Please select your home edition
Edition
RS Sailing 2021 - LEADERBOARD

Five top tips for sailing an RS Aero

by RS Sailing 12 Aug 2022 17:23 BST
RS Aero 7 © RS Sailing

In the RS community, we are passionate about helping others reach their full potential. This makes for fierce racing on the water and creates vibrant classes that keep inspiring sailors decades on.

We caught up with Greg Bartlett, who after a lot of dedication, won the RS Aero European Championship in 2019. We wanted to know his RS Aero specific tips for those aspiring to come up the ranks.

Here's what he had to say:

  1. It seems simple, but one of the most significant factors to my speed was when I started listening to my unofficial sailing coach and fleet legend, Peter Barton. I started applying much more kicker. With two full-length battens, the RS Aero sail is naturally quite full. So it would be best if you had plenty of kicker (more than you think) since horizontal creases are speed creases. When they're gone, it means you have enough kicker on! I avoid hooking the leech and properly flatten off the sail when it is windy (or very light to a certain extent). I have the adjustable battens as loose as they can; I still had enough power, even being a heavier sailor and can use more kicker without stalling the rig. When flattening off the sail with plenty of kicker, a decent amount of outhaul needs to be off (approximately 10-15cm from the boom at the centre of the foot of the sail).

  2. Again also simple, keep the boat flat. Much flatter than you think, what you may think is 5 or 10 degrees leeward heel usually is double that, flat = fast. This will vary in different sea states, but flat water = flat boat.

  3. HIKE!!! Have a good set of hikers (although not essential with the ergonomically curved side of the aero). Training with a hiking bench (short intervals at max hike) for light winds to maintain momentum, squatting with weights, cycling etc., are all great exercises for building hiking fitness.

  4. When wavy and breezy, put your weight back. Another great tip from the mighty Peter Barton: put your weight back on the sea or a vast river where the wind is 18knts or more! Hiking underneath the RS Aero logo rather than ahead also helped me jump in speed when windy. It's straightforward if the waves are coming over the bow upwind, get your weight back.

  5. Going downwind, adjust your kicker. You can judge effectiveness by stability. If the boat feels stable, you likely have too much kicker on; alternatively, if the boat feels like it wants to death roll, you don't have enough. A personal judgement has to be made. The sail is pretty full downwind, so you can bring outhaul in so it's fairly close to the boom (this means it's a better shape for running by the lee). Transitions are an art form that gets better with practise in waves; having the kicker set right will help you transition best without using the rudder (body weight and sheet to steer in waves rather than the rudder, as I'm sure you're all aware of).

So, there you have it! Some top tips from the awesome Greg Bartlett. If you have any of your own that you want to share with the RS community head to the RS Aero Class Association website and get involved on their forums or share them on our social media!

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