RS SAILING RS 200 Quick start guide

Rigging Manual V2

Contents
1 - Introduction .......................................................................................... 1
2 - Specication ......................................................................................... 2
3 - Components........................................................................................... 3
3.1 Customer pack..................................................................................... 3
3.2 Rope pack............................................................................................ 4
4 - Preperation............................................................................................. 5
5 - Hull ........................................................................................................... 6
5.1 Toe straps ........................................................................................... 7
5.2 Elastic Ties........................................................................................... 9
6 - Mast.......................................................................................................... 11
6.1 Fitting the Spreaders ........................................................................... 12
6.2 Fitting the Shrouds............................................................................... 13
6.3 Preparing the Mast............................................................................... 14
6.4 Stepping the Mast ................................................................................ 16
7 - Boom........................................................................................................ 19
7.1 Fitting the Boom .................................................................................. 20
7.2 Mainsheet ............................................................................................ 20
7.3 Gybing Rope ........................................................................................ 23
7.4 Vang..................................................................................................... 23
7.5 Vang Control Lines - Port..................................................................... 27
7.6 Vang Control Lines - Starboard............................................................ 28
7.7 Vang Control Lines............................................................................... 29
7.6 Downhaul Control Lines....................................................................... 30
8 - Jib ............................................................................................................. 33
8.1 Preparing the Jib ................................................................................. 34
8.2 Hoisting the Jib .................................................................................... 35
9 - Mainsail ................................................................................................... 38
9.1 Preparing the Mainsail ........................................................................ 39
9.2 Sail Care .............................................................................................. 40
9.3 Hoisting the Mainsail............................................................................ 41
9.4 Downhaul ............................................................................................. 42
9.6 Outhaul ................................................................................................ 43
10 - Spinnaker ............................................................................................. 44
10.1 Spinnaker .......................................................................................... 45
11 - Completion .......................................................................................... 49
12 - Knots .................................................................................................... 51
13 - Glossary .............................................................................................. 53

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1. - Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of your new RS200, and thank you for choosing an
RS product. The RS200 was designed by Phil Morrison and launched in the UK at the
beginning of 1996.
We are condent that you will have many hours of great sailing and racing in this truly
excellent design. The RS200 is an exciting boat to sail and o󰀨ers fantastic sailability and
performance. It is a light weight racing dinghy and should be treated with care.
In order to get the most enjoyment from your boat and maintain it in top condition,
please read this manual carefully.
This manual has been compiled to help you to gain the maximum enjoyment from your
RS200, in a safe manner. It contains details of the craft, the equipment supplied or tted,
its systems, and information on its safe operation and maintenance.
This manual will not instruct you in boating safety or seamanship. If this is your rst
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.
For further information, spares, and accessories, please contact:
RS Sailing
Premier Way
Abbey Park
Romsey
Hampshire SO51 9DQ
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
For details of your local RS Dealer, please visit www.RSsailing.com

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2 - Specication
Designer Phil Morrison
Length 4.00m
Beam 1.83m
Draught 1.1m
Weight 78kg
Hull construction Vynalester Gelcoat and resin. E glass reinforcement
Centreboard Polyester Gelcoat. Epoxy resin laminate, Epoxy
expanding foam core. E glass reinforcement
Rudder
Mainsail area - Main and Jib 11.52m2
Gennaker area 8.29m2
Mast Aluminium alloy - 6m
Shrouds and froestay Stainless steel wire
Boom Aluminium alloy
Bowsprit Aluminium alloy

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3.1 - Components - Customer Pack
MainsheetShroud Verniers
Fast Pins
Spinnaker Sheet Blocks
Mainsheet Block
Jib Tack Shackle
Water Bottles
Small 4mm Bobbles
Mainsheet Strop
Downhaul Pack Kicker Pack
Jib Sheet
Spinnaker Sheet
Kicker Control Line
Downhaul Control Line
Toe Strap Shock Cord

