Lots of techie details about the RS Aero foils in this video.
Rudder is glass and epoxy and carbon? Is that good? Will it chip? If so, will it be easy to mend?
So fast downwind they had to design a totally new rudder stock? Really? Faster than all those RS boats with asymmetric spinnakers? Surely not? But I'm glad they did what they needed to do to stop the speed wobble. I hate speed wobble.
But it is really fast downwind. I think the clip at around 0:47 in the video is the broadest reach I've seen in any of the videos of the RS Aero so far and it's smoking.
7 comments:
I dunno....nowhere in that or any other clip does the Aero look faster than the Laser, as far as I can remember. And I remember some pretty hairy, on the edge of out of control moments on the Laser where I was going at least as fast as the 0:47 moment
OK. You're probably right. Maybe I should just treat myself to a new Laser instead?
The thing going for the RS is that it is lighter than a Laser. Is that enough to capsize Laser Performance? I don't think so. The Laser has 3 rigs for one hull. That makes it a versatile boat for community sailing programs.
I'm not going to get into whether the RS Aero will "capsize" the Laser. I think the Laser has a secure role in sailing for many more years whether the RS Aero takes off or not. It's not a zero sum game. New exciting boats attract new people into the sport and/or keep other people in the sport longer. I certainly expect to be sailing both boats for many years.
You are right that one of the beauties of the Laser is that it has 3 rigs for one hull. But so does the RS Aero. They are positioning the 5 rig for kids, the 7 rig for women and lighter men, and the 9 rig for other men.
We'll see if the RS takes off. Is it enough to entice a new sailor into sailing or make Laser sailors switch boats? It doesn't seem to be a dramatically different boat from the Laser. If you recall, I sailed a Force 5 for many years. Boats that make me groan are the ones that seem to be attracting new people into sailing. For example: the Hobie Mirage Adventure Island or it's big brother, the Mirage Tandem Island. I hate them, but they are super easy to rig and sail.
We will see Joe. If it really feels exactly the same as a Laser to sail then I doubt I would want one. It will only take off if it offers a different experience. Having sailed some of the other RS single handers in Europe I remain optimistic.
Speaking as a LONG time Laser sailor, I think the Aero will be a very different and exciting experience. To me, the hiking position looks very comfortable. I love the carbon rig, and the square top sail. I've ordered one, but since I split my time between two very different sailing venues, I'll use the Aero one place , and keep my Laser for the other. Looking forward to it...and to the report from West Coast Sailing!
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