Small Craft Tasmania take on the RS Toura - Mat and Jo unbox the boat, lay out all the kit
by RS Sailing 26 Sep 21:30 BST
Small Craft Tasmania unbox the RS Toura © Small Craft Tasmania
After having so much fun with the RS CAT12, the Small Craft Tasmania team have added another RS boat to their ever-growing fleet of adventure craft: the RS Toura!
In their latest episode (available on YouTube), Mat and Jo unbox the boat, lay out all the kit, put it together, and share exactly why they think the RS Toura is the "ultimate do-it-all dinghy" for their cruising lifestyle.
And, of course, Billie the dog is along for the ride too.
Meet The RS Toura
Nestled in RS Sailing's Adventure range alongside the popular RS Zest and RS Quest, the RS Toura was launched in 2022 as a modern, durable dinghy designed to combine stability, space and performance.
With a huge amount of room, impressive stability and surprisingly good speed, the RS Toura is equally at home teaching the next generation of sailors, exploring the coastline or simply having some fun on the water.
For Small Craft Tasmania, with Tasmania's rugged coastline and endless opportunities for adventure, it looks like a particularly good fit.
But first, there's the small matter of putting the thing together...
First Up: The Unboxing
Everything comes out of the bag and gets laid out ready for assembly. "It's like Lego!" says a very happy Jo as they unpack the stays, shrouds, running rigging and deck hardware, along with the Hyde Sails and Selden spars.
The quality of the components gets an immediate thumbs-up, too. "Wow, it's really well made," says Jo as they inspect the mast. "Yeah, the Selden stuff is really good," agrees Mat.
As for their thoughts on the rigging guide: "We've been really impressed with how RS prepare and present their new boats. All the components are clearly labelled and the manual and parts list are clear, detailed and easy to follow."
Tools, Tips and a Little Ingenuity
Next, Mat runs through the recommended tools for assembling the RS Toura, as well as a few of his own handy tips.
From adding a little Loctite to certain deck fittings and using silicone spray to lubricate the spinnaker pole mouth, to compressing springs with cable ties to make fitting them back into the blocks easier, there's plenty of practical advice along the way. If you're planning to rig an RS Toura yourself, this is definitely one to watch.
And keep an ear out for the component Jo and Mat have affectionately nicknamed "Yah-Yah Ding Dong"!
Why did Small Craft Tasmania choose the RS Toura as a Cruising Dinghy?
For the Tasmanian adventurers, a good cruising boat comes down to three key things:
1. Safety and Self-Rescue
This is high on their priority list. The RS Toura's huge mast float, self-draining cockpit and clever grab handles along the hull all contribute to making it easier for a capable skipper and crew to recover the boat after a capsize.
2. Speed
The team like being able to cover long distances quickly, which can also be a safety consideration in itself, but there's another reason they value speed: "It's just more fun." We can't argue with that.
3. Low Maintenance
The RS Toura's durability is another big attraction for Small Craft Tasmania. "It's built like a tank," says the team, meaning they can pull the boat up onto rocky shorelines without worrying about damaging it.
Room for everyone
For Jo, one of the biggest advantages of the RS Toura is simply how much boat you get.
"She's a big 15ft dinghy with loads of room and a huge payload. Here's a craft we can launch off the beach and take two or three families out for a sail in a safe, stable and fun boat for a blast around the island."
As they continue rigging, the team also take a closer look at the RS Toura's PE3 construction before adding the jib, mainsail and spinnaker.
Meet "Tas the Toura"
With the boat finally rigged and ready to go, there's just one thing left to do: give her a name. The team christen their new RS Toura "Tas the Toura" before sending her off for her first dunk.
And in true Small Craft Tasmania style, there's a little twist on the traditional champagne christening - they use tea instead, in honour of the boat being English-made. How very quaint!
Now that Tas the Toura is assembled, rigged and officially christened, the team at RS Sailing can't wait to see what happens next... Stay tuned for the next episode, when Small Craft Tasmania take Tas the Toura out for her first sail!