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Blog submitted by Rooster Rider Amelie Ballantyne, Devon UK As a keen dinghy sailor, there is nothing I like better than getting in my (Rooster) wetsuit and jumping on my boat- it’s the best feeling in the world! However, over the past year, I have started to realise the effects that humans are having on the waters we use and the oceans in general. The statistics around pollution, climate change and habitat destruction are quite shocking, and unfortunately, the evidence of these statistics can be seen rather close to home sometimes- I often see dead wildlife/sea creatures, plastic pollution and sewage where I sail, and it’s not pleasant. As someone who loves using the water, this concerned me, and I wanted to help bring about change. However, I am only a 15-year-old dinghy sailor from Devon, so what can I possibly do to change this global environmental problem? So, to start with, I did my research and created a list of the simple things I could promote at my club (Starcross Yacht Club). Then, earlier this year, I became a Clean Sailors Ambassador and joined a community of international sailors who all want to raise awareness of ocean conversation and sustainable practices in the marine industry. I also joined the US SailGP Climate Action Academy that links students with A-list sustainable experts to learn about global matters. Using social media has been a great platform, and I have organised old sails and wetsuit collections, as well as helping to raise awareness about key issues. Thank you, ITCA Topper community, for your kind sail and wetsuit donations at NS5 Paignton. Who are Clean Sailors and what do they do? Clean Sailors is a non-profit organisation that strives to promote awareness around ocean conservation, amongst other things. Set up in 2020 by Holly Manvell, Clean Sailors share stories, research and campaign for environmental change in the marine industry. One of their big areas of focus is demonstrating what to do with old sails. Currently approx. 97% of sails end up in landfills each year, which is approximately. 2000 tons. This is a shocking statistic! Clean Sailors help direct people to local/global businesses that will take your old sails for recycling and repurposing to keep them out of landfills. Many innovative things can be done with old sails, from clothing and accessories, community shelters for schools and villages, to deckchair covers for the beach; creating a better great circular economy. What can sailors do to help? As sailors, most of us love the seas and rivers we use and would hate to think we are adding to a large-scale environmental problem, but unfortunately, the reality is that there are things that sailors do that have an impact on the environment around them. When it comes to change, even the small steps can make a difference if we ALL start to do them and work together. Think of the times you may have lost a sweet wrapper while doing a race or dropped your sunnies overboard never to be seen again, or that times you used electrical tape and a bit it’s blown away. Well, if every sailor did this, even by accident, the environmental impact would begin to be a big problem for waterways and communities that use them. Here are my top six very easy tips for being a more environmentally conscious sailor: 1. The obvious one – use a reusable drinking bottle and not a single-use plastic bottle. Rooster sells great bottles, and most venues have refill facilities – easy! 2. Recycle your old kit: Don’t dump sails and wetsuits, and buy second-hand where and when you can. 3. Save water. After a sail, you don’t need to shower for hours, have a water fight or spend eternity washing your boat – turn taps off! 4. Use eco-friendly products. There are great boat cleaning products out there, as well as countless products for your body. 5. Take your rubbish home – use the correct bins – maybe have a snack that is not in a fiddly wrapper -Rule 55 guys! The disposable of trash 6. …….use a sunglasses strap/retainer to keep your sunnies on your eyes and not on bottom of the seabed. I am very proud to be a Clean Sailors Ambassador and to be involved in helping with sustainability and change for our future and the longevity of water sports. In my opinion, educating people about the need to be sustainable and the impact each one of us has while doing the sport we love is important; creating new habits and making changes that benefit our whole environment. We all have a role to play; we all live here. It is great to see that even our top sailors in SailGP are getting on board with becoming clean, green sailors and leading the way with sustainability. I am also very proud to be a Rooster Rider, as Rooster is committed to ethical and sustainable business practices, which is important to

Being on and around the water can be a lot of fun, but when it comes to gear maintenance, this might be the last thing you want to do after a challenging day on the water yet is essential for the sustainability of your gear. That's why we've put together some of our best advice for you and your gear. - Rinse your gear immediately when you get home, especially if you've been in salt water - a great way to do this is to dunk it in the bath or a large flexi bucket. - Hang it up properly like this:   - Take care to rinse any zippers to make sure there's no sand, grit or salt stuck in them. - Re proof any items that have DWR treatments to ensure they stay waterproof. We recommend using Grangers Clothing Repel. Info on how to apply this to your garment can be found on our Garment Care Page. Some below some handy advice and hacks from our ambassadors to see how they get the most out of their gear: Leanne @pinkypaddles - Paddle boarding enthusiast "Dry your wetsuit boots upside down on broom handles. If you don’t want to wear neoprene or waterproof socks under wetsuit boots but struggle to get boots on bare feet then put pop socks on (tights material) for easy glide!" Jenny @jwingsurf34 - Sailor, windsurfer and wing surfer "If my sailing boots smell, I put a tbsp of bicarbonate of soda in my boots, with hot water. Leave overnight. Wash the next day - fresh as a daisy for more watersports action" Henry @henrym1235 - Topper sailor "At open meetings and training events I buddy up with others that are going. One of us takes a bucket to wash the gear out in, another brings a spin dryer and another has a dry buddy to dry it out" Maurits @maurits.wijnants_sailing - Europe sailor "Always take a clothes hanger with you at the bottom of your kit bag. Rinse all your gear before you take it home. Reuse your Rooster boot bag to put your neck gaiter, balaclava, sun hats and any extras in" George @georgeyeoman - International 14 sailor "Homemade boot rack : Wet boots, especially in the winter, are the ultimate 'ick' factor before getting on the water, so why not let gravity be your friend. We found drying boots upside down makes a huge difference to the drying speed, so why don't you try this. What you need: 1x old broom, 1x old plank, 1x drill bit & 1x little bit of wood glue Get an old broom stick and cut into 30cm sections. Take a plank and measure out how many boots you want to be able to dry, I suggest 10-15cm gaps between the holes which you drill to be able to put the pieces of broom handle in. Apply some wood glue to the holes, stick in your pieces of handle and, hey presto you're all set. Happy sailing (and toasty toes)" Emma @em_hivey - RS 200 sailor "A quick rinse and hanging it straight up gives you the best chance of dry kit the next day, but also reduces the risk of your wetsuit rubbing or getting a rash at the knee/elbow creases. I now take some coat hangers, pegs and a cheap mini camping rotary line to events as it works well to quickly dry your kit without the faff of trying to find somewhere to dry it" Tadeo @tadeo.funess - 29er sailor "Avoid folding it or leaving it rolled up for long periods of time, as this can damage the neoprene and leave permanent wrinkles. Avoid wearing jewellery or other objects that could scratch or tear the materials of your kit and try to avoid chlorine as this can be damaging to neoprene and other materials, if it does then wash as soon as possible." Issy @issyglazebrooksailing - ILCA sailor "Drying my kit on my C-monsta hanger has been a game changer, coupled with washing it with Halo, which means it can be washed on a lower temperature, which is turn saves energy and helps care for the environment" But what happens when washing and rinsing your kit isn't enough? Another way to extend the life of your gear, just when you think it's on the brink, is through repairing it. If you've got a small tear in your Aquafleece® or neoprene wetsuit we sell repair kits for both. This means you can bring your item of clothing back to life without having to buy a new one especially when you just have a minor tear. Larger tears may require some hand sewing or using a sewing machine - we would recommend keeping some swatches from old wetsuits for back up in case you need to patch up your current one. Prevention is always the best cure which is why we would always advise on the correct care for your clothing from day dot. There are some easy wins to be had, for example investing in a pair of Wear Protection shorts to wear over your wetsuit in a dinghy can be a great way to protect the seat of your wetsuit from any damage, especially if you are prone to rubbing around the deck (or sail in a hiking boat!). Still not sure? Read our page dedicated to garment care here, for all the details. Contact our customer service team, who will be more than happy to help. hello@roostersailing.com +44 (0)1243 389997  

Summer sailing and regattas often mean long hours on the water — sometimes with three or more races back to back. If you’re new to it, or haven’t raced in a while, knowing what to wear or take with you can feel overwhelming. For the seasoned sailor, it’s often second nature — but even the most experienced can get caught out when they’re a bit rusty or just haven’t had to prep for a full championship day in a while. Even simple logistics can throw you off: can you drop a drybag on a rib? If so, great — you have more flexibility. But if you’re scrambling to find that rib between races or the next warning signal goes up right after the finish, you could be left without the gear you were counting on. Just like any endurance sport, sailing demands planning — for clothing, food, and hydration. The goal? Bring what you need without overpacking. Most dinghies don’t have room for your entire wardrobe and snack cupboard. Pack too much and it's dead weight; pack too little and, inevitably, that’s the day you needed that extra layer or snack bar. The Weather Never Makes it Easy British summer sailing is unpredictable. Sure, we all know the signs — clouds building inland, a sea breeze on the way — but forecasts rarely tell the full story. The “real feel” out on the water can be wildly different from what was expected. We've written a blog on this which is well worth a read. Read more. When you’re 2 hours from shore in a dinghy, you have to be self-reliant. Even at a big event surrounded by boats and safety cover, you need to look after number one. That means having the right gear, fuel, and backup layers — because when the unexpected happens, you want to be ready. Fuel Matters: Food & Hydration Outfit choices are only half the battle. Staying fuelled and hydrated is critical for performance and recovery — especially over back-to-back races.  Your Championship Kit Guide: What to Wear, What to Pack We’ve created a simple guide to help you layer up, pack smart, and stay comfortable during race days — whether it’s a short session or an all-day affair. Your Standard Base Kit Based on a mild Summer  | 20–28°C Top layer: Rash top or PolyPro top Rash = cooler, UV protection PolyPro = extra warmth + UV, fleece-lined Bottom half: Thermaflex 1.5mm Longjohn or Race Armour Lite Shorts Buoyancy Aid Aeromesh Cap – protects your head & aids ventilation UV Neck Sleeve – adds sun protection Boots – suitable for your boat and grip needs Sunglasses – ideally with a retainer   Long Day on the Water (3–5 hours | 3–4 races back-to-back | 20–28°C) UV lip balm / small suncream Cereal or oat based bar (slow-release energy) Gel, sweets or fruit (fast-release energy) On Board: 2x large water bottles 1 water, 1 electrolytes (use a Joey Bottle Holder) Drybag - 10L Rolltop Drybag - perfect for on the boat or 35L Dry Backpack - if you have access to a rib to store: Lightweight spray top or SB1 dry smock Spare warmer layer (PolyPro or Thermaflex top) Suncream Lunch/snacks   Shorter Day on the Water (1–2 hours | 1–2 races back-to-back | 20-28°C) Pockets: UV lip balm Mini suncream Snack bar On Board: 1–2 large drinks bottles (again, ideally one with electrolytes) Joey Bottle Holder   Drybag - 3L Rolltop Drybag: Lightweight spray top or Thermaflex top Extra snack Suncream Bonus Kit: Things You Might Be Glad You Brought! Spare rope/lines Whistle Knife Duck tape (“If you can’t fix it with duck tape…”) Electrical tape Spare shackles/blocks/split pins Sail repair tape Multi-tool Emergency blanket Phone or VHF radio   Long days on the water are where championships are won and lost, and your preparation can make a huge difference. Pack smart, dress for the conditions, and fuel your body properly. That way, you’ll be focused on racing, not worrying about what you left behind.

