RS Elite

The RS Elite class is a 24-foot keelboat (7.3 m) class designed by Phil Morrison.[1] Built to meet the requirements of the Hayling Island Sailing Club,[1] the class has a start at Cowes Week and events around the United Kingdom.[1][2] Fleets can be found at the Royal Burnham Yacht Club in the UK, as well as at Falmouth, Belfast Lough, Cowes, Hayling Island and Lymington. Outside the UK, the class can be found in locations such as the Caribbean, Guernsey, Holland, Norway and Sweden.[3]

RS Elite
Development
DesignerPhil Morrison
NameRS Elite
Boat
Crew3
Draft1.1 m (3 ft 7 in)
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionVinylester GRP
Hull weight975 kg (2,150 lb)
LOA7.4 m (24 ft)
Beam1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typeEncapsulated lead bulb/fin keel
625 kg (1,378 lb)
Rig
Rig typeCarbon composite mast and bowsprit & boom and spinnaker pole
Sails
Mainsail area15.32 m2 (164.9 sq ft)
Jib/genoa area6.7 m2 (72 sq ft)
Spinnaker area25 m2 (270 sq ft)
Racing
RYA PN938

Performance and design

The RS Elite draws 3 ft 7 in (1.09 m), and adheres to one-design principles. The keel is moulded on to vertical stainless-steel struts. The boat has a "long sloping transom" and almost parallel sides, a maximised waterline length, and the boat is designed for speed and control.[4] For racing it is a no-hiking boat: crews’ knees must stay inside the boat at all times. There is a full-length alloy tube kickbar down the centreline of the boat, which occupants hook their feet under.[5]

The mast can be erected by hand and is made from carbon fibre.[4] The non-overlapping jib is self-tacking on a single line, which is led to a 4:1 purchase. There is no crew weight limit, but the class rules specify that it must be sailed by between two and three crew members, although the number can be more or less than that with special dispensation from the race committee.[5] In handicap racing the RS Elite sails off a Portsmouth Yardstick of 938.[6]

References
  1. "YachtsandYachting.com RS Elite Class Page". Yachts & Yachting Online. Archived from the original on 5 June 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  2. "Cowes Week: Notice of Regatta" (PDF), Cowes Week, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week, 2001, archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2011, retrieved 7 June 2011
  3. "RS Elite Background". RS Elite Class Association. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  4. "Elite Fleet Racer". Yachting Life Online. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  5. "RS Elite Class Rules". RS Elite Class Association. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  6. "Portsmouth Number List 2012". Royal Yachting Association. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
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