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The RS Vareo associations e-Newsletter		September/October 2006 edition
RSVareo Breaking News... The 2006 RS Vareo Inland Championships now only a few weeks away at Rutland!! Looks like there will have a sizeable fleet from the activity we are picking up on Yahoo. Nationals at Looe SC - Results.
Welcome Welcome to the second issue of RS Vareo Sailing Today, the e-newsletter from the RS association. We plan to keep you up to speed with the latest news, views and technical articles and anything else that maybe of interest to the RS Vareo sailor. To keep the news as broad and fresh as possible we do need your help with providing material so please do email us any RS Vareo articles – especially pictures. In this issue we have: Report from GUL RS Vareo National Championships Looe SC Sept 7-10th RS Vareo in the media… The Vareo receives very favourable review in single handed article in Dinghy Sailing Magazine. and mentioned separately in article about “being sensible or looking cool?” RS700 sailor Matt Humphreys reviews Roosters Aqua Pro Winter Sailing Gloves The RS Vareo Yahoo Newsgroup –nearly 250 Vareo sailors can’t be wrong - if you haven’t joined – why you should, and how to do it (it takes 2 minutes). Fat Face Circuit 2006 – FINAL RESULTS Modifications from basic spec RS Vareo – what is “need to have” and “nice to have”….a start on this hotly debated and sizeable topic. And Finally... GD Clark, RS Vareo Communications Rep
GUL RS Vareo National Championships Looe SC – 7th to 10th Sept The 4th GUL RS Vareo National Championships started on Thursday 7th Sept at Looe in Cornwall. After 3 days of thick fog the first day of the Nationals, shared with the RS600 and RS300 fleets, dawned with bright sunshine and forecast of a building northerly wind. 2 races were scheduled for day 1, and after a long sail to the start line the Vareos spread out over a large distance on their windward/leeward course. Those who chose to stay inland benefited from more wind and less tide after the predicted winds did not materialise, leaving those who had gone far out to sea floundering. Nigel Tinkler picked the right line and disappeared off into the distance, with everyone else in his wake. The battle for minor places was won by Rory Yardley with regular winner Chris Larr in 3rd and Richard Kemp-Salt in 4th. Race 2 was sailed in more shifty wind conditions, but again Tinkler left the fleet for dead, pursued by Larr and Geoff Shaw in 3rd with Kemp-Salt going for consistency in 4th again. The forecast was for wind to build in the 4 day championship, with record flood tides predicted on Saturday, at the welcome party provided by Looe SC the Mayor of Looe thanked the sailors for bringing so many boats to Looe, which may be needed if the village floods. Day 2 started with the predicted higher winds and waves, causing chaos to those trying to launch. Just over half the fleet made it to the start line, and heavy wind experts Larr and Kemp-Salt revelled in the conditions taking the top two places in each race, Larr winning 2 with 1 second, Kemp-Salt with a win and 2 seconds. Shaw and Christopher Kirk showed their mettle, hanging on for the minor places in each race. Surfing back onto the beach was a great spectator sport, and the 3 fleets joined together to keep as many boats in one piece, including carrying a RS600 off the rocks and up the cliff face. Day 3 dawned with more bright sunshine, but also the same large winds. Broken equipment, broken bodies and broken spirit meant a low number of takers for the three races, and again Larr dominated taking all 3 bullets. Kemp-Salt made him work hard for race 6, but a broken boat took him out of the running for the last 2 races and Shaw took advantage with 2 second places. Day 4 and the wind dropped back to the level of Day 1, although due to breakages not everyone was in a position to race. Light air experts Tinkler who had won both races on day 1 won both again, and Mark Hayzelden took second in both. The racing was a lot closer with all the boats being on the same leg at the end of both races. Chris Larr had his worst results of the event, but had a large enough lead to take the RS Vareo National Championship after coming second in 2005. 1st Master was Richard Kemp-Salt, 1st Silver Fleet was Rory Yardley. M=Master S=Silver G=Gold	SLOWLY DOES IT WITH 60 SECS TO GO…               C LARR FINISHING IN STYLE