My favourite training routine for small to medium sized groups is a ‘Follow-On’.

With the weather heating up many across Europe will be looking to get out on the water, but no one wants to swim in polluted water, right?  With that thought in mind, the team at Rooster thought it would be worth taking a look at the different countries in Europe and their respective water quality ratings to find out which, on average, provides the cleanest waterways no matter what sport you are engaging in. The assumption is that countries with good water quality and low microplastic pollution would be more suitable for swimming and other watersports. However, our findings prompted us to ask more questions rather than offering clear answers.   The map shows the water quality in each European country combined with the microplastic pollution level in tonnes. As you hover over the map, you can check the water quality for each country. The gradient in colour reflects how high or low the water quality is.   What did we find? The majority of the countries had a high proportion of good water quality, with 4 countries having a proportion of good water quality under 50, 9 countries between 50-70, and 30 countries over 70. However, there was a poor correlation between high quality and low microplastic pollution. In fact, many countries with a very high proportion of good water quality also had significant levels of microplastic pollution. For example, while Germany had an impressive 90.3% of bathing sites with good water quality, it also had a notable amount of microplastic pollution at 74,000 tonnes.   Moreover, upon analysing the data, we found that Western Europe had the highest average microplastic pollution, while Northern Europe had the least microplastic pollution in waterways. Once again however, both regions had an average of 80% good water quality. There are a few potential reasons to explain the weak connection between water quality and microplastic pollution: ●   The water quality data is taken from bathing sites, which are usually known to be used by people for watersports and other recreational activities. However, the data for microplastic pollution is taken from waterways, which encompasses more than bathing sites and can be used for a variety of purposes, such as vehicular passage and transporting goods. ●   Such waterways may be more prone to microplastic pollution as they include a broader set of waterways used for a range of purposes. This may explain the notable levels of microplastic pollution for many of the countries. ●   Another reason may be that the majority of water quality assessments do not test for microplastic pollution, usually only testing for bacteria harmful to humans. However, should water quality assessments start considering microplastic pollution? Are Water Quality Assessment Missing a Major Factor? After further research, we found that the majority of water quality assessments don’t factor in microplastic pollution, with only certain bacteria such as Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci taken into account. This may be because research into the impact of microplastic pollution on humans and the environment is relatively recent. However, research has been done which proves that microplastics in water can affect not only those in the water, but also those within the area. Moreover, microplastics can be harmful to aquatic biota upon ingestion as they contain toxic chemicals and may absorb organic pollutants from the environment. Regardless of the discrepancy between both factors, this doesn’t nullify the water quality data, considering that the microplastic pollution data is most likely taken from a wider or different set of waterways than that used for water quality assessments. That being said, we were interested in discovering which countries had the highest proportions of good water quality, making them suitable destinations for watersports activities. Best Performing European Countries The Top 20 Best European Countries by water-quality  ●      Norway (100) ●      Cyprus (97.6) ●      Austria (96.9) ●      Croatia (96.7) ●      Greece (95.8) ●      Montenegro (95) ●      Bulgaria (94.8) ●      Denmark (94) ●      Malta (92) ●      Georgia (92) ●      Germany (90.3) ●      Italy (90.3) ●      Lithuania (89.3) ●      Luxembourg (88.2) ●      Spain (87.6) ●      Finland (87.2) ●      Portugal (86.2) ●      United Kingdom (86) ●      Liechtenstein (80) ●      Czech Republic (79.1) ●      Slovenia (78.7) It’s good to see that the UK is included in the top 20 countries suitable for watersports activities, with 86% of its bathing sites meeting good water quality standards. A few countries showed strong correlations between high proportions of good water quality and low levels of microplastic pollution. Montenegro had the lowest amount of microplastic pollution with 95% of its bathing sites having good water quality. Cyprus also had a significantly lower amount of microplastic pollution compared to other countries, with 97.6% of its bathing sites boasting good water quality. Three countries which may not be ideal for watersports activities are interestingly located within the same region in the Balkans, including Siberia, Albania, and Herzengovia. These countries hold the lowest portions of good water quality ranging from 30-50%. Final Thoughts The water quality and microplastics data showed us unexpected results, with high microplastic pollution levels even for countries with a proportion of good water quality of over 70%. This could be for several reasons, including a potentially wider or different set of waterways included in microplastic pollution assessments, and the absence of micro plastic inclusion in water assessments. Due to these factors however, the data for good water quality can still be used to broadly reflect countries suitable for watersports activities. We hope this encourages watersports enthusiasts, athletes, and swimmers to discover the water sites within the United Kingdom and other countries that made the list. Our Efforts for Sustainable Watersports That said, the Rooster team recognises the importance of making watersports sustainable, especially for those who partake regularly. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional athlete, you may own or have old wetsuits and other watersports apparel lying unused. As an initiative to reduce these items going to landfills, we’ve partnered with Mindful Manta, a UK-based company that turns wetsuits into sustainable accessories such as bags and small purses. If you’d like to help reduce waste from unused wetsuits, you can drop off old or unused wetsuits at our Fareham office, after which we will send them to Mindful Manta to turn them into reusable and useful items.

