RS SAILING 500 Quick start guide

Rigging Manual V3
PLEASE FOLLOW RIGGING MANUAL IN THE CORRECT ORDER

Contents
1. Introduction .......................................................... 1
2. Preparation ........................................................... 2 - 22
2.1 - Preparation ................................................................ 3
2.2 - Unpacking .................................................................. 3
2.3 - Pack contents ............................................................ 4 - 5
2.4 - Adding the shroud adjusters....................................... 6
2.5 - Adding the spinnaker ratchets ................................... 6 - 7
2.6 - Adding the spinnaker chute bar ................................. 7 - 8
2.7 - Rig tension.................................................................. 8 - 10
2.8 - Kicker ......................................................................... 10 -11
2.9 - Trapeze elastic .......................................................... 12
2.10 - Spinnaker pole ........................................................ 12 - 13
2.11 - Spinnaker chute elastic ........................................... 14
2.12 - Spinnaker ratchet elastic ......................................... 14 - 15
2.13 - Centreboard retainer ............................................... 15
2.14 - Centreboard handle ................................................. 16
2.15 - Adding the toestraps ................................................ 16-17
2.16 - Toe strap elastic (rear) ............................................. 18
2.17 - Spinnaker halyard take up ....................................... 18 - 19
2.18 - Mainsheet rear strop ................................................ 20
2.19 - Rudder ..................................................................... 20 - 22
3. Rigging the mast .................................................. 23 - 42
3.1 - Fitting the spreaders to the mast ............................... 24
3.2 - Spreaders .................................................................. 25
3.3 - Trapeze lines .............................................................. 26
3.4 - Stepping the mast ...................................................... 26 - 28
3.5 - Final rig adjustments .................................................. 29
3.6 - Rigging the spinnaker halyard .................................... 30 - 31
3.7 - Rigging the boom ....................................................... 31 - 32
3.8 - Rigging the Jib ............................................................ 32 - 34
3.9 - Rigging the mainsheet ................................................ 35 - 36
3.10 - Hoisting the mainsail ................................................. 36 - 38
3.11 - Mainsail tack strap ..................................................... 39
3.12 - Downhaul .................................................................. 39
3.13 - Rigging the spinnaker ............................................... 40 - 42
4. Completion ............................................................. 43 - 44
5. Sailing Hints .......................................................... 45 - 48
5.1 - Introduction ................................................................ 46
5.2 - Launching .................................................................. 46
5.3 - Leaving the beach ..................................................... 46
5.4 - Sailing close hauled and tacking ............................... 47
5.5 - Sailing downwind and gybing ..................................... 47
5.6 - Using the gennaker .....................................................47-48
6. Maintenance .......................................................... 49 - 52
6.1 - Hull care ..................................................................... 50 - 51
6.2 - Foil care ..................................................................... 51
6.3 - Spar care ................................................................... 51
6.4 - Sail care ..................................................................... 52
7. Knots ..................................................................... 53 - 54
8. Warranty ................................................................ 55
9. Glossary ................................................................ 56 - 64

1
1. Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of your new RS 500 and thank you for choosing an RS
product. We are confident that you will have many hours of great sailing and racing in
this truly excellent design.
The RS 500 is an exciting boat to sail and offers fantastic performance. This manual has
been compiled to help you to gain the maximum enjoyment from your RS 500, in a safe
manner. It contains details of the craft, the equipment supplied or fitted, its systems, and
information on its safe operation and maintenance. Please read this manual carefully
and be sure that you understand its contents before using your RS 500.
This manual will not instruct you in boating safety or seamanship. If this is your first
boat, or if you are changing to a type of craft that you are not familiar with, for your own
safety and comfort, please ensure that you have adequate experience before assuming
command of the craft. If you are unsure, RS, your RS dealer, or your national sailing
federation – for example, the Royal Yachting Association – will be able to advise you of
a local sailing school, or a competent instructor.
Please keep this manual in a secure place and hand it over to the new owner if
you sell the boat.
For further information, spares, and accessories, please contact:
RS Sailing
Premier Way
Abbey Park
Romsey
Hants SO51 9DQ
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: www[email protected]
For details on your local RS dealer, please visit www.rssailing.com

2
2. Preparation
PLEASE FOLLOW RIGGING MANUAL IN THE CORRECT ORDER
Before rigging your boat for the first time there are several components
which must be added. Please allow an additional 3 hours to do this
before sailing. Once added, the fittings in this section can be left on the
boat.