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3.2 - Components - Rope Pack
Length (m) Size
(mm)
Description Qty Type Colour Comments
6 5.5 Jib Sheet 1 Braid on braid Silver 9.8 8 Main Sheet 1 Braid on braid Black 0.5 3 Main Sheet ? 1 1.3 4 Main Sheet Bridle 2 Block spliced onto 2 adjustable lines 8.8 6 Spinnaker Sheet 1 Braid on braid Blue 0.2 2.5 Vang 1 0.3 2.5 Vang 1 2 3 Vang 1 0.8 3 Downhaul ? 1 7.8 4 Control Line 1 Black/blue Finished length 7.7, with eye loops 6.6 4 Control Line 1 Black/red Finished length 6.5, with eye loops 0.7 3 Spi Hal Up Haul Floating Blk 1 0.5 4 Toestrap Bungy 1 0.5 4 Toestrap Bungy 1 0.5 4 Toestrap Bungy 1 0.5 4 Toestrap Bungy 1 0.5 4 Toestrap Bungy 1 0.5 4 Toestrap Bungy 1 0.3 4 Rear Spi Chute retainer 1 0.7 4 Rudder Down Haul (blade) 1 1.8 4 Rudder Down Haul (cleat) 1 0.25 3 Control Line take up grab rail 1 0.25 3 Control Line take up grab rail 1 0.45 6 CB retainer 1

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4. - Preparation
Your RS200 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 electrician’s tape
• Pozi-drive screwdriver
• Adjustable spanner (small)
• Knife/Scissors
• 4mm allen key
Including adding a spinnaker system please allow 3 hours to fully prepare your
RS200.
Whilst your RS200 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 traveling can loosen seemingly tight ttings
and knots. It is also important to regularly check such items prior to sailing.
Make sure that you have a basic tool kit with you the rst time you rig the boat in
case there are tuning / settings changes that you wish to make.
To simplify the commissioning process, please take care when unpacking
the items from the boat as cross contamination of pack contents can cause
confusion. A calm and orderly environment will assist the process.

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Rigging Guide
5 - Hull
PLEASE FOLLOW RIGGING GUIDE IN CORRECT ORDER

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5.1 - Toestraps
Attach the front end of the toestraps to the boat.
Attach the front end of the toestraps to the boat.
Locate the two short front toestraps.
Locate the two long middle toestraps.
Attach the aft end of the front toestraps to the boat.
a)
c)
b)
b)

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5.1 - Toestraps
Locate the aft toestraps.
Attach the front end of the aft toestraps
to the boat.
e)
d)
Attach the aft end of the middle toestraps to the boat.
f)
Attach the aft end of the toestrap to the
tting just forward of the rear hatch.

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5.2 - Elastic ties
a)
b)
Locate the 7 elastic toe strap ties.
Attach an elastic tie between the back of the
aft toestrap and the cross shaped tting on
top of the transom.
d)
Knot #5
Use the elastic ties to attach the middle and
aft toestraps on either side of the boat.
Knot #5
c) Using the elastic ties, attach the front end of the middle toestraps through the tting behind
the vang control line cleat and attach to the aft end of the front toestraps on either side of
the boat.
A
C
A
C
B
D
B
D
Knot #5

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f)
5.2 - Elastic ties
Tie d12 on to block using knot 6
tie one end throught orgasniser with
knot 4 Tie other end through front
starboard toestrap strap plate.
Locate the spinnaker halyard oating
block elastic and tie it between the
cross ttings on either wall of the
cockpit, passing through this block.
Knot #4
Knot #6
Elastic
D12
e) Attach elastic ties between the front toestraps
and the cross shaped ttings on either wall of
the cockpit.
Knot #5

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Rigging Guide
6 - Mast
To complete this section you will need:
• The mast and rigging packs
• A at-bladed screw driver
• PVC electrical tape
• 8mm spanner (or small adjustable)
PLEASE FOLLOW RIGGING GUIDE IN CORRECT ORDER

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6.1 - Fitting the spreaders
As delivered the mast may be wrapped for transport. Carefully remove this
wrapping before proceeding.
The length of the spreaders can be adjusted by selecting which
hole you put the clevis pin through.
Set the length of the spreaders so that the
distance from the end of the spreader to
the wall of the mast is 390mm.
a)
b)
c)
d)
Fit the spreader angle adjusters
to the spreaders.
Bolt the spreaders to the bracket on the mast.
Bolt the inboard end of the spreader angle
adjustewrs to the bracket on the mast.

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6.1 - Fitting the spreaders
Warning:
The spreader settings recommended are safe general purpose settings. Most people
should not nd it necessary to deviate substantially from these positions. We have
deliberately left the spreaders adjustable in the RS200 to enhance its potential as a
racing boat and broaden the range of competitive sailors. Extreme settings, especially
a reduction in the distance from the shrouds to the back of the mast, may lead to mast
failure in strong winds
These adjusters can be rotated to set the spreader angle.
Set the spreader angle evenly so that the distance from a line between
the spreader ends and the back of the mast is 140mm.
e)

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6.2 - Fitting the shrouds
a)
b)
Hook the T-terminals on the
end of the shrouds into the
holes on the mast.
Loosen the screw holding the spreader end cap
enough that the shroud can t into the gap.
c)
d)
Insert the shrouds into the 3mm recess
behind the spreader end cap.
Tighten the spreader end cap so it clamps
rmly down on the shroud.