The RS Games was to be the biggest dinghy regatta in the world and what a spectacle.    I have got to say that the Rooster Team were super proud to be part of this amazing celebration of racing and the team certainly stepped up to the mark to make it go with a bang.  We as Rooster® were to be the technical clothing supplier to the event which we took as a massive honour. Behind the scenes, we had been preparing hoodies, T-Shirts, Soft Shell Jackets and Soft Shell Gilets to be available for printing with the excellent RS Games Logo.  We Opened a Rooster shop at the Games to support the sailors, so there was little or no excuse but to try and enter as many of the events as we could during the three-week celebration of sailboat racing. We had entered the Aero 7 World Championships, The RS800 National Championships and lastly, the RS500 World Championships. This was our bonus event. It was going to be a long summer - and no one could say we had let the grass grow between our feet. This is the story of our 80 hours of sailing over the regatta with some tuning tips and advice along the way. The Aero World Championships entry of 207 boats from 13 nations, far surpassed that expected by the race management team so we faced a compromise of 4 fleets on one course area. With 61 Aero 5's, 103 Aero 7's which were to be split into two fleets for reseeding each day and 43 Aero 9's. Experience told me that when there are more than two fleets racing on one course, we tend to have lots of waiting time. Add to that three races a day and with racing outside the harbour, it was shaping up to be a challenging regatta, both physically and mentally. The unusually hot summer still had its grip on the South of England so our wide-brimmed sun hats and long sleeved rash tops had been selling fast in the shop to the run up of the regatta. The volunteers set up for registration and measurement, the sailors got their RS Games T-shirts and we were in a real World Championship. The first few days were going to be light and sunny with building sea breezes each day. Sam Whaley did a tuning and coaching session for the fleet. We have very different approaches to our sail set up. As I give 7 Kg and about 6" of height to Sam, I need a set up that is far less powerful than his.  But I think there are some other advantages in my set up. My second batten is set slack so that when I use lots of vang, the upper leach is open and not closed. My second batten can move by up to 5mm off the tensioner whilst in the pocket before I pull the sail up. When I want the leach to close, I would use mainsheet tension with a slack vang. I think the slack batten also helps downwind as I can keep more vang on and then reverse the flow on the upper leach as the top of the sail is less hooked. You can see from this image that I could use lots of vang to give me a fine entry to the rig in relatively light winds. Top tips for the Aero: 1. Make sure you have the maximum range in your vang control line. With my set up I have some mast bend with the vang completely released when I pull the sail up. I almost run out of this range when I use lots of vang in super strong winds. 2. Think of using Rooster Easysplice to make a short halyard. The loop in the easy splice is easier to pull through the turning block when hoisting than the existing system. 3. Keep the stretchy black halyard as this allows the mast to bend and straighten - and fasten it off on the port side to some shock cord with a hook (see photo) 4. Fasten a piece of shock cord to the halyard retaining button on the topmast and take it down to the Cunningham double block to help it release. By day three, the temperature was starting to drop slightly. I changed my rash vests for Polypro. I also packed a Pro Lite Aquafleece in a 10L roll-top dry bag just in case the wind built. The wind did continue to build throughout each day and through the week. The first casualty in the fleet was one of my buddy partners; Robert England, from Chelmarsh sailing club. Although he was obviously a very accomplished sailor, he was also one of our more senior sailors. I had enjoyed spending time with him on and off the water. "if I sail three races a day at my age, I have to take a week off to recover" was his comment. It was then that I remembered that the Solo Association has a special trophy for their senior sailors at their Nationals. They race for the Plate Trophy which is for those who only sail the first race of the day... Food for thought? It became clear that there was a lot of compromise in the course configuration. It had been designed by the Race Officer to enable the 4 fleets to race around the course and finish is about the same time, despite their very different speeds. My only comments were that the course could not have been less smile friendly.  It was also dangerous.  It would have been much safer if we all had the same first mark and mark 2. The 5's could have raced to a much shorter windward leg on their outer loop to help them keep up. I kept finding myself in tight situations trying to round a windward mark with a 9 rig trying desperately trying to avoid me. The 7 fleets never had a decent reach as we rounded a near windward mark on the inner loop - then fetched to the outer loop windward mark whereas the 9's rounded a different windward mark and then took a much broader angle to the outer loop. Most of us wanted broader more smiley reaches. We finally got our wish when we had a 70-degree shift in the wind to the right in the middle of our second upwind. We then had a super smiling broad reach to the outer loop mark, a full-on and exciting reach to the leeward mark and then a short tactical beat to the finish. More of the same please RO, but for some reason, all of the fleets requests to change the configuration fell on deaf ears.  