3
Your RS 500 comes complete with all the components necessary to take the boat
sailing.
In order to commission it, you will need the following tools:
• Pliers or a shackle key
• Small, at bladed screw driver
• PVC (electricians) tape
• Cigarettle lighter (to seal rope ends)
• 8mm socket or ratchet
• PH#2 driver
You may require other tools later, should you wish to make any settings or tuning
adjustments to the boat and rig.
Whilst your RS 500 has been carefully prepared, it is important that new
owners should check that shackles and knots are tight. This is especially
important when the boat is new, as travelling can loosen seemingly tight
ttings and knots. It is also important to check such items prior to sailing
regularly.
DO NOT use a knife or other sharp object to cut through packaging
containing parts – you may damage the contents!
2.1 - Preparation
2.2 - Unpacking
Having unpacked your RS 500 you should check that you have all the items listed in
section 2.3 before throwing away any of the packing as there may be some small items
still wrapped. If any items are missing please contact customer support.

4
2.3a - Pack contents
QUANTITY COMPONENT
1
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
1
6
shroud verniers
shroud verniers
Spinnaker Sheet
Ratchet
clam cleat
(rig tension)
forged shackle
narrow
forged shackle
standard
29mm Carbo block
(swivel head)
57mm Ratchet
block
22mm ball
bearing block
plastic hook
40mm mainsheet block
with rope attached
rudder blade
rudder stock and
tiller
tiller extension
boom
mast

5
QUANTITY COMPONENT
2.3b - Rope pack contents
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2spinnaker ratchet bungy
rig tension long
rig tension short
kicker control line
trapeze elastic bungy
spinnaker chute bungy
centre board retainer line
toestrap bungy
spinnaker halyard take
up block retainer
rudder downhaul short
jib sheet block tie
mainsheet
spinnaker sheet
jib sheet
gybing strop
spinnaker take up
block tie
centre board handle

6
2.4 - Adding the shroud adjusters
2.5 - Adding the spinnaker ratchets
Locate the four shroud adjusters
in the fittings pack and remove the
clevis pins and rings.
a)
a)
b)
Slide two shroud adjusters into place on
each shroud U-bolt and reattach the pin in
the top position.
The double adjuster is located aft for the
cap shrouds and the single adjuster is
forward for the lowers.
Locate the spinnaker ratchet blocks in the packs.

7
2.5 - Adding the spinnaker ratchets
b)
Attach the spinnaker ractchet to the
toe strap plates located behind the
shoud points on each side of the
boat. unsing a double fisherman’s
knot or other secure knot:
https://www.animatedknots.com/
double-fishermans-bend-knot
WARNING! Failure to inspect and
correct knots can cause the line to
slip suddenly when load is applied.
2.7 - Rig tension
a) Locate the rig tensioner ropes and fittings in the packs:
• Short rope
• Long rope
• Clam cleat x1
• Block x 2
• Shackle x 2

8
2.7 - Rig tension
b)
c) d)
d)
Secure the block and shackle to the bow tack plate.
Tie off one end of the short rope to
the shackle using knot #1.
Pass the other end of the short
rope through the other block
and tie off on the Clamcleat
with knot # 1.
Tie off the long piece of rope onto the bottom of the clam cleat
with knot # 1.
Pass it through the block on the boat and back up to the clam
cleat, over the roller and into the jaws of the cleat.
A
A
A
A
B
B
C
C
tail

9
2.7 - Rig tension
2.8 - Kicker
e)
a)
b)
f)
Take the tail of the rope and tie
knot #3 about 50mm from the end.
Adjust the length of the
purchase to 700mm
bearing surface to
bearing surface.
Locate the kicker, the three kicker blocks and shackle.
Form a loop in the rope 1m from the end and use knot #6 to secure the
loop to the rear bolt on the mast step.
50mm
700mm
These items may
be supplied already
attached to the boat.

10
2.8 - Kicker
c) d)
e)
f)
Pass the short end of the
rope through block A and
attach to the top of the
block B using knot #1.
Pass the long end of the
rope through block B and
down to the mast step and
through block C.
Pass the end of the rope (coming
from block c) through the fairlead
next to the centreboard and then
through the kicker swivel cleat.
Tie knot #3 in the end.
Pull the assembly tight and check that the
distance from block A to the mast step is
850mm. Adjust as necessary.
850mm
AA
BB
CC

11
2.9 - Trapeze elastic
a)
b)
c)
Find the trapeze elastic in the rope kit and tie knot #2
with a 60mm loop in the end and pull tight.
Thread the other end of the elastic as shown.
Tie knot #2 with a 60mm loop in the end.
It does not matter if the bungy is not under tension - i.e.
the toestraps rest on the cockpit floor.
60mm
2.10 - Spinnaker pole
a)
Check the launch line is attached to the spinnaker
pole as shown. Re-tie if necessary.

