#rsaero – 63–year–old Daniel McNelis of the Royal St. George YC is the proud owner of the lastest in dinghy designs following a demo of the ultralight RS Aero dinghy on Dublin Bay earlier this week. McNeilis, an amputee, who is an an RS Vario sailor, says the boat planes nicely upwind and 'tacks in a jiffy'.
The RS Aero has been dubbed the 21st century Laser – with the most fundamental difference being ultra-light weight. A full size single hander that, amazingly, weighs 30kg - the same as an Optimist.
Quick thinking RS promoters McCready Sailboats from Hollywood in County Down also recruited Dun Laoghaire sailing superstar Finn Lynch who said the RS Aero is a fun boat to sail. Lynch, who is aiming for Rio 2016 in the full rig Laser dinghy, also says he found the boat 'very quick'.
The 17–year–old, who won an ISAF youth silver medal in 2012, gave a thumbs up to the simplicity of the 30kg–boat that can be rigged quickly.
After three years of development testing four different hull variations and numerous rig, foil and layout options, RS Sailing unveiled what they say could become one of the most important new sailboats of this era at the Suzuki RYA Dinghy Show in London in March.