It was a tough regatta... In the qualification series, Sam Whaley was shaping up to be supremely dominant. Jack Hopkins was also having a very consistent series; I could tell he was fresh and making the right decisions and put it down later to the fact that he had already sailed the Laser and Solo Nationals. My first beats were just not as consistent as his. With one point between us, Jack was my target. So with the inner Chimp revved up, I OCSed the first start of the final series. I had not managed to tell my inner chimp that the race was highly likely to be restarted as the Northerly was about to shift 90 degrees left. My Chimp was worrying about the “what if the right comes good” as it so often does in the northern part of the bay. There was a small patch of wind in the middle and I tried to make a jump on the fleet to get to it first to give me a safe way to the windward mark. If you are confused about my terminology of the Inner Chimp - then I think you would find the book: "The Chimp Paradox" very interesting. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. As I read my number on the blackboard, I felt pretty stupid. I sailed away with my tail between my legs and prepared myself for a long wait. It was going to be as much a mental battle to stay focused as a physical one. Good job I had my Supertherm Beanie tucked into my buoyancy aid and my Aquafleece in my dry bag, clipped into the back of the boat as it was getting cold. Within 10 mins of the restart, the wind shifted and all the races were abandoned. Although the wind had turned westerly, it was not yet stable in direction and the race team had a major job moving the myriad of marks to the new wind direction. The waves in the bay were very uncomfortable, so I made for the cover of the harbour wall and tried to hold position off an old supply station. I waited with my thoughts turning in my head for nearly three hours before finally sailing back to the start area. It was during this solitude that I realised that there was a very strong chance that we would not get a discard in the final series; the forecast was looking fruity for the last day and the discard in the second series only applied if we got one race in on the last day. More hindsight had been required. Selfishly, I considered that we had spent far too long qualifying and not enough time in the finals. I like to ask sailors about racing in the silver fleet and overwhelmingly they love it. Their confidence grows with the improvement in their results and they are rejuvenated for the next regatta. Aero 7 Gold was very competitive On the eve of the final day, I handed back my third-placed Podium Bib; I was now back in 9th counting my OCS. However, third place was still just possible. I had to come second in the last race and Craig Williamson had to sail a 4th or worse. One race on the last day was looking possible, although there was still a chance that the racing would be abandoned totally as the weather was deteriorating. Tallies were released, and I had a chance to redeem myself. They say psychology plays a big part in sport and I guess circumstances helped me. Given my OCS, I had nothing to lose with everything to gain in that last race. The wind was in the South West with a forecast to veer. I had to balance the ‘go left’ local features of the harbour against the possibility of the ‘go right’ veer. The pin was favoured so that’s where I started. I raced my heart out but quickly noticed that the wind was clocking right sooner than we had expected. I started to dig out to the right whenever I could, sometimes ducking boats as the wind continued to clock right. Those that started at the starboard end and took the right side were blessed with this progressive right shift and were mixing it up in the first few at the top mark. Sam Whaley was clearly ahead after crossing to the right early. I was mixing it with the right corner winners. Craig had been caught out on the left. After the first downwind I had managed to wriggle past a couple and was settled in second. Dodging Aero9’s at their gybe mark was a nervous moment as I attempted to take a line to our outer loop windward mark. The 9’s appeared to be more under control than they looked, and I was safe. As the wind increased over 30 knots, I just had to not capsize on the last run and short reach to the finish. I took a deep broad reach from the top mark and then a gybe. I then over sheeted the main to tame the beast to the leeward mark. I had left most of the kicker on and had left the downhaul on. It was safe but a little slow. Alastair Goodwin looked more willing to risk safety for speed and was about to pass me, so I had to press a little harder - easing the vang and downhaul and sail hard. Wow, the Aero is soooo fast downwind in 30 knots!! With the danger from Alastair averted I crossed in second which put me back on the podium. I had rescued a series from my own stupidity. #Ground Hog Regatta number 2. Our Preparation for the RS800 Nationals: Our main boat at Stokes Bay for the year had been the RS800 - a super smooth twin wire trapeze asymmetric skiff that lights up, upwind or downwind. Well, I say smooth - but that depends whose hands are on the tiller extension. They say that practice makes perfect, but work is pretty intense for both my wife and I. Sarah is a tremendously hard-working teacher and director of studies. So it was only when term finished that were we able to add some extra evening hours on the water other than what we could get at weekends. We did our preparation, we tried to find some wind and waves to test ourselves and our nerves during our hot windless summer; this had been a challenge. We managed some early evenings catching the sea breeze in the Western Solent. We would sail up to Lee-on-the-Solent from Stokes Bay in those summer evenings as the breeze built and play in the short waves off the Bramble Bank. We had also supplemented our normal swimming, cycling and yoga regime with “Les Mills On Demand” at home at the start of the year. Their CX Works routines ere a great core workout, in the spring we added body balance classes which I found made a huge difference to my trapezing. Ask me to stand on one leg and you will