RS Aero TopTips 2020 Series
by RS Aero Class Association 19 Jun 2020 15:14 AEST
Ben Rolfe GBR, RS Aero European Championship, Lake Garda Italy, August 2019 © Fraglia Vela Malcesine
What a year! Obviously there are bigger issues than over concern for our small sailboat racing. However, when lockdown was announced in the UK in March the RS Aero Class sought to find alternative activity to replace taking to the water, to keep sailor's passion for the sport fresh.
The internet can provide a key source of information and entertainment and whilst sailing was high and dry the RS Aero TopTips2020 series was launched, with the Class' most experienced sailors, title holders, personalities and humourists (maybe all those!) invited to submit a TopTip on their specialist subject. That would then be released daily to enlighten, inspire and entertain sailors!
The series now has over 70 TopTips from about 60 contributors representing 12 countries worldwide. No two tips are the same, yet it is interesting to weigh up different sailor's perspectives - there is certainly more than one way to win a small sailboat race!
Topics cover the whole spectrum and remain light hearted. With current relevance safety suggestions and to how to best train alone or in small groups are detailed whilst our infrastructure remains restricted. Technique, newcomer guides, Class specifics, weather, rules, trim, tactics, fitness, maintenance and preparation (boat & mind!) are all covered and a re-occurring theme is the importance of having FUN!
The TopTips2020 are posted on the RS Aero Class Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/rsaeroclass and Class Website Forum, producing a reference library legacy for all and enabling sailors to interact, adding queries and their own experiences to each topic.
This has provided a positive outlet and exercised our minds whilst we were restricted to walking, cycling and running to stay physically fit. Hopefully this may see us all better placed and inspired for racing again.
The TopTip2020 series is still going strong, who knows where it will take us. There are certainly 101 ways to get it wrong in a small sailboat race, maybe we can find 101 ways to get it right too!
You can check out the whole RS Aero TopTips2020 series on the RS Aero Class Website Forum.