RS500 (Again)

   Here's the thing.  I've just seen 2 of these rs500's sailing in the winter warm up series at datchet.
They actually do okay in a 420ish / 29erish (club racer) type of way.  There were 2 capable crews out there doing pretty well - an all female and all male crew, both University age or so.
In the past, I dismissed the whole idea as an unnecessary design etc.
But (notwithstanding any discussion about whether the boat has a niche).  The design seemed to do a reasonable job.......never thought i'd hear myself say that...!
Chas

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Chas 505 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 19 Dec 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 119	Post Options Post Reply Quote Chas 505 Report Post Quote Reply Topic: RS500 (Again) Posted: 18 Feb 07 at 11:11pm
	Here's the thing. I've just seen 2 of these rs500's sailing in the winter warm up series at datchet. They actually do okay in a 420ish / 29erish (club racer) type of way. There were 2 capable crews out there doing pretty well - an all female and all male crew, both University age or so. In the past, I dismissed the whole idea as an unnecessary design etc. But (notwithstanding any discussion about whether the boat has a niche). The design seemed to do a reasonable job.......never thought i'd hear myself say that...! Chas
	Life is too short. Work Hard; Play Hard; Sail a 505

BBSCFaithfull Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 06 Dec 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1251	Post Options Post Reply Quote BBSCFaithfull Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 07 at 5:03pm
	i havn't read all of the comments posted but it seems to me most of the negativity is coming from people who havn't sailed one. From the video it looks like a good fun boat to sail. I for 1 would like a go. (subtle hint to any 1 with a 500)
	Greatfully Sponsored By www.allgoodfun.com Int 14 GBR 1503!!

MRJP BUZZ 585 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Mar 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1496	Post Options Post Reply Quote MRJP BUZZ 585 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 07 at 5:58pm
	What about the RS test center?
	Josh Preater BUZZING IS FUN

redback Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Location: Tunbridge Wells Online Status: Offline Posts: 1502	Post Options Post Reply Quote redback Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Feb 07 at 11:27pm
	Alex - I think they're designed for lightwieghts!

Adds Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Posting king Joined: 14 Jan 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 126	Post Options Post Reply Quote Adds Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 07 at 9:46am
	I was down my club at the week end saw a 58? number 500. I suprised they have built so many in a short space of time. Also it seems most people have positive feedback about the boat, quite the opposite to what people were saying before they saw/sailed the boat.
	Cheers Dudes

Medway Maniac Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 13 May 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2788	Post Options Post Reply Quote Medway Maniac Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 07 at 10:06am
	There were two well-sailed examples at the Hoo Freezer on Sunday. Both slower on the water than the V3000 in both the main and practice races though (couldn't resist pointing that out )

Riki @ RS Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 01 Jun 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 71	Post Options Post Reply Quote Riki @ RS Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 07 at 10:12am
	Thats right Adds, we've released just over 80 RS500s now, so that 580 sail number would have been brand new. Theres 50 more boats in the queue, and the racing schedule and training dates are all in place. We'll be supplying Sunsail and Mark Warner their RS500s through March and April.. worth booking a holiday for! The best bit is that nearly all of these first 80 boats are being raced in the UK. Next month the RS500 will be exbibited at boat shows in Spain, Holland, Sweden and the dinghy show, so we're sure to get some friendly sailors from abroad to race against pretty soon aswell. Anyone whose still sceptical should grab me at the Dinghy Show and I'll talk them through the boat on the stand. Alex or anybody who fancies a blast, pm or email me and I'll sort you a sail in a 500 at the test centre.
	Riki Hooker Sales Director, RS Sailing www.rssailing.com

Pierre Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 15 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 1532	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pierre Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 07 at 10:16am
	Judging by what I see on Sunday mornings, very even between good Furballs and good RS500's in a bit of breeze.

Hector Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 May 04 Location: Otley, Yorkshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 750	Post Options Post Reply Quote Hector Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 07 at 10:59am
	I've sailed an RS500 a couple of times and was very impressed. However my potential crew is barely 8st and as the jib is quite large it was a little bit of a struggle in the breezier stuff. Riki (or anyone) any ideas about the crew weight it was designed for / is needed? What sort of crews (teens / small adults / average adult / large adult) are the good ones sailing with at Draycote , Wilsonian etc?

Riki @ RS Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Groupie Joined: 01 Jun 05 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 71	Post Options Post Reply Quote Riki @ RS Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Feb 07 at 11:24am
	The recommended crew weight for the RS500 is 115-155kg You may have noticed that in front of the jib cleat there is an additional eye so that you can 2:1 the jib sheet. This increases friction but makes the sheet loads lower for dinkier crews in a breeze. I tend to switch back to 1:1 in lighter breeze as its easier to ease out. Theres a good combination of different sized sailors and helm:crew weight ratios at the moment, but we've seen a higher proportion of husband/wife, parent/teenager than we see in some other RS classes. The boat was designed with 'larger' helmsmen in mind, so the transom of the boat was given more buoyancy from earlier prototypes to assist with this. It'll still be worth having the weight on the wire of course, but it's at least 'sympathetic' to the needs of quite a few teams!
	Riki Hooker Sales Director, RS Sailing www.rssailing.com