2025 Year in Review at RS Sailing: Participation, Progress and Performance
by RS Sailing 28 Dec 08:27 PST
RS Sailing 2025 Review - RS200 © RS Sailing
Another year has flown by at RS Sailing - and what a year it's been. From boat shows and a brand-new boat launch, local regattas to world championships, youth fleets exploding in growth, and inclusive sailing taking centre stage, 2025 has truly captured what RS Sailing is all about.
Across the globe, RS Class Associations delivered outstanding events, RS dealers and suppliers continued to support sailors at every level, and the RS community once again showed why RS Sailing is the brand of participation.
A Blast at the Boat Shows
RS Sailing started off the year at boot Düsseldorf, launching the RS Aira 22. This comfortable and versatile Dutch design is the latest leisure addition to the RS Adventure range - a cruising daysailer equally at home with families, sailing schools, and hire centres. The response was phenomenal, with the first production run already sold out well into 2026. "This is not just another boat launch," explains Commercial Director, Michiel Geerling, "It's a new chapter for RS Sailing. We'll have a larger presence in the leisure and tourism sector in years to come. Bringing the RS Aira 22 into the family marks an important moment as we redefine the market segments in our range."
The excitement continued at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show, with 21 boats on the RS Sailing stand alongside RS Class Associations and plenty of opportunities for the team to chat with sailors face to face. The RS CAT pyramid drew attention with the recently launched RS CAT12 sitting proudly at the top. Technical Director, Alex Newton-Southon, showcased the evolution of design across the RS CAT range, "with the RS CAT12 bringing simplicity and accessibility back to beach sailing - perfectly aligned with RS Sailing's participation-first ethos."
2025 also marked 10 Years of the RS Quest, a boat that has become a cornerstone of training and community sailing worldwide. Celebrations ran throughout the year, including the official birthday party at Southampton International Boat Show, where RS Sailing was also delighted to welcome some new team members on the stand. The celebrations rounded off with the RS Quest Photo Competition, won by 11-year old Fred with his sunrise shots of magenta-pink skies over the Solent.
Racing Highlights
RS Fest Miami returned for its second year in 2025 at Coconut Grove Sailing Club, delivering epic racing conditions amongst the thunderstorms.
The summer season brought a packed calendar of international RS events. The RS Aero World Championship in Quiberon, France, attracted 170 sailors, including a strong Australian presence from the "Salty Dingos" contingent, who are already gearing up to host the next RS Aero Worlds at Blairgowrie in January 2027.
France also hosted the RS Feva World Championship at Lake Aix-les-Bains, while the RS Tera World Championship took place at Lake Lipno in the Czech Republic, part of the Festival of Sails. The RS21 World Championship returned to Porto Rotondo, Italy, with over 200 sailors battling big waves, gusty winds, and fierce competition on the start line.
The RS21 Class continues to grow from strength to strength globally. New fleets were established in Canada, match racing flourished in Poland, fleet building continued in the UK's south coast, and the Italian Yamamay Cup series attracted more than 30 boats from multiple countries.
Investment in the professional management of the RS21 International Class at the start of the year also added to the momentum. The class announced its 2026 European Calendar and 2026/27 World Championships in November, providing advanced notice and opportunities for teams worldwide planning their future campaigns. 2025 also saw an increase in RS21 club fleet purchases. "We're looking forward to adding Greece, amongst other countries, to the worldwide fleets in 2026," explains Managing Director Jon Partridge, who is excited to see how this model of club ownership and growing international participation will take one-design racing to a new level.
Closer to home, RS Sailing's strength at UK national level was clear to see in 2025, with strong entry numbers across multiple classes. The RS Tera UK National Championships at Paignton Sailing Club welcomed an impressive 125 boats, and 97 boats competing at the RS200 UK Nationals at South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club, to name a few.
A defining moment for inclusive sailing happened in November, when the RS Venture Connect Class was officially awarded World Sailing Class Status at the World Sailing Conference in Ireland. Just weeks later, 30 teams from 18 nations travelled to Oman for the inaugural World Sailing Inclusion Championships, where the RS Venture Connect was raced as the two-person keelboat category - setting a new benchmark for para and inclusive sailing on the world stage.
Viva La Feva-loution!
2025 was a standout year for the RS Feva, already the fastest-growing international junior double-handed class in the world. Growth was driven not just by racing, but by meaningful participation initiatives.
In Spain, the Catalonian Sailing Federation launched its brand-new Youth Sailing League, using a fleet of 36 RS Fevas to champion inclusion and equal opportunity in youth sport. Eighteen schools signed up to the scheme and the opening weekend in June had over 80 participants.
Turkey saw a remarkable transformation, with the RS Feva fleet growing from zero to 21 boats across 6 clubs in the first 6 months of the year. This surge led the Turkish Sailing Federation to incorporate RS Feva events into its official 2025-2026 racing calendar, firmly embedding the class into the national youth pathway.
Similar efforts in Australia, led to Australian Sailing adopting the RS Feva as the competitive pathway class to promote female youth sailing through the Sail Our Way' Female Participation RS Feva Project.
In the UK, the RS Feva was added to the Eric Twiname Trust Scheme supporting grassroots participation by enabling clubs to reduce fleet purchase costs by up to 40%. The RS Tera also continued its long-standing collaboration with the Trust for the 15th consecutive year, with RS Sailing having delivered over 300 boats to UK clubs since 2011.
A New Chapter of Strategic Growth
In June, RS Marine Group announced the appointment of Ben Willows as their new CEO. Ben brings a proven track record in strategic development and operational excellence, alongside a lifelong passion for sailing and RS boats. "RS Marine Group isn't just about boats - it's about fun, participation, and a lifelong connection to the water. That's what makes it so special. And it's what I want to help grow and protect as CEO."
As the year drew to a close, the RS Dealer Network came together in the Netherlands following METSTRADE to discuss all things RS, with European & US dealers making the journey. There was also a leadership transition in Australia; with Tom Pearce stepping back from day-to-day operations and former RS Aero World Champion Rhett Gowans taking the helm at Sailing Raceboats Pty Ltd.
A Thank You, To You!
RS Sailing wouldn't be where it is without its sailors. "To our customers, dealers, suppliers, event organisers, the countless volunteers and the RS Class Associations themselves - thank you. From weeknight club racing to regional circuits, national championships, and world events, RS Sailing is proud to see so much participation and humbled to act as guardians of a community that shares a passion for sailing," concludes Michiel Geerling.
So what's next? RS Sailing now looks ahead to 2026 and the return of the RS Games; their global, multi-class celebration held every four years. For the first time ever, the event will take place outside the UK, heading to Travemünder Woche in Germany. It promises to be the RS event of the year and the RS team can't wait to see you there.
Here's to another year on the water.