12
Thread the launch line through the cheek block on the bow.
Fully launch the pole so the rope hole in the pole
is adjacent to the cheek block.
With knot #1, tie the block onto the end of the launch line.
With the block pulled hard towards the mast step
the distance between the block and mast step
should be 60mm.
Leave a 12mm-15mm tail on the knot.
Cut and seal excess rope.
2.10 - Spinnaker pole
b)
c)
d)
e)
60mm
As the rope stretches this may
need to be adjusted.
30mm block
30mm block

13
2.11 - Spinnaker chute elastic
a)
b)
Find the spinnaker chute elastic in the rope kit.
Thread the elastic through the spinnaker
halyard downhaul block base on the port side.
c) d)
Push both ends of the elastic
through the metal cringle on
the rear of the spinnaker chute
from the inside out.
Tie knot #3 in each end of the elastic.
The knots should be under the
spinnaker chute not inside.
2.12 - Spinnaker ratchet elastic
a)
b)
Locate the two spinnaker ratchet elastics in the rope pack.
Secure one end to the spinnaker
ratchet with knot #1.
Bungee tail should be 12-15mm.

14
2.13 - Centreboard retainer
a)
b)
c)
d)
Find the retainer rope in the rope pack and
the plastic hook from the fittings pack.
Tie a small #2 knot in one end
around the inner slot of the toe strap
plate.
Slide the plastic hook so that it is
approxmiately in line with the centre
line of the boat. Use #4 knot to
secure the hook in place.
Feed the rope over the boat and use
#2 knot to tie off on the oppposite toe
strap plate.
Adjust the position of the plastic hook
so it is on the centre line of the boat.
c) Pull the elastic tight and tie the other end
the shroud U-bolt using knot #1.
Repeat on the other side of the boat.
Cut and seal the excess elastic so bungee
tail is 12-15mm
2.12 - Spinnaker ratchet elastic

15
Aft end
2.14 - Centreboard handle
2.15 - Adding the toe straps
a)
b)
c)
Find the centreboard handle in the rope kit.
Pass one end of the handle through the
top hole in the centreboard.
Pull the rope through the board and make
the lengths equal.
Place the two ends together, tie knot #4 in
the end.
Locate the toestraps in the customer fittings pack.
To add the front end of the toestraps you will need a Pozidrive screwdriver.
Make sure you attach the toestrap the right way round. The end with the webbing loop
is the forward end and attaches to toestrap fitting in the centre of the boat just aft of the
mainsheet ratchet block. The end with the buckle is the aft end.
Webbing side up
a)
Forward end
Remove ALL of the screws from the toestrap retainer.

16
Slide the webbing loop at the front end of the toestrap over it. Locate the
loop in the chosen postion.
c)
Position the the toestrap retainer back into position and replace
all the screws.
d)
You can now attach the aft end of the toestraps to the toestrap retainer using the buckle.
e)
2.15 - Adding the toe straps

17
2.16 - Toe strap elastic (rear)
a)
b)
c)
Find the toe elastic in the rope kit
Thread one end through the second
pocket from the aft end of the toestrap.
Thread the other end through the 2nd
Toestrap using the same pocket.
Tie both ends together with knot #5.
Tails should be 12-15 mm.
Hide the knot in the Toestrap pocket.
2.17 - Spinnaker halyard take up
a)
b)
Find the spinnaker halyard take up rope and elastic from the rope pack and 1
22mm ball bearing block and 1 29mm swivel block spinnaker halyard take up
blocks from the fittings pack.
Tie the take up elastic onto the
starboard side front toe strap retainer
using knot #1.

18
2.17 - Spinnaker halyard take up
c)
d)
e)
Tie the small block onto the rear toestrap elastic between the two toestraps.
To do this you should tie a #3 knot in one end of the short rope. Pass the other end
through the eye on the block, around the back of the toe strap elastic and back through
the block. Tie another knot #3. This puts a stopper knot on each side of the block.
Pass the take up elastic through the small block.
Tie the free end of the elastic to the
large swivel block with knot #1.
Cut and seal any excess elastic.
29mm swivel block