see why I needed to work on my balance! Over the 18 months, rig tuning has been an issue for me. The tuning guide on the class website is great but these are the bits that appear to be missing and have proved crucial for me. These are: Caps deflection 145mm (for a plastic track) Spreaders deflection 150mm (for a plastic track) As I have an aluminium track, I need to use more caps defection. This is because the aluminium track adds more fore and aft stiffness fore and aft, especially in the smaller section at the top of the mast. I am now erring towards 150 or even 160mm. I also thought that caps deflections could not be changed, but you can add length which adds deflection. Alternatively, you can purchase new spreaders from RS to get you the perfect set up. We had experimented with twin sticks and crew sheeting, but I found it very hard to give up the feedback and control of the mainsheet to Sarah, and she was not so keen on the extra physical requirements herself, despite being super fit. Once back to single stick, I was more at home. Although the weight of our standard 22mm extension is very light, I thought that we needed to develop a super lite version that was still super strong. With its reduced angular momentum, it was much easier to spin round the back in a tack or gybe. These are soon to be available to buy. Back to the Ground Hog Regatta #2. Two days of short training in the harbour was enough to refresh the techniques we had learned in the evening training sessions we had done, and we were ready for the regatta. The standard of the regatta was supersonic, with legends of 49er sailing, Simon Hiscocks, a silver medallist and more recent 49er campaigners, 29er converts and RS800 devotees. We raced in the bay and had plenty of wind. We had lots of great racing and loved every minute of it. The boat is just electric. My RS800 highlights: 1. crossing the line one place in front of Simon Hiscocks and his 49er FX crew Ellie Aldridge in the first two races (they got it together later in the week to soundly beat us) 2. Speaking to Maddy Anderson about her first week sailing the boat where she was so excited about her experience and said of the RS800 “I was told that the 800 was a bit dull. They are so wrong. The boat lights up upwind AND downwind”. 3. I had encouraged Rooster's product designer, Kate Sargent, to design a trapeze harness that was comfortable. I wore the final pre-production for the whole regatta and had ultimate manoeuvrability with no aches or pains. Great job Kate! The lowlights: 1. catching a post Aero cold that made the after après sail a little more challenging. We were nowhere near the podium at the end of the regatta, but we are loving the journey. Big respect to all the teams in the regatta Ground Hog Regatta #3 We had one more regatta, this time in the RS500. I had never sailed one of these boats and I often wondered why it had not taken off in the UK as much as it obviously had in Europe would it be the strength of the RS200? We had a brand new charter boat! It’s so nice taking a new boat out of its wrapper. Loose tension gauges, tape measures and spreader deflections were shared by the fleet. I made a set of Spectwelve dynema® trapeze wires and used Sarah’s favourite angled sea sure trapeze rings. I also fitted a nice shortened Rooster Carbon extension. I used a neat trick I had learned from the Stokes Bay Musto Fleet – tying a piece of trusty Dynema® elastic through the trapeze wire holes to hold the trapeze wires in place. The needle fid worked best here to pull the shock cord through. We changed the gennaker halyard to 4mm Spinfast ( the length required was longer than that specified on the RS Website at 16.8m), the jib sheets to 6mm Polilite 8.25m long, the mainsheet to 7mm Polilite and the gennaker sheets to 6mm All Spec Pro 10.4m long RS500 Rope Lengths Table (where is diverted from the RS Rope Length TableGennaker Halyard - 16.8m  (Spinfast)Jib Sheet 8.25m  (6mm Polililte)Mainsheet - 10m  (7mm Polilite)Gennaker Sheet 10.4m (6mm All Spec Pro) Taking the centre out of the All Spec Pro was so easy. Just to make it a bit neater - I tapered both ends and made a neat join. We also filled the gaps in the Gennaker Chute where I thought the kite could get snagged with some closed cell foam, then taped over the top with sail insignia cloth.   Ready for the insignia cloth I fitted the Velocitec Prism to the mast that we had been testing in the RS800. It was so super clear that I can't see me sailing an asymmetric without it. We noticed that due to its next generation 3-axis magnetometer it needed much less damping and therefore gave a quicker response to change in direction than other electronic compasses I have used before. The boat was ready: Tim Wilkins had put lots of rig tuning information online, but we were aware we were on the heavier side of the weight range at 143Kg. The settings were good, I thought, for those in the 120Kg area. We took a slightly heavier weight setting for the spreaders from Stephan Fassberg of the Swedish team, talked at length with Michiel Geerling and crossed our fingers. Consulting a patient Michiel about setting up the RS50 Practice day one, we went out training and tried to find someone to measure ourselves against. The Swedish Team were open and friendly, we joined them. I could tell that the rig was fighting us a bit. We had a lot of backwinding on the mainsail. We struggled to maintain our height against the best of the Swedish Team, but we appeared to have reasonable overall pace against them. Back at the house, I did some research and found that we had been playing with Martin and Axel Johansson, the team who came 3rd at the last worlds. The rig is beautifully simple to change, yet at the same time tricky to get right. The rig tension is adjusted at the jib with a neat 2:1 with a Clamcleat. The full rig loads were taken on a Selden 20mm block which was proof that they are a strong alternative to a 16mm Harken block. We added some multi-adjustable chain plate adjusters