RS Games – marathon festival of dinghy racing
by Pip Baily, RS Sailing 23 Aug 2018 04:13 AEST
4-25 August 2018
RS800 reaching at the RS Games © Alex & David Irwin /
www.sportography.tv
The RS Games is into the final week at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy (WPNSA). With over 1300 competitors, one of the world's largest one design dinghy regattas is the perfect way to celebrate RS sailor's enthusiasm and their classes spread over the last 25 years.
The RS Games kicked off with 206 RS Aeros and 167 RS Teras for their World Championships, making these the largest fleets the classes have seen. The growth of the RS Aero has been remarkable - it's hard to find another class that has held a 200-boat world championship within four years of launch. Combining the RS Tera and RS Aero championships allowed families to take part in both and socialise together.
Next up was the PA Consulting RS Feva European Championships (again a record Euros fleet) and many of the RS Tera sailors smashed out a second week of racing, putting their skills into double handed racing with friends or siblings. With 30 nations competing in the first three events at the RS Games, there is no doubting that the RS family has gone global.
As we move into the second half of the event WPNSA have ramped up a gear welcoming 4 RS Classes from Day 11 of racing, with a further 4 Classes joining over the coming days.
WPNSA has been given a real festival feel with the RS Sailors hub, Volvo events stage, Rooster store and Zest repair station. This event is buzzing and WPNSA has never looked so good! On the water the competition is intense.
RS Sailing, the RS Class Association and WPNSA are committed to running sustainable events, with the reduction of single use plastics, wooden cutlery, cardboard plates and reusable pint glasses. There are socials every night, music, happy hours and BBQs because having fun on shore is as important as the racing on the water.
The RS Games is 22 days in total, an ultra marathon of dinghy racing and partying for all involved. As we enter the last week racing remains intense, excitement and enjoyment is still high both afloat and ashore, but most of all – sailors of all levels are enjoying fleet racing at it's finest.
Follow the event updates, photos, video and camaraderie on the RS Games Facebook Page, with daily Lives brought to you by RS Sailing, event reports from the Class Associations hosted on the RS Games and watch the daily highlight videos on our YouTube channel.