Development | |
---|---|
Designer | Jo Richards |
Location | United Kingdom |
Year | 2014 |
Builder(s) | RS Sailing |
Name | RS Aero 7 |
Boat | |
Crew | one |
Displacement | 66 lb (30 kg) |
Draft | 1.00 ft (0.30 m) |
Hull | |
Type | Monohull |
Construction | Fiberglass |
LOA | 13.16 ft (4.01 m) |
LWL | 13.16 ft (4.01 m) |
Beam | 4.59 ft (1.40 m) |
Engine type | none |
Hull appendages | |
Keel/board type | daggerboard |
Ballast | none |
Rudder(s) | transom-mounted rudder |
Rig | |
Rig type | Bermuda rig |
Sails | |
Sailplan | catboat |
Mainsail area | 77.00 sq ft (7.154 m2) |
Total sail area | 77.00 sq ft (7.154 m2) |
The RS Aero is a British sailing dinghy that was designed by Jo Richards as a one-design racer and first built in 2014. [1]
The design is marketed and distributed by RS Sailing of Romsey, United Kingdom. [1] [2]
The RS Aero is a single-handed recreational sailboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a cat rig, a raked stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung rudder controlled by a tiller with a hiking stick extension and a retractable daggerboard. It displaces 66 lb (30 kg). [1]
The Aero can be fitted with one of four different rig and sail sizes to accommodate a range of sailors of different weights. [1]
The design has won several awards, including the 2014 Paris Boat Show Coup de Coeurs, the Netherlands 2015 HISWA Product of the Year Award and the 2015 Estonian Sailing Federation Surprise Award. [4]
The boat was also named the Sailing World Boat Of The Year in 2015, as Best One-Design. The magazine described it as "a stunning singlehander that is more than comparable to the Laser." It was cited for its "construction quality, lightweight hull, versatile rig with multiple combinations, technical details, and price". [5]
In a 2014 review, George Yioulos, wrote, "sailing the Aero is unlike other boat I’ve evaluated before. It’s a designer’s brew of lightweight construction, precise craftsmanship, and clever design that allows for high quality production in multiple locations. While it’s still a single-person fiberglass dinghy, after a day on the water it’s more an extension of the sailor themselves than any other non-trapezing boat I’ve sailed." He further noted, "The Aero utilizes a unique mix of modern technology, all-around performance and very easy handling. Maybe it’s not ironic that these are similar to the characteristics that propelled the growth of the Laser some 40 years ago." [6]
Similar sailboats
The Laser is a class of single-handed, one-design sailing dinghies using a common hull design with three interchangeable rigs of different sail areas, appropriate to a given combination of wind strength and crew weight. Ian Bruce and Bruce Kirby designed the Laser in 1970 with an emphasis on simplicity and performance.
The Thistle is an American planing sailing dinghy that was designed by Sandy Douglass as a one-design racer and first built in 1945.
The Lightning is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Olin Stephens of Sparkman & Stephens, as a one-design racer and first built in 1938.
The Vanguard 15 is an American planing sailing dinghy that was designed by Bob Ames as a one-design racer and first built in 1992.
The Melges 17 is an American scow-hulled sailing dinghy that was designed by Reichel/Pugh as a one-design racer and first built in 2005.
The Banshee, sometimes called the Banshee 13, is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Richard L. Reid as a one-design racer and first built in 1969.
The Phantom is a British sailing dinghy that was designed by Paul Wright and Brian Taylor as a one-design racer and first built in 1971.
The Topaz Vibe is a British sailing dinghy designed by Ian Howlett and Rob White. Built by Topper International, it was introduced in 2006. There are two models, the Vibe and the Vibe X, with the latter carrying larger sails. The Vibe is a World Sailing Learn to Sail class.
The Martin 16 is a Canadian trailerable sailboat, that was designed by Don Martin of Vancouver, British Columbia, specifically as a boat for disabled sailors. It was first built in 1995.
The Hunter Xcite, also called the Hunter Xcite 10, is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by the Hunter Design Team and first built in 2003.
The Topper Topaz is a British single-handed or two-handed sailing dinghy that was designed as a beginner and intermediate racer.
The Skunk 11 is a Canadian utility dinghy that can be rowed, used as a motorboat, fishing boat or as a sailing dinghy. It was designed by Hubert Vandestadt and first built in 1969.
The Widgeon 12 is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Robert H. Baker and first built in 1964. The design has been raced but is more often employed in the sail training role.
The Capri Cyclone, also referred to as the Cyclone 13 or just the Cyclone, is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Frank V. Butler as a one-design racer and first built in 1970.
The Barnett 1400 is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Ron Hedlund and Gerry Hedlund as a one-design racer and first built in 1989.
The Transit 380, styled as the Transit_380 or T_380, is an American sailing dinghy that was designed by Jim Taylor for youth sail training and first built in 2005. The boat was intended to act as a "transition" boat between the Optimist dinghy and more high performance boats. The designation indicates the length overall in centimeters.
The RS Neo is a singlehanded British sailboat that was designed by Paul Handley and RS Sailing as a racer and first built in 2017.
The Waszp is an Australian, single-handed, hydrofoiling sailboat that was designed by Andrew McDougall as a one-design racer for youth and adults, and first built in 2016.
The RS Quest is a British sailboat that was designed by Jo Richards as a sail trainer and day sailer. It was first built in 2015.
The Melges 14 is an American planing sailboat that was designed by Reichel/Pugh as a one-design racer and first built in 2016.