Please select your home edition
Edition
Musto 2023 Hikers LEADERBOARD
Product Feature
New - Barton Marine Quick Cleat for Inflatables 60021
New - Barton Marine Quick Cleat for Inflatables 60021

RS 30th Anniversary Regatta at Hayling Island Sailing Club Day 1

by Bex Foot, RS Sailing 18 May 16:59 BST 17-19 May 2024
RS 30th Anniversary Regatta Day 1 © Phil Jackson / Digital Sailing

Three decades of fun later and RS Sailing's passion for our sport has been unwavering. But what makes the RS Classes so special? The sailors! RS Sailing are honoured to be joined by hundreds of RS sailors for a festival of sailing at Hayling Island Sailing Club this weekend.

14 of the RS Racing Classes will be battling it out on the water and in true RS style, partying late into the night over the three days. From a sailor's first regatta in the RS Tera to true RS legends chasing for a spot on the podium in the RS21, the old strapline 'From first time to the finish line' still rings true.

With a real eclectic mix of weather forecast, Hayling Island sailing Club will play host to fierce competition in the iconic waters of Chichester Harbour and Hayling Bay.

Friday was the start of the RS 30th Anniversary Regatta for the RS21, RS500 and Masters Classes. After a thorough briefing on shore by Tim Hancock and his team, the sailors launched in light winds and wall-to-wall sunshine. The Masters sailors and RS500 Class headed out into the bay but stayed close to the shore to make the most of the sea breeze whilst the RS21's headed out to deeper water.

Racing proved to be a game of snakes and ladders, with the breeze fluctuating in both strength and direction throughout the races. Sailors seemed to pop out ahead when they got into a clean lane and settled into it, whereas one bad roll tack or a poorly executed gybe really made the sailors pay for their boat handling misgivings. The sailors that managed to stay the right side of the shifts also reaped the gains, balancing the fine art of taking a few extra degrees and maintaining boat speed was the winning formula for the day.

Back on shore, the RS21 fleet enjoyed a pontoon party hosted by Harken with the fantastic backdrop of Sparkes MDL Marina adding to the atmosphere. Sailors had banter filled debriefs of the racing that day with cool refreshments. The Masters sailors headed up to the bar to make the most of the stunning sunset after a quick daily prize-giving in the RS Sailors Hub, the spot prizes which are kindly provided by Kingfisher Yacht Ropes, Harken, Allen, RS Sailing Store and Selden. Special mention goes to Alistair Hodgson who finished the day on 30 points which felt incredibly fitting for the RS 30th Anniversary Regatta. The RS500 sailors enjoyed one extra race, then headed in to join the Masters sailors in the bar after a thirsty days sailing. Hayling Island Sailing Club laid on a tasty meal for all the fleets that evening and what had planned to be a quiet affair in the lead up to Saturday night appeared to run away with itself somewhat as old friends caught up from decades gone by.

Saturday sees the start of racing for all RS Classes, the RS Tera, RS Feva, RS Aero, RS21, RS Elite, RS Vareo, RS100, RS200, RS300, RS400, RS500, RS600, RS700 and RS800, RS Sailing can not wait to welcome the final cohort of RS Sailors to the RS 30th Anniversary Regatta.

View the results at sailevent.net/noticeboard/136

Related Articles

RS Aero Cycle Challenge day 1
Towing a boat via bicycles 200 miles The RS Team set off from Coningsby, Lincolnshire, this morning, officially marking the start of the RS Aero Cycle Challenge after weeks of build-up. The chilly conditions were nothing compared to the warm send-off. Posted on 12 Sep
Fernhurst Books Sponsoring Endeavour Prizes
For the RS Noughty Fleets at this year's Nationals The RS Class Association are excited to announce that Fernhurst Books are continuing with their generous support of our National Championships through sponsorship of the Endeavour Prize for each fleet. Posted on 24 Aug
RS Aero Cycle Challenge
This isn't your average charity bike ride, it's literally a boatload harder Four members of the RS Team are taking on a crazy challenge in memory of our much-loved friend and colleague, Maciej Nowaczyk, who sadly lost his fight with cancer earlier this year. Posted on 15 Aug
Noble Marine supports RS Class Association
For Noble Marine National Championships Noble Marine are proud to be sponsors of the RS Class Association, as this is one of the most active and well supported class of dinghies. Posted on 15 Aug
Win a spinnaker at the Nationals
RS Sailing and RS Class Association to support Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust RS Sailing have generously donated a spinnaker for four RS 'noughty' classes National Championships. The spinnakers are being raffled to raise money for the RS Class Association's charity partner, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. Posted on 13 Jul
RS Aero Europeans and RS Eurocup at Carnac overall
And the winners are Patience was the key word for the last day at the RS Aero European Championship / RS Eurocup, organised by the Yacht Club de Carnac (YCC). Posted on 24 Jun
RS Aero Europeans and RS Eurocup at Carnac Day 3
Shifty winds for the fleets "No two days are alike" is exactly what was experienced today by the 131 teams at the European Championship RS Aero / Eurocup RS organised by the Yacht Club de Carnac (YCC). Posted on 23 Jun
RS Aero Europeans and RS Eurocup at Carnac Day 2
The fleet gave a most spectacular show in the bay of Quiberon Another sunny and windy day at the European Championship RS Aero / Eurocup RS organised by the Yacht Club de Carnac (YCC). Posted on 22 Jun
RS Aero Europeans and RS Eurocup at Carnac Day 1
132 competitors and 14 nations battle on the bay of Quiberon The first day of competition for the RS Aero European Championships and the RS Eurocup at the Yacht Club de Carnac (YCC) saw 132 competitors from fourteen different nations battle in the bay of Quiberon under a sunny sky. Posted on 21 Jun
RS200 & RS400 Eastern Sprint Championships
19 boats race at Greystones Sailing Club On Saturday 8th June, the RS200/400 Eastern Sprint Championships took place at Greystones Sailing Club in Co. Wicklow. In total 19 boats arrived between 200s and 400s in eager anticipation with a great forecast. Posted on 10 Jun