Get Your RS Aero Ready for the New Season

Published on by Klaus HarrisLeave a comment

With the new season just around the corner, I thought I’d share some pre-season preparation tips.

1. Replace the halyard or halyard top

If you’re an active RS Aero sailor, it’s probably a good idea to get a new halyard every season, or at a minimum replace the halyard top.

When the halyard top wears, it won’t hold so well in the in the top mast cleat. My halyard tail has broken a couple of times over the years, each time just below the knot or splice depending which halyard type I was using.

The halyward tail broke again recently, and since it was starting to slip anyway, I tried Sammy Isaacs-Johnson’s suggestion to use the Rooster RS Aero Haylard upgrade. This works a treat, it holds tight, is easy to pull through the mast top bullseye and I was able to reuse the halyard tail.

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My Top RS Aero Sailing Learnings in 2025

Published on by Klaus HarrisLeave a comment

I did more training events than competition events in 2025 and it feels like things are starting to click. My race results are improving nicely too. If I had to choose the top learnings of 2025, it’d be these:

1. Keep the boat flat

Nothing new here, we all know to keep the boat flat, but doing it well and consistently really is key. Flat as in not heeling.

Doing this is relatively easy to improve as it comes down to technique and fitness, both of which can be worked on.

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Christmas Gift Ideas for Dinghy Sailors 2025

Published on by Klaus HarrisLeave a comment

At last I’ve gotten round to writing this Christmas gift idea list.

For context, I’m a dinghy sailor who regularly sails an RS Aero, ILCA, and 2000, plus the usual mix of boats when instructing. I sail solo a lot in coastal waters, so everything I rely on for safety is included in this list. I also use it for SUP’ing too.

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RS Aero Training Felpham UK, October 2025

Published on by Klaus HarrisLeave a comment

The RS Aero Youth and Adult training season 2025/26 started last week, the first one was at Felpham SC on the UK south coast.

We ended up shore based both days because of the conditions for launching, but nevertheless, thanks to our two coaches Sammy Isaacs-Johnson and George Cousins, a great training group and super facilities, it was a brilliant weekend.

Training weekends like this remind me of the master classes I used to do many years ago when I was a classical musician (guitar), where ‘ah ha’ moments would have major shifts on my playing. I had a couple of those ‘ah has’ this weekend.

Loose kicker, open leech
A little kicker, lifted leech, no mast bend
More kicker, mast starting to bend, flatter sail, (more so higher up) leech opening again
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ILCA Training Sept 2025

Published on by Klaus HarrisLeave a comment

I joined an ILCA (Laser) training session last month in Poole. I’m an RS Aero sailor, but my daughter sails an ILCA and I fancied a go in that. I haven’t sailed an ILCA in years so felt like a real newbie at the beginning, but it started coming together during the day.

It was a great day, and I learned a lot. Thanks for the coaching James Foster. The RS Aero training season starts soon with the first weekend at the end of October. Can’t wait.

More on SUPing

Published on by Klaus HarrisLeave a comment

I’ve been doing a lot of SUPing this year and in February bought my first hard SUP, a 14′ x 26″ Starboard Allstar. This was a step up from an inflatable 12′ X 32″ Bluefin Cruise I’d been using till now.

I was well advised by the SUP company in Southampton, UK to go for the 26″ width board, which I think turned out to be a good choice for my ability level and the sea conditions I predominantly SUP in; SUPing in waves is way harder than flat water.c

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