Has the new RS100 got what it takes to be successful Down Under?

by Performance Sailcraft (Australasia) on 26 Feb 2010 Does this new single handed dinghy, developed through an interactive online process, have what it takes to be successful Down Under? Please give us your feed back!

In recent years many small boat sailors have been attracted by the modern high performance designs such as the Musto Skiff and the foiling Moths. But these classes require significant training time to reach competitive standard.

RS Sailing in the UK decided there was a much larger market for a more forgiving and less expensive boat and rather than designing and building a boat and presenting it to the market, they decided to use the power of the internet to embark on a public interactive design process.

This 'world first' process was followed by sailors all over the world, with regular blog updates on RSsailing.com The development blog continues here

Sailors were 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.

The design brief for the RS100 included the following:

Responsive racing boat for intermediate to experienced sailors.
Asymmetric spinnaker for fast downwind excitement.
Rewarding upwind speed.
Comfortable hiking design.
Sailors of 70 – 95kg should be competitive at top level.
Price between a Laser and an RS700 / MPS
Great looking

After two years of design evolution and prototype testing, the RS100 had taken the sailing world by storm before production even began.

For RS Sailing this process ensured their new boat would be no gamble - following this development process they knew the RS100 would be a boat that a broad range of sailors would really want to race.

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

Design Detail

Hull - The RS100 hull is built using an epoxy GRP composite sandwich construction for light weight, stiffness and a long competitive life.

The shape is easily driven with a reasonably fine bow and sufficient waterline width further aft to give the stability desired. Flared topsides give reserve buoyancy as the boat heels, and the moulded in wings add to this. Spray rails on the chines give excellent water release and also a drier ride.

Foils - After much consultation a pivoting centreboard and rudder were chosen for their user friendliness. Launching and recovery are easy and the risk of significant damage through grounding is largely eliminated.

Cockpit - Having paid considerable attention to the wing and cockpit design, the general consensus is that the RS100 is just about the most comfortable hiking boat they’ve ever sailed.

The mainsheet jammer is well forward in the cockpit, allowing smooth transition in light wind tacks and gybes, without digging the stern.

Vang and Cunningham controls are lead to the sides of the wings and the centreboard has a simple up haul / downhaul system.

Spars - The carbon fibre mast is in two main parts for easy transport on a car roof or in a 20’ shipping container. In addition a removable bottom stump adjusts the mast length for the 8.4 or 10.2 m2 sails.

Shrouds, but no forestay, means the rig can work automatically upwind. The shrouds stop the rig bending forwards under spinnaker loads downwind – this is important to keep the bow up and reduce nose diving without the need for a super-stiff mast which would be heavier, less responsive and costly.

A compression strut vang works on the same principle as the excellent RS300 system, with a roller on the top end which runs down mast. This is easy to adjust and highly effective.

Sails - The early response to the RS100 from sailors around the world was incredible and demand showed both big and small sailors really want this boat to work for them.

A width adjustable performance equalisation system would have added considerable cost and meant that light sailors had to carry a lot of lead in the boat.

Having looked in detail at the ways to broaden the competitive weight range the RS100 has two mainsail size options.

Two mainsail sizes (as per standard Laser and Radial) keep the boat simple and suit a wide weight range. The indications are that this class should soon grow to big numbers, so splitting the fleet will not be a problem.

The asymmetric spinnaker has a big chute beneath the foredeck for quick hoists and drops. The lack of a forestay and the mast reasonably well aft, mean that the spinnaker has a huge amount of space to blow through very easily when gybing.

Options - 8.4 or 10.2m2 mainsail
Carbon fibre finish foredeck in lieu of black gel coat

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.

Over one hundred and twenty RS100s had been ordered around the world before production started – probably the highest ever pre-sales in the history of racing sailboat launches – and a likely indication of the success in store for this class.

The class will build globally from the outset and the first international championship will take place within the first year.

The International Class Association has been created and ISAF status will be applied for as soon as the required distribution numbers have been reached.

Hull manufacture started at Composite Marine International (CMI) in Thailand and the first boats were handed over to their new owners at the end of January.

Now Performance Sail Craft are keen to determine the depth of interest in the RS100 in the Australian and New Zealand market.

Start up deal........

RS100 complete on beach dolly - RRP $15,000 inc GST

For the first 10 customers only to pre order the RS100 with a 50% deposit, cost will be $13,500 inc GST.

First shipment will be May 2010, with a following shipment around September 2010.

Sailors are invited to discover more about the RS100 at RSSailing.com The development blog continues here

The most constructive feedback submission will win this exciting pack of Laser and RS sailing kit.

Please give us your feed back here














RS100 Specifications

Length	4300mm
Beam	1830mm
Hull shell weight (ex fittings)	55kg
Sailing weight	80kg
Mainsail areas	8.4m2 10.2m2 Radial Mylar cut with Dacron luff panel
Asymmetric spinnaker area	12.5m2 Twin patch downhaul system
Hull construction	Epoxy GRP foam sandwich
Foils	Pivoting centreboard and rudder
	Epoxy foam sandwich
Mast	Carbon composite – 2 part + removable bottom stump Rotating
Boom	Carbon composite Twin tube compression strut vang
Bowsprit	Carbon reinforced GRP composite
Designer	Paul Handley
Styling consultant	Vitali Design - Italy

RS100 Prototype with large mainsail in 10-12 knots of breeze



RS100 in 7-9 knots



February 2010 - in competition