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6.3 - Preparing the mast
Check that the shroud ‘T’ terminals are correctly seated in their sockets on the mast
and that they are securely attached to the end of the spreaders.
Check all clevis pins and bolts are tted with the at head on top, and the pins are
locked with a split ring.
Tape all split rings, pins and the outboard end of the spreader extrusion.
This will reduce chafe on the mainsail and prevent ailing sails/halyards becoming
damaged. Self-amalgamating tape is best, but pvc electrical tape is an adequate
alternative.
a)
The main and jib halyards should be sorted out and
dressed neatly down the mast.
Dress the spinnaker halyard down the mast in the manner described below:
c)
d)
1) Un-reave the spinnaker halyard tail right back to the exit slot in the mast.
2) Make a large bowline in the fall of the halyard.
3) Pass the whole of the tail of the halyard through the loop of the bowline.
4) Keep hold of the bitter end of the halyard tail.
5) Pull on the halyard where it exits from the mast slot, hoisting the bowline up the mast
taking a loop of the tail with it.
6) When the halyard has got to the end of its travel the end can now be secured at the
exit slot with a couple of half hitches.
7) Any remainder can be wrapped around the mast or used to secure the shrouds etc.
The instructions in step d should also be followed before dropping the mast.
This method of securing the spinnaker halyard when de-rigging has the advantages of
keeping everything tidy when lowering or stepping the mast. More importantly it does
not require a lot of winding or coiling which helps to keep the halyard twist and kink
free when sailing.

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6.4 - Stepping the mast
BEFORE PICKING UP THE MAST, CHECK THAT YOU ARE NOT IN
THE VICINITY OF OVERHEAD POWER CABLES
a) Check the surroundings for electrical power lines! On no account attempt to step the
mast near electrical power lines or if there are any lines between you and the sailing
water!
b) Check all sheaves and pulleys rotate freely.
c) Check the shrouds, forestay and halyards for damage or chafe, the spreaders for
alignment.
d) Fit any racing ag or wind direction indicator to the mast head. It will help if the boat
and launching trolley are o󰀨 the road trailer base when stepping and un-stepping the
mast as this keeps the boat as low as possible.
e) Check the shrouds and forestay are free and ready to attach and that the mast
step in the boat is clear of ropes and obstructions, the kicking strap rig tension and
Cunningham controls should all be aft of the step.
Rotate the mast to the upright position whilst standing
beside the boat adjacent to the mast step.
Try to ensure that the tenon at the base of the
mast remains free of sand, grit or stones.
Lift the mast into position. If you are uncertain or there are
strong winds it will be helpful if one crew member stands in the
boat just behind the mast step.
f)
g)
Be careful to keep forward of the launching trolley
wheels when in the boat.

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Ensure that the tenon is fully located, both in the step
and between the spacer and the rear bolts. It should be a
snug t, any rotational play reduces the e󰀩ciency of the
spreaders to control mast bend.
One crew member should remain holding the mast.
Secure the forestay to the forward shackle at the bow using at least 3
turns of the lanyard and nally nishing o󰀨 with 3 or 4 half hitches.
h)
i)
j)
6.4 - Stepping the mast
Do not over tension the forestay, a light tension su󰀩cient to prevent the mast moving
around excessively is su󰀩cient.
It is desirable that the forestay has some considerable slack in it once the jib
is hoisted and tensioned. The windward performance of you RS200 may be adversely
a󰀨ected if the forestay becomes tight whilst sailing!
The other crew member can then attach the shrouds.
Pins and rings, and fast pins are supplied, you can chose which
xing to use.
For a rst setting locate the shrouds 5 holes down on the longer
range of adjusters.

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Once the mast is stepped and secured, tape all the rigging pins on the shrouds for
extra security and the swage at the bottom of the forestay to prevent snagging the
spinnaker.
TIP:
The RS 200 mast is fairly light, most people will have little di󰀩culty simply lifting the
mast into place in the mast step as described. If however you are short handed, it is
possible to step the mast with the shrouds already attached.
k)
6.4 - Stepping the mast
Warning:
The forestay on the RS 200 is intended solely to support the mast when ashore
without sails hoisted. Do not attempt to sail the boat without a fully hoisted and
tensioned jib. Should the jib fall down or lose tension for any reason return to
shore as quickly as possible sheeting the mainsail only lightly.