RS Fest 2026 Heads West: Richmond Yacht Club to host North America's Multi-Class RS Regatta
by RS Sailing 23 Dec 2025 11:02 PST
September 5 – 7, 2026
RS Fest 2026 © RS Sailing
RS Sailing is delighted to announce its flagship North American multi-class regatta, RS Fest 2026, is heading west to the iconic waters of San Francisco Bay!
After two highly successful editions on the East Coast in Miami, RS Fest will trade the palm-lined shores of Coconut Grove for the world-class sailing conditions of Northern California. Richmond Yacht Club will host the third edition of RS Fest over Labour Day Weekend, September 5 - 7, 2026, welcoming sailors from across North America and beyond.
Will Paulsen, Sailing Director at Richmond Yacht Club, is excited to host the regatta: "On behalf of RYC, we are proud to host RS Fest in 2026 and support the RS community. Our dedicated volunteer team is ready to provide world class racing, ensuring that every sailor experiences a competitive, fair, and professionally managed regatta. We look forward to the classic bay area conditions and hope to live up to RYC's motto, 'This club was built for fun!'"
Racing for Every Sailor
RS Fest 2026 will feature four RS classes, ensuring racing opportunities for sailors of all ages and experience, making it a true celebration of participation in the RS festival spirit.
The RS Aero fleet, is expected to be the dominating class again, with entries from previous editions exceeding 33 sailors, showcasing its rapidly growing class presence across North America. Weighing just 33kg, this single-handed dinghy is the winner of the Olympic Men's and Women's One Person Dinghy Equipment trials, and offers competitive racing with sparkling performance. With a choice of 5, 6, 7 or 9 rigs, the RS Aero is inclusive of all ages, with youth participation growing in the US.
The RS Tera is a single-handed option for junior sailors, with both the Sport and Pro fleets open for entries. The RS Feva, the fastest-growing double-handed youth class in the world, offers a double-handed option which can be sailed by youth sailors as well as mixed parent/child teams.
For those looking to race bigger boats, the RS21 completes the line-up. RS Sailing's answer to modern keelboat racing, the RS21 is crewed by three to four sailors, rewarding teamwork and skill on the racecourse. A growing class worldwide, the RS21 is the ultimate one-design racing class, with Corinthian ethos at its core. In the US, the RS21 appeals to both the seasoned racer and club fleets, and has also been the boat of choice for youth teams - including its selection for US Sailing's Sears Cup; the Chubb U.S. Youth Triplehanded Championship.
More Than Just Racing
RS Fest kicks off with dedicated clinic days, on September 3 - 4, allowing sailors to train, tune, and share knowledge before racing begins. As for the socials? Like all RS Sailing events, RS Fest places equal emphasis on the on-shore experience, creating a welcoming, social atmosphere for sailors and families alike.
RS Class Administrator, Beckett Kumler, from Zim Sailing, explains what makes the RS community stand out from the crowd: "RS Fest, since its inaugural run in 2023, has provided great opportunities for all parties involved. All walks of life come together with one goal in mind: sailing. Sailing communities coming together from all over North America, and beyond, is beautiful to watch and take part in. With the help of Zim Sailing, the world-known RS vibe flourishes at RS Fest. We are excited to see what RS Fest San Francisco Bay has in store. See everyone there!"
Madhavan Thirumalai, from the RS Aero North American Class added: "RS Aero sailing and indeed all of RS Sailing is all about community and fun. Perhaps that's even more important as the hard-fought battles on the water. Looking forward to all of that at RS Fest 2026."
A Truly Global RS Gathering
Previous RS Fests in North America have drawn sailors from all corners of the United States, from Rhode Island, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, Washington and Utah - as well as international competitors from Europe, Australia and India. "This is what we love about RS Fests", says RS Sailing Commercial Director, and RS21 sailor, Michiel Geerling. "We get to celebrate the local sailing community while welcoming sailors from all over the world. RS Fest is vibrant, fun, and a true celebration of the RS Sailing family - and that's what makes each event so special."
A Proven Venue for RS Classes
RS sailors are no stranger to San Francisco Bay waters. Richmond Yacht Club hosted the class back in 2024 for the RS Aero North American Championships and US Sailing Singlehanded Championships, while the RS Tera North American Championship 2025 was staged in spectacular fashion near the Golden Gate Bridge at St. Francis Yacht Club.
Join The Action
Registration is now open! Head to Club Spot for the Notice Board, Notice of Race, Registration and more.
Zim Sailing is supplying RS Tera, RS Feva and RS Aero charter boats for the event. Those interested can reserve the charters online or speak to Beckett Kumler via email: beckett@zimsailing.com or phone: (401) 237-6117.
RS21 charters may be available through San Francisco Yacht Club. Contact SFYC Fleet Manager via email: rs21@sfyc.org for more information.
San Francisco Bay, we're coming for you. RS Fest goes West in 2026!