RS Sailing Shares Championship Checklist Ahead of the RS Games
by RS Sailing 14 Jul 09:00 BST
16-26 July 2026
RS Aero Championship © A. Champy McLean
With just one week to go until the first racing begins at the RS Games 2026, sailors across Europe are busy packing, prepping and getting ready for the biggest celebration of RS Sailing at Travemünder Woche, 16-26 July 2026. Numbers currently stand at 613 entries, 914 sailors from 29 nations.
The racing begins on 18 July with the RS Tera World Championship and European Championships for the RS Venture, RS500, RS700 and RS800 fleets, followed by the RS Aero Europeans and Youth World Championship on 20 July, the RS Feva World Championship on 22 July, and finally the European Championships for the RS100, RS200, RS400, RS Vareo and RS21 classes on 23 July.
Back at RS Sailing's HQ, amidst the madness of loading up the RS vans with the team's event kit, we managed to steal a few minutes with Jake Elsbury to hear his top tips for arriving ready to race. As well as being part of the RS Sailing team, Jake is a RYA Junior & Youth Coach who's attended countless national and world championships, so he knows exactly what it takes to arrive prepared!
Championship Checklist
1. Prep Your Boat Before You Leave Home
"The best time to spot a problem is before you set off..." Give your boat a thorough once-over, paying particular attention to:
- Running rigging - check for worn or damaged ropes
- Mast and spars - inspect for any signs of damage or corrosion
- Blocks and cleats - make sure everything is working smoothly
- Fittings - look for corrosion or anything that might need replacing
- Sails - check for loose stitching, damage and make sure your sail numbers are correct and class legal
- Hull - if possible, carry out a pressure test before you leave
A little preventative maintenance now could save you a lot of frustration later. "If you get to the RS Games and find something's gone amiss, no problem," adds Jake, highlighting that the RS Sailing Store team are on site with some "event stock at the RS Hubs at the Grunstrand and Priwall dinghy parks."
2. Trailers, Towing & #RoofRackReady
Jake laughs: "I've no idea about trailers… I'm the guy who kicks the tyres and goes, 'It'll be alright!' "
We'll take this one!
If you're towing your boat, make sure your trailer is roadworthy and that you've checked the latest towing guidance from your national governing body. UK sailors can find everything they need on the GOV.UK website.
Travelling with your dinghy on the roof instead? Take a look at RS Sailing's #RoofRackReady guide for transporting your boat safely.
For more advice on getting your boat to the RS Games specifically, the RS Games transport webinar, hosted by RS500 UK Class Chair & International Social Media Rep James Curtis, is available on Youtube.
3. Start Watching the Forecast
Back in the room with Jake, and we're talking about weather next. His advice?
"I'd start looking at the forecast early. Get an idea of the wind you're walking into and what sort of event it's going to be. Yeah… I love a synoptic chart. Check the weather!"
While it's useful to understand the forecast ahead of time, don't let it dictate your packing.
As Jake says: "it's always worth bringing kit for every eventuality - you never quite know what you'll get."
4. Don't Forget the Paperwork
Before you travel, make sure you've got all your essential documents: "There's nothing more frustrating than reaching a border crossing and discovering something important is missing."
Jake also recommends downloading or printing the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions. "They're perfect for a bit of light reading on the journey, so you know what's happening before you arrive."
And don't forget - an RS event is just as much about the socials as it is the sailing!
Check out the RS Games Event Guide for the full social programme, including the big RS Games parties. "Make sure you pack your wildest Hawaiian shirt for the beach party on the 25 July - there may even be a prize for the worst dressed," grins Jake.
You can also explore the wider Travemünder Woche festival programme on their website pages.
5. Give Your Boat One Last Check at the Venue
Once you've arrived, rigged your boat and are nearly ready to launch, Jake recommends carrying out one final inspection.
"Check all your settings once you're rigged up and ready to go. I'd check rake, pre-bend - all that sort of thing."
And there's one thing many sailors overlook after a long road trip:
"On plastic boats, a lot of the fittings are just bolted in. If you've been driving for a long time, the vibration can actually shake the bolts loose. I'd definitely check the bolts, especially on the pintle and gudgeon fittings."
6. Ask the Locals
One of the easiest ways to get quicker is simply to ask the people who sail out of Travemünde every week.
Jake says: "Find the locals - they'll give you the best information. I'm trying to find the local legend who knows what the water's doing."
He also recommends finding the best local weather station. "Rather than just relying on an app, I'll check the live weather station readout. I compare what the forecast says with what's actually happening, then start making my own tactical decisions."
Jake's Final Championship Tip - Go Sailing!
Head out for a practice sail before racing begins.
"When I get on the water, I really want to know what the flow is doing. It might not be a hugely tidal venue, but the water is always moving for one reason or another. I'll look at the flow, check what the wind's doing, adjust my triggers and spend a bit of time sailing upwind."
Getting familiar with the venue before racing starts can give you a valuable edge.
Jake leaves us with one final piece of advice:
"Ultimately, the easiest race to win at any regatta is the first one. Work hard to win that first race. After that, everyone knows what the wind's doing, what the current's doing, whether to go left or right - the cat's out of the bag. So; get in first."
Thanks for the top tips, Jake!
RS Sailing would like to extend well wishes of safe travels to everyone heading to the RS Games in Germany. Don't forget to share your journey and tag @rssailing in your stories on Instagram. The whole team can't wait to see you in Travemünde.