A Toe-Strap, a Warehouse Tour, and a Fleet That Grew by Itself
by RS Sailing & Paul Jackson 22 May 18:00 BST
A Fleet That Grew by Itself - the RS Aeros at Gunfleet SC © Richard O Walker
An unexpected conversation with a newly converted RS Aero sailor whose club fleet has quietly exploded
It started, as many good sailing conversations do, with something entirely practical.
A replacement toe-strap.
Paul Jackson had called in to RS Sailing HQ to pick up a new toe-strap for a second-hand RS Aero he had bought only days earlier - a used boat, newly his, with an old strap that was "a bit tatty but probably could have kept working."
A small errand. In and out.
Instead, after being welcomed in by RS Sailing's Head of Operations, Richard Frost, for an impromptu look around the building, the visit turned into one of those conversations that reminds you how fleets really grow: not by strategy, not by persuasion, but because sailors notice what works, talk to each other, and quietly make their own minds up.
By the time Paul sat down with a coffee in the showroom, what emerged was not simply the story of one sailor buying one RS Aero, but of something much bigger happening at his local sailing club.
A fleet had appeared. And it had happened fast.
From Zero to Thirteen in Under A Year
Paul sails from Gunfleet Sailing Club, Clacton-on-Sea, where conditions can be unforgiving, varied, and always interesting.
"Just a few years ago, I don't think we had any RS Aeros at all," Paul opens with. "I think that grew to six or seven by the end of 2025. As of Saturday... there are thirteen."
Thirteen boats in little more than a season is remarkable anywhere, but especially when, as Paul puts it, there was "no fanfare, no agenda, no special deals."
"By early 2025 a couple of RS Aeros had appeared. We'd all seen new boats before, so nobody made much of it. But people watched them sail."
And that, he says, was enough.
"The RS Aero was Seen to Work"
What convinced him personally was simple: he had a go.
"I was given a spin in one of the member's boats and I was so impressed - not just by how responsive it was, but by how much it suited where we sail."
For a club launching into open sea, practical details matter as much as performance.
"We're mainly older chaps, if I'm honest," he says, laughing. "And irrespective of that, getting boats out of the surf, up the beach without damage, getting them back into the compound without needing extra people - that matters. They're so lightweight."
That 33kg hull weight has become a major attraction.
"It suits the location, but it also suits the people sailing them - from younger sailors to heavy buggers like me!"
Open Water, No Hiding Place
For anyone unfamiliar with Gunfleet Sailing Club, Paul paints the picture quickly.
"It's just up from Clacton-on-Sea. North Sea. Open to the elements. There's nowhere to hide."
The waves are rarely huge, but rarely predictable either: "You get anything from 18 to 34 waves a minute."
Which naturally led to the obvious question: can you surf an RS Aero there?
"You can surf it," he says. "But the waves at Gunfleet are so chaotic it gets messy. You cut through them more than surf them."
Fortunately, that suits the RS Aero's bow shape and handling too.
Tight Racing was Impossible to Ignore
Before buying his own boat, Paul had been sailing a GP14, a Solo, and also spent time in a Laser.
One thing stood out immediately watching the RS Aero fleet develop: "The competition looked incredibly tight. In other classes we'd often be spread all over the place. But the RS Aeros - they stayed together. Proper racing."
That close competition was a major draw.
"I chose the RS Aero because I wanted to compete with like-minded people in a spritely, reactive, energetic boat that perfectly reflects what our sea state asks of you."
No Pressure, No Persuasion - Just Sailors Noticing Sailors
One of the most striking parts of Paul's story is how naturally the fleet appeared.
"No special deals were made. No one was coerced into doing this. Everyone chose the RS Aero because of the merits of the RS Aero."
At Gunfleet, there's no shortage of variety already.
"We've got everything from Comets to Solos to Lasers. But the RS Aero has just won the hearts and minds of the people sailing them."
Some local sailors have started exploring larger events too, but Paul is clear that organised racing wasn't what sparked local growth.
"It's not because people saw big competitions and thought they should join in. It's because the boat itself is accomplished in every aspect."
Immediately Competitive, Instant Fun
For many sailors trying a new class, there's often a period of learning before confidence arrives.
Paul expected that: "I thought it would be like most classes I've sailed - where you spend a while learning the intricacies and start at the back of the fleet."
Instead: "I got in it and could compete immediately." That surprised him.
"There are obviously nuances you'll only learn with time, but so many lessons from other classes transfer straight across. The main thing was - it was fun from the get-go."
And that matters. Because for many sailors, especially club sailors balancing racing with enjoyment, immediate fun is often the deciding factor.
Discovering the Wider Class
Paul arrived at RS simply to buy a part. Instead, he left discovering a much wider network.
"I'm a bit blown away by it all. I came in to buy a toe-strap, and now suddenly I'm hearing about coaching, class support, all this community..."
That naturally led to discussion about the RS Aero Class scene and the people behind it, including Peter Barton and Sammy Isaacs-Johnson.
"I've seen Peter's YouTube videos," Paul said immediately.
And that recognition says a lot about how accessible the class has become globally - practical advice shared freely, sailors helping sailors, and knowledge circulating well beyond formal events.
Organic Growth, Pure Enjoyment
What perhaps sits at the heart of Paul's story is that his excitement isn't just about owning a boat.
It's about discovering a fleet, a club trend, and a type of sailing that simply makes sense.
"This is unpaid, legitimate - I wrote this because I believe it," he later emailed. "I enjoy sailing. The RS Aero makes me smile."
That may be the most powerful endorsement of all.
Because fleets do not grow organically unless sailors genuinely enjoy what they are doing. At Gunfleet, that growth happened by action, not words.
People saw the boat working in rough sea, dumping surf, beach launches, flat days, windy days, awkward days - and decided it belonged there.
Now there are thirteen.
And Paul's own RS Aero story, as he puts it, "is only just beginning."
Written with thanks to Paul Jackson and his impromptu interview; sharing such a lovely story about how fleets grow - not through campaigns or incentives, but because sailors see something working on the water and want to be part of it.
If you've got a story you'd like to share with the RS Team, we'd love to hear from you. Email us at