RS aero

   Gordon,
I have been away for the last few weekends, but I think about 17 boats have been delivered and we are getting 7-10 out at present which is as good as I would expect. The race reporting is often top three only and we have some exceptionally well sailed 300's merlins and a tasar so the top three is a challenge at present. Most have been sailing 7's. Peter is super quick with either rig, but then he would be super quick in an oppie with a pocket handkerchief 

We are all learning to sail them at present and getting quicker. I was the numpty who started way behind on Wednesday, but had put a 9 on and whilst a bit overpowered upwind when it was at 20 knots, I finished as the 2nd aero - overtook 7 boats on a reach, absolutely flying. Point being that I managed that sail in that much wind, now it is becoming more apparent how to use the rig. My switch over point is probably 16 -17knots where I would have been more efficient upwind with a 7 - (may have had a slightly smaller grin on the reach though .

Why don't you see if you can grab a demo boat for the Lymington open on the 13th/14th it's shaping up to be a great weekend and only a short hop for you?

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Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Topic: RS aero Posted: 21 May 15 at 9:19pm
	Gordon, I have been away for the last few weekends, but I think about 17 boats have been delivered and we are getting 7-10 out at present which is as good as I would expect. The race reporting is often top three only and we have some exceptionally well sailed 300's merlins and a tasar so the top three is a challenge at present. Most have been sailing 7's. Peter is super quick with either rig, but then he would be super quick in an oppie with a pocket handkerchief We are all learning to sail them at present and getting quicker. I was the numpty who started way behind on Wednesday, but had put a 9 on and whilst a bit overpowered upwind when it was at 20 knots, I finished as the 2nd aero - overtook 7 boats on a reach, absolutely flying. Point being that I managed that sail in that much wind, now it is becoming more apparent how to use the rig. My switch over point is probably 16 -17knots where I would have been more efficient upwind with a 7 - (may have had a slightly smaller grin on the reach though . Why don't you see if you can grab a demo boat for the Lymington open on the 13th/14th it's shaping up to be a great weekend and only a short hop for you?

gordon1277 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 24 Mar 10 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 665	Post Options Post Reply Quote gordon1277 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 15 at 8:25am
	Hi Simon Thanks for the kind offer but I will be at Shoreham sailing my Phantom. I know Richard Russel well from my time in Lymington so no how difficult he can be to beat. Peter I can gurantee the Phantom fleet at Lee has one of the highest % turnouts anywhere as I am the only one and I race every chance I get. Our RS400 also turnout as a high percentage despite this year having no changing rooms at the moment but the new ones will be fantastic once finished (thanks sport england). I think you need to talk to someone who does the reports as it gives a bad impression which I reacted to. As I am sure Simon will admit he has blown the trumpet quite hard over the numbers at Lymington and the reports do not reflect this.
	Gordon Lossc

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 15 at 9:48am
	Gordon All I have ever said is the orders placed and as far as I am aware there are now 25 orders from the combined clubs at Lymington of which 17 have arrived. I have never claimed every boat on the water at the same time, we all know that never happens with a club class, but to be getting 7-10 out regularly is perfectly good at this point. The Lymington demographic is probably a bit older than some clubs, but there are some younger sailors starting and that will only grow when secondhand boats start becoming available. As the rig handling develops you might expect people to start performing better to handicap and creeping up the results table but that of course only happens if they hit the start line well Unfortunately we don't have any control over what gets reported to Y&Y New models are always a bit of a concern, but these are turning out to be really good fun and dead simple with it. Edited by SimonW99 - 22 May 15 at 9:49am

NickM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jun 15 at 4:57pm
	Could I ask what handicap are clubs using for the RS Aero 5 now? 1105?

Oinks Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 24 Oct 14 Location: Bandol Online Status: Offline Posts: 267	Post Options Post Reply Quote Oinks Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jun 15 at 5:04pm
	Have you looked at the .pdf download from the Lymington report thats up now? Well done the Aeros....44 boats is pretty impressive by my reckoning.

