New RS100 launched with record breaking level of pre-orders

by RS Sailing News on 8 Jan 2010 Over one hundred and twenty RS100s were pre-sold before production even began - probably the greatest number of pre-orders in the history of new sailboat launches. This reflects the remarkable level of interest shown in this new class since the first prototype was launched in June 2009.

A public online development process was followed by sailors all over the world, with regular blog updates on RSsailing.com. Sailors were also invited to test the prototype boats during development and give their detailed feedback which helped to shape the decision making process through refinement of the design and technical features.

In recent years many small boat sailors have been attracted by the modern high performance designs such as the RS700, Musto Skiff and even the foiling Moths. But these classes require significant training time to reach competitive standard and also a large stretch of water to get the best from them. RS spotted the opportunity for a modern performance design that is significantly more user friendly.

RS now has dealers in close to thirty countries around the world and the RS100 will be launched internationally in conjunction with this network. Plans are already in place for the first international regatta to be run on the Cote d’Azur on the south coast of France in September this year. This championship will mark the culmination of a European Tour through the summer.

The RS100 is constructed from an epoxy GRP foam sandwich laminate and has carbon fibre spars and a Mylar mainsail, giving an all up sailing weight of only 80kg. Two mainsail size options give sailors of a broad weight range the ability to select the rig to suit their size and race competitively in all conditions.

RS opened the order books back in July following exceptional pressure from sailors keen to get their hands on an RS100 as quickly as possible. Within three months the first one hundred boats had been ordered. Hull manufacture has recently started at Composite Marine International (CMI) in Thailand and the first boats will be handed over to their new owners at the end of January. Three sets of moulds are needed to allow production to keep pace with demand through 2010.

You can see the brand new RS100 on the RS Stand N059 in the North Hall at the London Boat Show.

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