Sail No. Helm Club Cat. R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 Total Pos 361 Chris Larr   G 3 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 5 5 12 1 480 Richard Kemp-Salt Brightlingsea SC MG 4 4 2 2 1 2 13 13 3 4 22 2 346 Geoff Shaw Roadford SC MG 9 3 3 5 4 3 2 2 4 2 23 3 484 Nigel Tinkler Llandegfedd SC MG 1 1 13 13 13 4 13 13 1 1 47 4 173 Rory Yardley Bassenthwaite SC S 2 6 4 3 13 5 13 13 13 13 59 5 322 Mark Hayzelden Burghfield SC MS 5 9 13 13 13 13 13 13 2 2 70 6 228 Christopher Kirk   MG 6 13 5 4 3 13 13 13 13 13 70 7 334 Nick Crickmore Waveney & Oulton SC S 7 10 13 13 13 7 13 13 6 6 75 8 440 Jim Hood Weston SC G 10 7 5 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 87 9 420 Ken Miles Shoreham SC MS 8 8 13 13 13 6 13 13 13 13 87 10 337 Perham Harding Swanage SC MS 11 5 7 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 88 11 261 Chris Greenwood Bristol Corinthian YC MS 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 7 7 92 12
Dinghy Sailing Magazine article gives thumbs up opinion on Vareo September’s DSM carried an articles about singlehanders “the singles scene” looking at the range of options from big fleet sailing through to technically extreme performance dinghies  In it the Vareo was identified as a dinghy which should be able to satisfy the demands of the singlehanded sailor very well.  Described as an attractive non-trapeze boat, it was noted that the Vareo has a bonus of an asymmetric spinnaker.  Rather strangely the kite was described as “optional”.   How many RS Vareo sailors would agree with that?   More accurately would be – sailing without kite is an option!  But just how exciting would that be?  Additionally it was stated that the Vareo was a reasonable weight carrier suggesting that a wide range of sailors could consider the Vareo, without consequent loss of performance due to “large” helm. In a letter debate on mast top flotation DSM carried a photo of a Vareo wearing one of these.  The overall view was that the float can make life easier in the event of capsize – and can even prevent entrapment in the worst case scenario.   As related – (not in DSM) the author is aware that there have been cases where the flotation device can permit “mast walking” where reaching the dagger board proves difficult.	Love it – or hate it – here is an example – in this case using the RS flotation device designed for the RS Vision
RS700 sailor Matt Humphreys reviews Roosters Aqua Pro Winter Sailing Gloves These are quite simply the best winter sailing gloves that I have come across. My previous experience of winter sailing gloves has been of thick gloves that impede the movement of the fingers and remove the ability to feel the ropes properly. The Rooster Aqua Pro gloves are made from a similar material to the Rooster Aqua Fleece, the material is thin and stretchy with a thin layer of fleece on the inside. This enables the gloves to be the same thickness as summer sailing gloves, giving the full range of movement and feel. The gloves eliminate wind-chill keeping your hands nice and toasty even in a gale. The fleecy inner is comfortable and very quickly warms up even when putting the gloves on wet.
I took a pair of these gloves with me on the Round Britain and Ireland race this year and was very impressed. Off the Shetland Isles I was very glad of them, I was still able to feel and grip the sail on the foredeck for sail changes when some of the crew were resorting to taking their winter sailing gloves off. Even coming on watch in at 4 in the morning and putting them on wet was fine because they warmed up within a minute from the heat of my hands. I would thoroughly recommend these gloves to everyone, and I will certainly be wearing them this winter. Matt Humphreys
RS Vareo Yahoo Newsgroup The RS Vareo Newsgroup can be found online at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RSVareo/ There are to date 224 members (probably reflecting about two thirds of all owners outside schools and clubs) as we are getting on for sail numbers entering the 500s. There is a very strong posting culture in the group compared to other newsgroups in the dinghy sailing category -particularly useful are technical tips and hints – there is a comprehensive selection of photo guides for modifications. Lively debates abound on items like optimising upwind performance, toe-straps, getting started (the latter usually associated with getting to grips with the asymmetric for sailors who not familiar with our very best asset). This is a time efficient way of becoming more in tune with what is going on event-wise and keeping up with the rising popularity of the only non-hiking asymmetric dinghy out there.