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 15 at 7:58am
	Best check the RS site Nick. As far as i am aware there is no EN issued as yet.
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

NickM Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 27 May 09 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 328	Post Options Post Reply Quote NickM Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 20 Jun 15 at 8:39am
	Thanks guys. 1102 then.

iiiiitick Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Far too distracted from work Joined: 19 May 15 Online Status: Offline Posts: 240	Post Options Post Reply Quote iiiiitick Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jul 15 at 10:02am
	We had an Aero test at Combs yesterday. I never sailed it myself but others did. It was a blustery March-kind-of-day in July! The Aero carried the 7 meter rig and was tried by helms from 10 to 15 stone. My impressions for what they are worth? Acceleration on the gusts! Fairly easy to sail. Fairly easy to recover. Simple. Very light. A bit boring looking. Rather expensive. I do feel that it knocks a further nail in the Laser coffin (a lot of nails left yet though) but If a casual passer by saw one sail past would they think it any sexier than a new Lightning? Apparently they are building 25 per week so someone must be keen! I know that a lot of that is export but it is still a lot of boats in a declining, we are told, sport. Are the wildlife gardens of sailing clubs filling up with discarded boats? Ours will soon have an RS 100 in it because it's owner is buying an Aero and no one seems interested in the 100 any more.....let us hope that the vagaries of taste do not condemn the Aero to the same fate.

kneewrecker Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 09 Apr 14 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1586	Post Options Post Reply Quote kneewrecker Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jul 15 at 11:40am
	The Aero is an infinitely more versatile general purpose sailing dinghy than an RS100 though.... they're pretty much chalk and cheese and I think the 100 marked the end of a not particularly glorious era of dinghy sailing- so much for the asymmetric revolution hey? From what I've seen of the Aero in the flesh it looks like a well packaged product- even down to the masts fitting inside the boat and still stacking them. Get enough in a single club and I think rack 'n stack might be a serious option. They're certainly quicker than their onshore form factor would signal to me, (I agree they don't look that inspiring) but for the RS Tera generation I can see them being a natural 'adult version' to aspire to, or at least 'come back to' when early adult life has taken its toll. RS are also focusing on local fleet development - they appear to at least be ahead of the curve in realising the changing landscape of dinghy sailing in this country. Less travelling for sure. More infrequent, but family centric events a few times a year etc, coupled with a good club membership with evening and weekend options. Pistol Pete is certainly adding real value from what the punters report too.... so again I think RS are going about this in the right way, using proper resources with influence to enable people to get more from their sailing. Once there's a decent second hand market established then I can also really see this class making some serious in-roads into the Laser (and possibly Solo) territory - that could be ten years away yet though, we're not the most dynamic of markets to engage with are we?

Guests Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Quote Reply Posted: 09 Jul 15 at 12:04pm
	I would agree with most of the comments you made. the boat is light and pretty quick on all points of sail. Considering it is new its well developed and seems robust, but the weight is a real step change in comparisons to the Laser. You really feel it on the water and on shore. It looks fine, not pretty in a traditional sense, but certainly functional. The lack of sexiness means its simple and that is very appealing to many. Combine this with the sail options and it is a good overall package. Once the secondhand market evolves I am sure it will gain plenty of club traction. Its not perfect, but there are no quirks or obvious faults either. Personally I wouldn't mind it being a bit longer and would like an 8m sail, but then I can cover more of a range with two rigs and a longer boat would be heavier. The run on the kicker could be a bit better, but on the whole its a well rounded package. Cost wise its similar to the laser and cheaper than many other traditional classes so given that there is a fair bit of carbon in the hull as well as the rig, its difficult to see how it could have been sold for less. I sailed Lasers for a long time and they had their day. If only they had been smart enough to invest in the long term and stick a modern sail on an all carbon rig 8-10 years ago, the new boats would probably not exist. However they milked the Laser and in many ways thats a good thing for us as we now have thoroughly modern boats like the Aero and Zero as credible alternatives for club sailing.