The Italian RS Aero class ready for a youthful 2024 with the RS Aero 5 and 6 classes
by Elena Giolai 22 Dec 2023 05:07 PST
22-24 March 2024
Italian Youth RS Aero Championship © Elena Giolai / RS Aero Italia
The 2024 calendar for the RS Aero class has been finalised, the single class prized for its lightness, ease of transport, and speed, which finds in the Italian and international class and its fans an environment where fun and organisation come together perfectly.
If this year's World Championship was held in Italy (Calasetta, Sardinia), next year the RS Aero Youth Team Championship, which was born just two years ago and is organised by the Lega Navale del Sulcis in collaboration with the Circolo Canottieri Ichnusa, will become world championship: a type of regatta dedicated to young people, which is exciting because of its team formula characterised by special rules and a racing strategy.
The 2024 racing season, which will feature national regattas in various Italian locations, will start as usual from the Roman coastline on 22-24 March, thanks to the organisation of the Tognazzi Marine Village.
On the first weekend in April (5-7) it will be the turn of Garda Trentino (CVArco) with the 2nd national regatta, which will be of an international level, considering that Lake Garda is always frequented by many European sailors. From 10 to 12 May it will be Porto Rotondo (CV Noc Ocean) that will host the 3rd National Regatta, while from 17 to 19 May Lake Maggiore will host the 2nd International Regatta (ANS), also open to the RS Aero 9 class. Sardinia will host a national regatta from 5 to 7 July and, after the World Championships scheduled for August, there will be a return to racing in Italy from 4 to 6 October in Rimini (CN Rimini) to close on a high note in Cagliari with the World Youth Team Race from 25 to 27 October.
The European and World Class Championships will be held respectively in France (Carnac, 21-24 June), while the World Championships will be split between youth and senior between Sweden (12-17 August Youth World Championships) and Great Britain (25-30 August, Adult World Championships).
"This year as the RS Aero Class we are organising ourselves to support two trips," says Guido Sirolli, Class President, "one to Carnac, where the European Championship will be held in mid-June, and the second to Sweden for the Youth World Championship.
As for the youngsters, many of whom chose RS Aero for the lighter calendar commitment compared to Ilca (former Laser and current Olympic single) the categories are: Under 17, who race in the RS Aero 5 class (with 5m" sail, birth years 2008>2013), Under 22, who with the same sail can race at the World Team Championships scheduled in Cagliari at the end of October (5 Play mq sail, birth years 2003>2009). Then there is the new 6mq sail, which made its official debut at the Italian Youth Championships in Cagliari with the RS Aero 6 under 19 category.