Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

RS Sailing's top 10 tips for getting your training fleet ready for the start of the summer season!

by RS Sailing 24 May 2022 16:26 BST
RS Toura © RS Sailing

The season is kicking off, and as ever, it's essential to spend some time rigging up your boat and sailing it before your customers and students arrive at your Sailing Club or Training Centre.

Take the time to blow out all the cobwebs from last season and pick up on any niggles that could stop your team or volunteers from maximising their session time on the water this summer.

Here are our top 10 things to check before getting out on the water this season!

  1. Trolley

    Most damage on a sailing boat results from poor maintenance of its trolley. Check that all the cushioning and rubber is in place, so your boat isn't grinding on the trolley.

  2. Trolley wheels

    Give these a good look over. Pushing a boat with flat tyres is far from ideal. Make sure they're in good condition ahead of getting out on the water so you can order spare parts in time.

  3. Kicker

    This is often the main control in small sailing dinghies. These ropes and blocks will take a lot of wear and tear. Give them a good check to make sure there is no fraying, make sure the blocks are in working order so that the kicker has a full range of motion and replace the rope if you need to.

  4. Rivets

    The unsung hero of spars - so often we forget these little pieces of metal doing all the work to keep our spars in working order. But it's time you gave them a little bit of love to make sure that everything is well maintained. Over time, water can corrode your mast/boom, leaving it weak and vulnerable to breakages. It's best to find these before it you end up with a boom in two sections!

  5. Key cleats

    Check your main and jib halyard and sheet cleats for fraying. Similar to the kicker, they undergo lots of wear and tear, so it's important to keep an eye on them!

  6. Reefing systems

    Nothing says 'get out of jail free card' like a reefing system. An essential training system on any boat, it's definitely worth making sure that this is running smooth and free of any snags. On a windy day, when the chips are down, you'll thank yourself.

  7. Jib furling line

    Being able to furl your jib is essential to teaching people to sail in a controlled environment. More importantly, communicating in a quiet environment without the jib flapping helps your sailors concentrate and achieve.

  8. Tiller universal joint

    This might look like it's only wearing slightly, but it can snap off suddenly. It's best to check and repair a tiller extension joint as soon as it starts to show signs of wear and tear so that you don't end up with it breaking whilst you are sailing.

  9. Bungs

    Avoid embarrassing moments, always check your bung!

  10. Clean your boats

    With the obvious benefits of your boats looking good, avoid any foreign species from invading any water sources you are sailing in by keeping your boats squeaky clean. Most of all, the dirt and the grime can hide areas of your boat that could be damaged. Keeping your boats clean will allow you to see if something is breaking and ensure that your customers or students have the best experience.

The Customers Care Team at RS Sailing are always on hand to help with any advice or replacement parts, so please don't hesitate to get in touch. We hope you have a fantastic summer on the water at your sailing club or training centre!

Related Articles

RS21 Italian Class to present Masterclass
As part of the World Sailing Sustainability Sessions The RS21 Italian Class will present a sustainability masterclass on 29th November 2023 as part of the World Sailing Sustainability Sessions. Posted on 18 Nov
RS Sailing announces RS Fest Miami 2024
The first multi-class RS event in North America! Get ready for the RS Fest Miami, the first EVER major multi-class RS Sailing event in North America. The three-day regatta, Saturday March 30th to Monday April 1st 2024, is a celebration of RS Sailing fleets - hosted in tropical Miami, Florida! Posted on 28 Oct
RS Sailing partner with Crystal Lagoons
Bringing idyllic beach life via sustainable technology RS Sailing is proud to announce the entrance into a preferred vendor partner agreement with Crystal Lagoons. Posted on 27 Oct
WE Foundation SailGP One Sport Race
Presented by the Swiss SailGP Team & Stiftelsen VI The final event of the European leg of SailGP takes place in vibrant Cádiz, an ancient port city in the Andalucía region of Spain. In the run-up to the Spain Sail Grand Prix, Swiss SailGP Team is proud to host the WE Foundation SailGP One Sport Race Posted on 12 Oct
RS Sailing set for the Southampton Boat Show
Get 38% off general admission 'Any One Day' tickets with code: RSSAILING Get 38% off general admission 'Any One Day' tickets with code: RSSAILING. Posted on 2 Sep
RS Sailing - Exclusive Summer Offers
Sunshine, refreshing sea breezes and a booming events calendar! Summer 2023 is finally here! It's clear that the sunshine, refreshing sea breezes and a booming events calendar have made the RS Team giddy with excitement for the busy months ahead. All that excitement has results in some exclusive summer offers. Posted on 1 Jul
RS Sailing - Summer is here
Let the adventures begin! First championship tips... We'd be lying if we said that turning up to your first sailing event isn't a little daunting, but there's so many other sailors (and families) in the same position. Posted on 3 Jun
RS Sailing - It's Boat Show Season!
The RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show signifies the start of the sailing season One of the highlights of the RS Team's year. The RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show signifies the start of the sailing season for many of us in the UK, and we cannot wait! Posted on 13 Feb
Rooster partners with RS Venture Connect class
A range of customised clothing and apparel available to all those involved The International RS Venture Connect class is pleased to announce that UK-based Watersports clothing and apparel specialists Rooster have agreed to a new and exciting partnership. Posted on 16 Dec 2022
RS' marine group of companies expands
Manufacturing Picos and other well-loved designs from Jo Richards RS' marine group of companies is expanding with the newly formed Ocean Play. The new company, which is collaboration between RS and Jo Richards, is now manufacturing Picos, Bugs, Bahias and Vagos, with delivery expected in late January 2023. Posted on 17 Nov 2022