to the lowers to give us a finer adjustment to the lowers. Turning it upside down made it fit easier. Our rake, measured to the top of the gudgeon, appeared to be in the right territory. I was thinking that we needed the rig fairly upright to give us the power and height. Many had said that the RS500 was hard to gybe at first. But it really was not. Just reduce the GNAV tension a little, ease the mainsheet whilst keeping the gennaker powered up through the gybe whilst also ensuring that the gennaker was sheeted in early out of the gybe The racing was tight in the first light winds of the regatta. Lesson 1, don’t start above Tim and Heather Wilkins or an Italian. We quickly learned that in light winds, that the boat was a pinching machine. We tried lifting the centreboard on a light downwind leg like we would in the LDC2000. It did appear to give us the side slip we wanted, but at the same time in traffic, it also helped lose your lane and the world rolls you. We were slowly learning the boat and its challenges, we finally dropped the jib tack a little so we were able to sheet the jib a little harder and we gained some height upwind. Dropping the jib tack helped but the slot was still choked. Day three and we had some wind to stretch our legs and turn her into a skiff. We set off in a very low angle upwind and it worked, although it still felt like we were fighting her. The slot was still pretty ugly. We got a 3 and a 2 that day and started to worry the leading Dutch team of Pim and Lisa Van Vugt - but only a little. Day 4 was going to be windy. I decided to take the rake to an extreme back position with the lowers fairly tight. I guess a 470 style set up. I was keen to get the slot to work but keep the power in the mainsail. I set the tape measure to the main halyard. This was the datum. Then I took the rake back to 6m 33cm. The slot started to look great now with the new rake. We flew. We won the first race by a good margin.  Pim and Lisa Van Vugt were still consistent. The second race of the day we capsized on the last gybe on the run, it was getting pretty windy. We pulled the kite down, righted the boat, tacked round, hoisted only to see Peter and James gybe cleanly and then get a wrap in their gennaker so we were able to take the gun at the finish. They were our first two bullets of the series. Nicolas Honor, ‘Nico’ described us as “in another galaxy” which was a nice thing to say. He was most congratulatory. A really nice chap. Nico and Thomas The last day was much lighter and more patchy. I decided to leave the rig well alone. I was not sure if in the lighter parts of the race we struggled or not. But when the wind built in the afternoon we were able to bullet again. We secured second, the National Championships and first master. Highlights: 1. Watching Harry at perhaps 30Kg helming for his Dad James on the wire. Harry was fearless! James, you are also very brave. 2. After capsizing in the biggest gust of the week, seeing that Peter and James had managed to gybe without a swim, but that a wrap in the gennaker slowed them down enough for us to still take the gun (sorry Peter and James) 3. The Swedish Team. They were so friendly. 4. Sarah found the tacking a challenge - but the Dutch girls told her that they chant "run for your life" The Dutch were such fun. Lowlights 1. Trying to sail upwind with an Italian underneath you when my jib was inverted. 2. Trying to explain to the Russian entry that because rule 42 was not being policed on the water, it did not mean that he was allowed to pump all the way downwind to take second from us on race 7. Vladislav was very apologetic as he had misunderstood the briefing: "Rule 42 will not be policed on the water by the Jury". What would I do next in my set up: I think I would consider re looking at the spreaders. Perhaps push them out a little to give me some more return in the leach whilst also reducing the lowers tension to reduce the bag in my mainsail. If you want some fun skiff style racing with a friendly international flavour and you have a combined weight of 140Kg or less – then I think the RS500 will certainly fit the bill. The new boats had a very high build quality. We are certainly tempted by one; we especially enjoyed the European involvement in the fleet and the associated foreign travel. We will be looking to see if there are some nice venues to justify to come and play in the future.

What’s the difference? Why are there two types of base layer now? They may look very similar on the rail but they are quite different garments, using different technologies for different user applications. Both available in Mens, Womens and Junior fit, for tops, bottoms, gloves, socks and other accessories. Our universally adored PolyPro is a very warm hydrophobic base layer with a brushed fleece inner surface. It’s super soft and lightweight so can be used for a variety of sports, anytime you need to keep the retain warmth. Skiing, cycling, sailing, surfing and in the gym, this versatile material, seemingly very similar to any thermal but cleverly moisture wicking on the inside and hydrophobic on the outside, due to the natural properties of Polypropylene. Hot Stuff is a very thin neoprene (0.5mm) with a titanium layer bonded on the inside to reflect the heat back in. In our new design tops and bottoms, tested by swimmers, sailors and coastal rowers, we have used PolyPro panelling to give an unlimited stretch for watersports such as rowing and kayaking where mobility is a must. The Hot Stuff range is more suited to the “wetter” watersports, rather than your land sports such as cycling and running as the titanium layer with neoprene can be too good at retaining warmth and end up quite sweaty! Still not sure what to go for? If you’re after a normal base layer to use across different sports, including under wetsuit, go for PolyPro. If you’re after a depths of winter addition to your neoprene, or an alternative to a 2mm neoprene top, without the bulk, the Hot Top is the one to go for.

