After extensive on-the-water testing, in late 2006 American Yacht Club (Rye, NY) selected the RS K6 as a new one-design class for the Club. Over prior years American had witnessed a decline in one-design keelboat racing at the Club and elsewhere in Western Long Island Sound. While the reasons for this are many, the Club believed that a modern design together with a time efficient racing program could reverse the trend, and a committee was formed to develop criteria and evaluate different boats. These criteria included good performance and sailing attributes, reasonable purchase and ownership costs, and the ability to be raced with a wide variety of crews without requiring large numbers. After considering some local existing classes, most of which were designed over 30 years ago, the committee decided early on that it was time to embrace a newer design that would take advantage of developments in materials, construction, and systems made over the last 20-30 years. Based on this, in the summer of 2006 various boats were selected for consideration, and extended on the water testing when possible. The extended testing was invaluable as there were many preconceptions (good and bad) about various boats that proved incorrect.

As one can imagine, the process generated much debate and heated opinions. But matters were brought to a head in a December, 2006 meeting whereby only those ready to buy could vote for a particular boat. At that meeting the K6 was selected, and an initial order of 11 boats was soon placed by members followed by another four orders in the following months. Combined with a couple of evaluation boats that had been delivered to the Club in 2006, this created a total fleet for 2007 of 17 boats all of which are owned by individuals-not the Club.

The RS K6 is a 19’ keelboat built in the United Kingdom by Rondar Raceboats that was conceived to combine the excitement of a high performance dinghy such as a 505 with the security of a keelboat. It is also a strict one-design with simple and elegant systems intended to minimize the time spent tweaking, yet provide sufficient adjustments to satisfy the skilled sailor. Because of its epoxy foam core construction and carbon spars, the boat is very light at just over 600 lbs, including a 275lb. bulb keel. Typically the K6 is sailed with two, but three is also a common combination, and there are no crew weight restrictions. Approximately 200 boats have been sold worldwide with fleets in mainland Europe as well as England and the U.S.

In May 2007 11 boats arrived at American in three containers, and another four arrived that August and September bringing the fleet to 17 boats by season end. There were the inevitable bugs to work out as well lessons in vicissitudes of international container shipping. However these challenges proved to be mere speed-bumps and the fleet enjoyed much time on the water with strong participation. From late May through October the K6s participated in 56 one-design races with 13 boats qualifying for the season series. The racing included the newly introduced AYC Sunday Series (multiple short races), various YRA events, the AYC High Performance Dinghy Open (also the US National Championship), and the inaugural running of the RS K6 International Regatta with seven teams coming over from the UK in late October.

The RS K6s had a great first year at AYC, and we learned a tremendous amount about the boat, and how to get more and more out of it over the course of the summer. The K6 has met all the initial expectations. It is a kick to sail, and was among the fastest whenever it shared a course with other YRA classes. In heavy air the boat is exhilarating achieving recorded speeds over 16 knots on several occasions, but it is also quite manageable, and the loads are light. Light air performance has also been very good due to the easily driven light-weight and narrow hull, allowing the fleet to have good racing when other designs can barely make way. Most importantly the K6 has also shown that it can be raced competitively by a wide variety of crews and we have had active participation from young and old, male and female, big and small. Only having to round up one other person that might be your spouse, or maybe a couple of kids to go racing greatly reduces a major barrier to getting boats on the race course. Finally, as we have gotten to know the boat and its systems, rigging, launch and retrieval have become smooth and efficient, and faster than waiting for the launch.

The fleet is beginning to make plans for an even better 2008 season that will build off what we have learned in 2007. A mainstay will be the Sunday Series (open to non-members) with its highly efficient format run on alternate Sundays. We will also participate in certain YRA events, and probably travel to one or two events in Newport or Annapolis. Also in 2008 we plan to head to England for the return engagement of the RS K6 International Regatta. Other possibilities for European sailing include potential events in southern Germany and Lake Garda in Italy.

K6 sailors include men and women with backgrounds in dinghies, keelboats, and racing yachts. It is especially satisfying to note that the boat has both brought new members to American and re-engaged several people who had become bored with existing boats or frustrated by the excessive time required to go racing. For more information please visit the US Website www.rsk6usa.com or www.Americanyc.org