November is here, and although some would call it winter sailing, conjuring images of hats, gloves, rain and all-round miserable sailing conditions, the reality is that the weather this time of the year is perfect for sailing! And not only sailing but RS Sailing, the world's biggest sailboat manufacturer, has something for everybody!
RS21 at the Turkey Shoot
In Dublin, there is the very successful and popular Turkey Shoot series in the run-up to Christmas. Kenny Rumball has swapped his trusty 1720 for the sporty RS21. The 21-footer from RS has already been seen in the bay competing throughout the summer series and in Dun Laoghaire week with some of the other boats that travelled far and wide to race. Kenny and his crew of instructors from the Irish National Sailing & Powerboat School were on form on Sunday. With a nice steady but at times windy Westerly breeze, the team sailed well to finish just behind the 1720s and one or two of the faster J109s. Sharing the same start as the 1720, J80 and SB3 classes, the crew of four were third on the water from that start!
The sporty RS21 dockside after the DBSC Turkey Shoot series on Dublin Bay
Before and after racing, the futuristic RS21 motored on and off its berth silently using its EPropulsion electric pod drive that retracts into the hull to make sailing as seamless and hassle-free as possible while also being caring to the environment. MarineServices.ie also had the all-new EVO series of Propulsion outboard on display in the Royal Irish Yacht Club after racing. If you are interested in trialling an electric outboard or the RS21, don’t hesitate to contact [email protected]
DMYC Frostbites
The DMYC frostbite series cracked off the same Sunday afternoon in a slightly dying westerly wind. A total of 11 RS Aeros are racing, with also 3 RS200s, one more to join by the end of the series! The popular modern Aero was being sailed by crews with a mixture of the 6 and 7 rig, with sailors having to choose their weapon of choice of the series from the start.
RS Aero sailor Noel Butler (left) collects his winner's mug from DMYC Frostbite organiser Neil Colin
Close racing as always from the Aeros, with Noel Butler coming out on top in the PY division in his Aero, with Sarah Dwyer on equal points to Noel in the overalls after two races sailed on the first weekend. A nice gender mixture demonstrating an equal playing field for all sailors in the modern single-hander.
Don’t forget, if you want to try your hand at the RS Aero, don’t hesitate to drop [email protected]
RS400 winter series at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
Meanwhile, in the North of Ireland, the RS400 winter series kicked off at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club. A whopping 17 RS400s were on the water, with some returning names to the fold, no doubt buoyed by the UK Championships coming to RNIYC in 2025!
Strong tidal currents resulted in the right of the downwind being advantageous for most of the day, with Ross and Andrew consistently making a nuisance of themselves by sailing high, though they may argue that perhaps everyone else could have sailed faster. A gusty end to the final race did little to unsettle Ross and Andrew, who won the day with a convincing 9-point finish.