It’s inevitable…the seasons are changing. Summer is pretty much over and Autumn/Fall are very much on the way. Do not fear, you can continue to enjoy the water sailing, supping, winging, kayaking with just a few key changes to your kit bag. Check out below the best ways to keep your gear going through the seasons. Base Layers Swap this:  For that:  Changing your base layers can have a massive effect on your warmth on the water. Our PolyPro layers are a great choice that can be used throughout Autumn and Winter with more layers, but can also be used by themselves as a layer during Spring and Summer. If you’re planning on continuing to go on the water through the depths of Winter, or you just get very cold then the Hot Stuff range will be more suited to layering with your current wetsuits.   Spray Tops Swap this: For that:  The Lightweight Spray Top is a brilliant option for the warmer months, when you’re still going to get splashed but the water and air temperature aren’t too cool. When the weather starts to cool down switching to the fleecy Aquafleece will keep you toasty. With so many options to choose from they are perfect for many sports. Hats Swap this:  For that: It’s no secret that you loose a lot of heat through your head, so its important to keep your head warm. These hats are easy swaps to make and not too expensive that can really elevate your experience on the water during the Autumn.   Extra layers honourable mentions A few HANDY extras for additional heat that you can add to your kit instead of having to swap out gear. Aquafleece Neck Gaiter - now in eight colours, this combination of Aquafleece and PolyPro material provides excellent protection from the elements keeping your neck warm and dry with its fleece inner layer and water resistant outer layer. Hot hands - add that extra bit of heat to your hands with these 0.5mm neoprene glove liners that go underneath any gloves you already own, for an extra heat boost. Hot socks - works the same as the glove liners, the 0.5mm titanium neoprene will give your feet a heat boost as they reflect the heat back into your body. Can be worn under any sock or boot. If 0.5mm titanium neoprene isn’t your style then check out our PolyPro glove liners and socks that also provide a great extra base layer to your hands and feet. If you need any further help with kit guidance get in touch with our friendly customer service team by phone  01243 389997 (Monday-Friday 9am-4.30pm GMT) or via email sales@roostersailing.com

At Rooster, junior sailing isn’t just part of what we do – it’s at the core of who we are. Through strategic partnerships, ambassador programs, and dedicated support initiatives, we’re dedicated to inspiring, educating, and equipping young sailors for success on the water. Here are a few ways we promote and encourage Junior sailing and participation: CLASSES WE WORK WITH AND SUPPORT ITCA GBR We are proud to have supported ITCA GBR for over 20 years. This longstanding collaboration highlights our deep commitment to developing young sailing talent in the UK. RS Tera & RS FevaFrom grassroots to grand prix, we’ve supported the RS Tera and RS Feva circuits for over 6 years, ensuring young sailors have the best racing experience possible, whilst celebrating the fun that define RS sailing classes. ILCA UK  An important class for us, and where we started from with our Polilite Mainsheets and Classic Hikers. In recent years, we've re-partnered with ILCA UK to support this great class, which serves as a key stepping stone into the Olympic pathway and offers top-tier racing. US Optimist National TeamA relatively new partnership for us, 2024 saw us team up with the US Optimist National Team, aligning with our shared values of excellence and youth participation in sailing in the USA.    ROOSTER RIDERS & AMBASSADORS Our Rider & Ambassador Schemes supports passionate sailors who embody our values - dedication, humility, and inspiration. Rooster Riders push performance across multiple classes, representing Rooster with skill and sportsmanship. Rooster Ambassadors are standout sailors who inspire the next generation through their achievements and attitude. Both receive support, top-tier gear, and a strong community to help them thrive on and off the water.  Junior Ambassadors: Leading the way for 2025 Our junior ambassadors live and breathe the Rooster spirit—driven, humble, and inspiring. From Topper success to ILCA 4, Harry’s dedication and infectious enthusiasm make him one to watch on the Olympic pathway. A multi-title champion and YJA Yachtsman of the Year, Jess is as impressive off the water as she is on it. We’ve been with her for five years and can’t wait to see what’s next! Rooster 2025 Riders: The future of sailing Our Rooster Riders are a dynamic group of talented sailors whom push the limits of performance across multiple classes. In 2025, 50% of our team are junior sailors, competing in Opti, RS Tera, RS Feva, ILCA 4, WASZP, 29er, and ITCA.   SUPPORTING JUNIORS THROUGH QUALITY GEAR Understanding the unique needs of junior sailors, we offer specialised equipment to enhance their on-water experience. We recognise that junior sailors are at a crucial stage of their sailing journey, so we aim to provide them with the tools and support they need to feel confident, comfortable, and capable on the water, helping them to achieve their full potential.  Size Matters: Our junior range covers everything from base layers to wetsuits in Junior Small to Large, plus gloves, boots, and accessories down to 3XS. Rooster is your one-stop shop for young sailors. LOOKING AHEAD: OUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT For over 25 years, we’ve championed junior sailing, and we’re not stopping now. We’ll keep driving innovation, forging partnerships, and supporting young talent to ensure the future of sailing is brighter than ever. At Rooster, we believe that by investing in youth development today, we are securing the future of sailing for generations to come.