The RS Aero fleet returned to Yacht Club de Carnac in France, the site of their first World Championships as 112 RS Aeros from fourteen nations contested the 2024 RS Aero European Championships from 21-24 June.
The bay of Quiberon provided fantastic sailing with the full range of conditions over the four days of the championships. This was complemented by excellent race management and a busy town full of restaurants, bars, and the all-important patisseries for sailors to enjoy when ashore.
A strong Irish team travelled consisting of Noel Butler, Damien & Felix Dion (National YC), Rob Howe (Monkstown Bay SC), John D Woods (Ballyholme YC), Roy Van Maanen (Greystones SC) and Daragh Sheridan (Howth YC). All sailed in the 6 rigs except Rob in the 7 and Felix in the 5.
Some of the Irish RS Aero squad in France at the European Championships
The standout Irish performance was by Noel, who finished in fifth place and had a superb pillar-to-post race win on day two. Felix had a cracking day in the lighter winds, with a first and second on his race card.
RS Aero 6
In the RS Aero 6s Ukrainian Sofiia Naumenko dominated with four 1sts to take the win, improving on her third at the World Champs in Italy last year. Andrew Frost (GBR) sailed a consistent series to earn a solid 2nd overall. Dan Venables (GBR) took 3rd. Irish results in the forty-three boat fleet were Noel (5th), Daragh (8th), Roy (17th), Damien (28th) and John (37th).
RS Aero 7
The RS Aero 7s were the largest Class with forty-five entries. Olympic 49er sailor from the Netherlands Pim van Vugt after a dominant day with four 1sts on day two did just enough to win with a tie break from Noah Rees, (GBR). With a consistent series Jack Millar (GBR) took third. Rob Howe took twelfth overall.
RS Aero 5 & 9
The 5 & 9 rigs had smaller but competitive fleets of twelve and eleven boats, respectively.
Italian sailors dominated the 5 Class with Enrico Loi, Mattia Monti, and Andrea Manconi taking the top three. As mentioned above Felix Dion taking a 1,2 on the final day to finish eighth.
The big boys in the Aero 9 saw Ben Flower (CAN/GBR) take five 1sts to win from defending champion Peter Barton (GBR) with three 1sts. In third overall was Madhavan Thirumalai (USA).
The 2026 Aero Europeans will take place at Howth Yacht Club from 28-31st of August.
