RS aero

I would take it as a compliment, essentially no one is questioning the Blaze's ability to show you its heels upwind in a decent breeze.  It is the obvious reference point from the POV of a singlehanded hiking boat and upwind planing.   I certainly don't recall anyone claiming the RS300 planes upwind...  even in big breeze.

When another manufacturer launches a product will similar claims, and, on here at least, we're talking VMG optimised planing to a windward mark, e.g. a 420/470 in F4-5, barber-haul the jib, knock off a few degrees and get planing, not reaching around like a windyplanker sailing a cross-off beach keeping 'upwind' a bit.... some folks on this forum are going to question it.  

It's a bold claim... 'upwind planing'.  As a potential owner of a D-Zero, I would never anticipate it would 'plane upwind' as I understand it.  I would also expect to out-sailed by a Blaze over the water- especially in any wind worth considering.  I also note that neither Dan nor Rodney have not made such a claim either- less hype, more reality check maybe.  Alternatively we're just talking different markets, as sailboat racer I'd concern myself over VMG and weather marks.... as an RS Aero beach sailor, I just want to stay upwind enough to get back to my trolley without tacking.  (Assuming of course if I've needed one after carrying it from the carpark, one handed...)

With Go Pros and Youtube being such an inexpensive option, I'm really surprised not to see any evidence to support this upwind planing claim from RS... yet.  In the videos I've seen it seems to bash away like any other small sailboat.    Even Martin W's questioned it on SA if anyone cares the thread dredge over there.  But here it is again, under discussion, questions raised with correlating eyebrows.  'It's advertising' according to Blue One, no it's false advertising if it's a load of b**locks mate.

Only the Icon seems to get anywhere near that from my own recent experience.

The Tasar is a nice boat to sail and is undoubtedly quick but not Fireball quick (IMO).

Both boats (despite any marketing blurb to the contrary) are really a good modern replacement for the Laser. Once they start getting critical mass and the second hand market starts to take up in a few years time then they may pose a credible challenge to the Laser.

The D Zero is certainly a boat that sails nicely and the boat itself will not punish you too hard for a silly mistake, Cannot comment on the Aero as i am yet to sail one and I don;t think our friends at RS would be in a hurry to let me get in one.

The Blaze is a different boat altogether. I found that if I did not sail it every week I definitely felt the rust more on my technique and felt I was losing out more by not being in it. That is why I went back to the Laser, I know I can jump in to it and push it even if I have missed a few weeks.

Whether I will be able to do the same in the D Zero remains to be seen. I have a guy to race against in another one who is very similar speed to me in most conditions so time will tell. That said the boat is so nice to sail i probably won't mind (too much) if he does lead me home.