RS100 Class Announces Ground Breaking New Start Procedure
by RS100 Class Association 1 Apr 2025 07:00 BST
1 April 2025
2022 Noble Marine RS100 Allen Nationals day 2 © Digital Sailing
The RS100 is a revolutionary boat that enjoys sparkling performance downwind. Like many assymetrics, the exhilaration of sailing downwind is tempered by the beat back to the windward mark. In order to maximise the thrill of racing, the RS100 will be adopting downwind gate starts for this year's nationals.
Similar to upwind gate starts, the pathfinder will set-off from a fixed mark on port but going downwind at up to 20 knots towards the waiting starters.
All the other racers will start by crossing behind the pathfinder in an orderly manner and racing towards the leeward gates. The decision has been met with enthusiasm by class members, Flora Poil saying "This is a great step forward and I'm sure we'll see it at the next Olympics. Always proud to be part of something new". The class has also recognised that spotting the pathfinder in the starting melee can sometimes be difficult. Hence, in a further innovation the pathfinder for the day will be issued with a fully red spinnaker and will be fitted with a thin, lightweight carbon masthead rod equipped with a bright, strobing LED.
RS100 stalwart and rules expert Mark Harrison said "I'll be able to leverage my rules knowledge and perhaps finally earn some respect. Having adjudicated many times on leeward gate congestion, I've also recommended, for the first lap only, that the leeward gate is rounded from outside to in, rather than the traditional inside to out". Past national champion Huw Powell has said "I can't think of a single thing that could possibly go wrong here. Looking forward to the nationals". Class chairman Dave Smart said "Interest in our forthcoming Nationals at the legendary Mounts Bay SC was already unprecedented, but leaks of this news already have my inbox pinging with enquiries from sailors outside the class as to how they can get hold of a boat to join our great racing."