Fat Face Circuit 2006 Final Results Congratulations to Bristol Corinthian’s Tim Greenwood on a very well deserved first place in the Fat Face Open Series 2006. Jamie Morgan from Grafham was a consistent challenger to Tim’s crown throughout the series and especially given the fact he is a youth - must certainly be the guy to watch for next year. There were also some stunning performances from others underlining that there is a really close competition between some very good sailors of the RS Vareo. In fact there were 6 different individuals such as Chris Larr, Johnathan Nuttall, Richard Kemp-Salt and Mark Williams recording firsts and seconds but crucially as they didn’t compete across the full Fat Face circuit there was no stopping Greenwood in this series. Weatherwise the series had it all being evenly split between 3 light wind events and two and a half breezier ones – notably incorporating a “formation swimming” event during the very well attended June Burghfield venue. Prizes for the Fat Face Racing Circuit will be presented at the upcoming RS Vareo Nationals at Looe SC on Thursday September 7th.
Rank Sail No Helm Club BCYC Day 1 BCYC Day 2 RSC Day 1 RSC Day 2 LOSSC Day 1 LOSSC Day 2 BSC FSC Day 1 FSC Day 2 BartSC Points         25/03/06 26/03/06 22/04/06 23/04/06 06/05/06 07/06/06 10/06/06 08/07/06 09/07/06 06/08/06   1 261 Tim Greenwood BCYC 2 9 1 2 2 1 9 DNC DNC DNC 8 2 406 Jamie Morgan Grafham 3 3 3 1 1 2 3 DNC DNC DNC 10 3 440 Jim Hood Weston SC 5 5 2 3 5 6 12 2 2 5 14 4 346 Geoff Shaw Roadford 7 4 4 4 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 6 25 5 179 Eddie McDonald Burghfield SC 8 5 DNC DNC 7 9 8 4 3 7 26 6 361 Chris Larr GWSC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 1 1 1 2 28 7 402 Scott Butler Hardway 10 7 DNC DNC 8 5 4 DNC DNC DNC 34 8 287 Richard Kemp-Salt Brightlingsea 4 1 DNC DNC 4 8 DNC DNC DNC DNC 40 9 354 Martin Barrett Craven DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 3 3 1 53 10 322 Mark Hayzelden Burghfield SC 9 9 DNC DNC DNC DNC 10 DNC DNC 3 54 11 334 Nick Crickmore Waveney & Oulton DNC DNC 5 5 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 4 60 12 206 Dave Machin Netley SC DNC DNC DNC DNC 9 7 7 DNC DNC DNC 69 13 229 Jonathan Nuttall Teign Corinthian 1 2 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 72 14 403 Steve Carr Hardway SC DNC DNC DNC DNC 3 3 DNC DNC DNC DNC 75 15 215 John Price Filey DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 5 3 DNC 77 16 420 Ken Miles Shoreham SC DNC DNC DNC DNC 6 4 DNC DNC DNC DNC 79 17 172 Hugh Wrat-McCann Teign Corinthian 6 8 DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 83 18 391 Mark Williams Llandegfedd DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 2 DNC DNC DNC 94 19 390 Nigel Tinkler Llandegfedd DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 5 DNC DNC DNC 97 20 431 Andrew Trigg Burghfield SC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 6 DNC DNC DNC 98 21 243 Gavin Clark Sutton Bingham SC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 11 DNC DNC DNC 103 22 156 Steve Trigg Burghfield SC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC DNC 13 DNC DNC DNC 105
Modifications from the basic spec – what is “nice to have” and “need to have”? The RS Vareo is a one design class and changes have to be reviewed and adopted by the Class Association. The modifications below all are within the rules at the time of writing this. They are more akin to “GL” equivalent in a car setting and relate to comfort as opposed performance – so do not think these are a magic performance enhancing way of having a Vareo GTi. It just doesn’t work that way. It is important to understand that what follows here is based purely on the opinions of some active RS Vareo sailors and whilst there are some performance related possibilities many of the modifications are aimed at personal “comfort” when sailing. We cover some of these in this issue – and will aim to look at others in the future. For these kinds of issues there is no substitute for a study of the other boats when visiting an Open. Another great reason for travelling to Rutland in October. As standard from LDC the Vareo has a horse which is fixed and is set at a fixed height above the level of the rudder steering post. Some sailors feel