I demo'd the D0 on the sea, which undid some of the confidence I had in it being 'the one for me' pity I hadn't had the Aero at hand, then the Solution came along and whilst not as excellent as the key points of the other two, it was a good compromise (and available instantly being S/H) I have enjoyed it ever since and still do for close quarter nip and tuck confined water sailing. The sea where I sail however is a different story and can very quickly become a boring procession, drawn out with usually only a single tactical solution which more often than not is boat speed, waterline length and power. It's only the fairly recent arrival of our new Aero 7 rider who's now dialed it and has certainly won some if not one of the recent series. Indeed wether I'm in the Blaze or the Farr inevitably he's the target between the Lasers and the Contenders to race against.

What would be nice is an Aero weighted trap boat to take on the Contenders with.

Edited by iGRF - 19 Sep 20 at 9:18am

I race both the RS Aero 9 and 7; the 9 is great fun! It's so powerful, pops onto a plane super easily and is just exciting to sail.

Admittedly, the 9 can be challenging to sail to its rating in strong breeze compared to a 7, but in under 10 knots it's a total weapon. Once the breeze is up both boats go roughly the same upwind (makes sense, right?), so the 9 has to make up its handicap on the downwind legs. When it gets really windy, the 9 begins luffing on reaches, reducing its advantage. So what? It's still a hoot, allowing heavier sailors to enjoy a fun day on the water!

When talking with people who don't know the Aero, I liken the 9 and 7 to the L@ser Standard and Radial: the Standard is much more powered-up, the Radial is much more of a finesse boat. Like the Radial, the 7 is always searching for power (at least for me at 82kg), and doesn't take well to be manhandled with its flexible lower mast. It's still fun, just a different kind.

A few years ago I raced a 9 at the Alamitos Bay YC Olympic Classes Regatta in Long Beach California. On the long beat out to the racecourse I was sailing next to a Finn. He expressed surprise my "cute little boat" was keeping up so well, but that his boat would blow mine away on a reach. I suggested we bear off to test his assertion, and in 15 knots of wind, I walked away from him so fast it'd make your head spin. He was speechless...