An interview with Trin Ollinger about the 2024 RS Aero Women's US National Championship
by David Schmidt 2 Oct 2024 16:00 BST
October 6-10, 2024
RS Aero World Championship at Hayling Island Day 3 © Oli King Photography
The RS Aero hit the One Design sailing scene just over a decade ago, and the fast, lightweight, and modern take on the one-person dinghy quickly began turning heads, thanks in part to its four different rig options. This latter point is important, as it opens the door for sailors of all sizes, displacements, heights, and sexes to enjoy the boat's sparking performance. Factor in an epoxy construction (read: a 73-pound hull), an open cockpit, a square-topped mainsail, and hard chines, and 13-foot dinghy's global popularity becomes obvious.
While the RS Aero's hull has plenty of features going for it, the four different rig options are one of the design's most important attributes. Sailors can choose between mainsails with 53.82, 64.58, 75.35, or 96.88 square feet of cloth that best match their ability to resist vanishing stability.
Not surprisingly, many talented male and female sailors have gravitated to the design, and the class wisely supports regattas that are open to mixed-sex sailors and women's-only regattas.
The RS Aero's 2024 North American Championship was hosted and organized from September 6-8 by the Richmond Yacht Club (RYC) in Richmond, California, the 2024 RS Aero Women's National Championship will unfurl on Mobile Bay from October 6-10. It's being hosted by the Fairhope Yacht Club (FYC), in Fairhope, Alabama, and it's being organized by the RS Aero North American Class Association and the FYC.
A glance at the regatta's registration list shows entrants from as far afield as Seattle, Washington; New York City, New York; Jacksonville Beach, Florida, and Arlington, Texas.
The event is open to women sailors who are members in good standing with the RS Aero Class Association, and racing is open to all four rig sizes (three or more boats constitute a class).
I checked in with Trin Ollinger, who serves as regatta co-chair (and who is also competing in the RS Aero 5 class), via email, to learn more about this high-level women's-only dinghy regatta.
Has the RS Aero class long held a women's national championship? If so, do you know any of the history behind this?
This year's event will be the third time the event has been held. The last two years the event was held in Dallas, Texas, at the Viridian Sailing Center.
What fleet (RS Aero 5, 6, 7, and 9) is proving to be the most popular in terms of entry numbers? Also, in terms of competition levels, is one (or two) fleet shaping up to be more competitive than the others?
As of today, the 5 class is the biggest group, and probably the most competitive. This rig size lends itself well to women, who tend to be smaller than the average man, and although the 6 is also conducive, not many people have purchased this, the newest, rig size.
Weather-wise, what kind conditions can sailors expect to encounter on Mobile Bay in early October? What are the best-case and worst-case wind scenarios?
In mid-October, Mobile Bay is typically still in a summer pattern: light winds until around 2 or 3 PM, and then a sea breeze fills in as the land heats up.
As we get closer to the end of the month, it is not out of the question for a cold front to push through, in which case we might have some steadier north breezes.
The worst-case scenario would be a slick day with no wind, which seems the least likely scenario!
How much of a factor do you see local knowledge playing at this regatta?
A group of our competitors (around seven boats) are coming from Viridian Yacht Club, which competes on a small man-made lake. Those ladies may have a hard time with the Mobile Bay chop, but outside of that I don't think local knowledge will advantage anyone... We don't have much current/tide, and no "regular" shifts!
If you could offer one piece of advice to visiting (and local) sailors, what would it be?
To the visitors: come a day early or stay a day (or two) later—Fairhope is a spectacular town to visit with a lot to see and do!
To the locals: spend some time getting to know the other competitors that are visiting our area. Camaraderie is the best part of the sport.
Do you have any entries that you're eyeing for podium finishes? What about any dark horses who you think could prove to be fast, once the starting guns begin sounding?
Hmm. I'm not going to make any predictions here! We have a very competitive class, and what I expect is a shuffling in the top spots after each race!
What kind of evening entertainment do you and the other event organizers have planned?
We are hosting a clinic on Friday, with a social gathering (drinks and FYC's house-made pizzas) on the yacht club's gazebo afterwards.
Saturday after the races we are having a pasta dinner and football-watching party in the club.
Is there anything else that you'd like to add about this year's RS Aero Women's National Championship, for the record?
It is going to be great fun! We are really looking forward to hosting these competitors!