RS Elite 2020 Nationals
by Alasdair McLeod 21 Jan 2019 05:19 PST
RS Elites in the Royal Yacht Squadron marina © Paul Wyeth /
www.pwpictures.com
The RS Elite class has ambitious plans for its National Championships over the next two years.
For the 2019 event, the RS Elite class has taken the innovative step of holding the championship as part of the bi-annual Dun Laoghaire regatta in Ireland. This is already proving a popular event, and with the number of entries now more than 30, the Elites are guaranteed their own start and course area. Running from the 11th to the 14th of July this is an event not to be missed and entries are still open.
Not content with its Irish adventure in 2019, The RS Elite class has announced that its 2020 National Championship will be held from the 9th to the 12th of July 2020 at the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes. Although this is not a first for the class (the RYS hosted a highly successful Nationals in 2012), plans for 2020 aim to make it one of the largest and most successful Elite National Championships ever.
Cowes has been chosen as a venue to celebrate the growth of the classs footprint there. A Cowes-based RS Elite fleet has become established since 2012, has shown steady growth over the last few years and has become recognized as a Cowes keelboat class. The Elite has also become an established class in Cowes Week; with growing numbers year-on-year it has become one of the most numerous keelboat classes in the Week.
Building on this, 2020 event organiser Charlie Egerton-Warburton has set an ambitious target of attracting as many as 60 entries. To this end he is reaching out to Elite owners and sailors from outside the established UK fleets with the intention of adding an international flavour to the event. Discussions are also taking place with several organisations with a view to attracting a name sponsor for the event.
Those who attended the 2012 Nationals at the RYS have fond memories of good race management on the water, exceptional hospitality on shore and some very serious partying. 2020 promises to be even more enjoyable.