that a flat horse is more beneficial for pointing more efficiently in stronger winds. This is on the basis of being able to sheet in the boom just over the quarter. There is however an active and ongoing debate on this subject and the current view is that there is no clear one best solution. For example, one noted good sailor sails with a loose traveller and one thing which has been noted is that when sailing against him is that he points higher than those with a “flat profile” do but as part of the cost of that moves slower. Overall the time taken to the windward mark tends to be the same for both. The sea state is also a factor to be considered here as in certain waters (harbour or large estuary for example) can exhibit a very short steep chop. In this situation it is entirely possible to be stalled by a wave head on if you are pointing high to the detriment of speed.   Underboom support for mainsheet. The mainsheet enters the boom for most of the distance between the block on the horse and the block above the centre block. With the original diameter of mainsheet this system has some friction inherent in it. Consequently some have opted for the legal alternative of routing the mainsheet outside the boom but supported for 80% of its length. This can be done using sailcloth and Velcro or glue and undoubtedly removed the friction effect (although if experienced suddenly can feel surprisingly loose if you are not accustomed to it). There is a simple alternative to this and that is to use a smaller diameter sheet (7mm) which causes less friction but can give the hands more of a sharper load. It is quite simply a matter of personal preference and it is recommended you try both methods to determine which works best for you.   The geometry of the kite halyard means that the halyard is in passing contact with the slightly proud ridge on the foredeck. Over time this can start to cause wear on the gelcoat. LDC does provide a Dacron patch designed to shield the gelcoat from such wear and tear. Some owners have substituted this for a variety of hard wearing materials from anything between gaffer tape, Kevlar sail tape, aircraft fuselage top layers (!). These are effective but have to be replaced from time to time as the wear becomes sacrificial with regard to the material used. Another remedy is to raise the block so the halyard clears the ridge. This has an obvious advantage in that it avoids the need to patch and can actually mean less overall friction in the hoist / drop cycle. We suggest you study other boats to decide if and how and if you want to address this.   Longer / Adjustable Tiller Extension. This is quite simply an upgrading from the as supplied tiller extension with a longer one – typically a carbon fibre one or an extendable telescopic one (example: Ronstan’s Telescopic “Battlestick”) The whole objective here is to allow you to get further forward (i.e. to the shroud) when beating to optimise trim and to retain comfortable control of the rudder. Those with long arms I hear say that they are able to beat and steer easily without assistance of a longer extension. For those otherwise built, there are some personal factors which should be considered to establish which might work best – not least if you are one who tends to sit on the extension when hoisting / dropping kite the double sleeved Battlestick type is more rugged whereas carbon fibre one may suffer terminally as its main strength is not “crossways”. True – it is something else to think about (the extra length) when tacking especially when without a little care, attention and forward planning it is possible for the tiller to become trapped by the mainsheet. In the case of the adjustable extension you just give a twist and park it away and do the reverse the other side of the tack. All owners I know who have a longer tiller extension of both of these types wouldn’t go back if they had a choice.
Finally…… I understand from sources unnamed that next year’s Vareo season is going to be very special – plans are being finalised which look to be the best yet and 2007 looks like being a real corker…….so don’t undo quite all the fitness over the festive season there are some excellent reasons to put your skills to the test next year.
email:rsvareo@progressivetechnology.co.uk