RS Aero

Special offer

PURE EXHILARATION, BEAUTIFUL SIMPLICITY

The RS Aero is the product of three years of design and development, testing four different hull variations and numerous rig, foil, and layout options – resulting in a boat that we are confident is the most technically advanced in its sector.

The RS Aero completely re-sets the standard for pure exhilaration in a simple single-hander. Ultra-lightweight means the hull form and rigs need not be extreme, so the RS Aero is remarkably easy to handle.

And lightweight makes the RS Aero exceptionally user-friendly onshore: Basically anyone can lift the boat onto a car roof rack – pulling it up the beach makes you smile – and simplicity means the boat can be rigged in moments.

High tech materials are used in the composite epoxy foam sandwich hull, with carbon fiber in high load areas and the spars. Astonishingly, the RS Aero hull weighs less than an Optimist at just 33kg.

Astonishingly, the RS Aero hull weighs less than an Optimist at just 33kg, with three rig options that will typically suit:

Youths - RS Aero 5
Youths, women & light weight men - RS Aero 6
Women & light men - RS Aero 7
Men - RS Aero 9

FEATURES

Exhilaration

Ultra-light weight changes the game afloat and ashore. Sail an RS Aero for the pure exhilaration Lift on the roof alone or with a youngster – rig in minutes – launch with ease.

World Sailing International Class

Incredibly fast growing around the world – by the best-selling modern single-hander. Event programmes building quickly World Championships from 2017 onwards One-design competition – RS community etho.

Construction

Every aspect of the simple shape has been considered to minimise weight and maximise cost-efficient manufacture: Flatter panels on the chined hull allow construction from normal flat sheets of PU foam, reducing the weight of the core bond “Chine” angles on the deck add form stiffness without additional weight Low surface area reduces weight and material costs Simple shape reduces time in the manufacturing process Epoxy resin is used for its high strength and low water absorption properties. Woven glass matt is used throughout the hull. Carbon fibre is used in all high load areas such as the hull and deck around the mast step, the hiking region of the deck, all around the gunwales and transom. Due to its ultra-light weight and the high elongation at break (shatter resistance) of the epoxy resin system, the RS Aero has proved to be remarkably durable. Yet the boat is so astonishingly light it is possible to carry it up the beach single handed by holding the top of the daggerboard and the boom! Pulling the boat up the beach on a trolley makes you smile. Young sailors and small women can lift the RS Aero onto a roof-rack. The tooling has been CNC machined to give maximum control over shape and symmetry.

Dynamic Three Rig System

From day one we assumed a requirement for three rigs of differing sail areas to cater for the desired crew weight range: RS Aero 5 – RS Aero 7 – RS Aero 9. We have developed rigs with sufficient control to totally flatten and twist the head of the sail upwind reducing the healing moment. This allows a greater sail area to be carried – a big benefit downwind and in lighter conditions. Working closely with a world-leading carbon fibre tube manufacturer we have produced the three rigs using a common top-mast and boom, yet radically differing stiffness bottom sections. The differing deck-level bend and stiffness of the three rigs ensure the boat is well balanced, without resorting to a permanently pre-bent lower section for the smallest sail. Even with the smallest RS Aero rig the sail-area : hull-weight ratio is significantly higher than most existing hiking single-handers, due to the incredibly light weight of the RS Aero. So even the RS Aero 5 enjoys the amazingly responsive feel that makes the boat so exciting. The largest rig is 5.5kg lighter than the equivalent in aluminium alloy and cutting-edge production method provides for tight stiffness and weight control. The tracked mast and halyard are more practical than a sleeved luff – much easier when stepping mast in breeze and suiting full length top battens. The rig is positioned well forward in the boat to provide a good distance between the mast and the centre-mainsheet to reduce sheet loads and for ease of gybing, without the risk of snagging associated with a transom led mainsheet. A new rig for lighter women – A new RS Aero “6” rig, for lighter women, has been in development over recent months. It will enhance the RS Aero’s suitability to build women’s participation in the Olympic arena – and the RS Aero Class is likely to introduce this rig anyway. We propose final design sign-off in conjunction with the WS team and Olympic level sailors as soon as applicable.

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