RS SAILING RS Tera Quick start guide

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CONTENTS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. RS TERA TECHNICAL DATA
Dimensions of the RS Tera
3. COMMISSIONING
3.1 Preparation
3.2 Unpacking
3.3 Rigging the Mast
3.4 Stepping the Mast
3.5 Rigging the Boom
3.6 The Rudder and Daggerboard
4. SAILING HINTS
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Launching
4.3 Leaving the Beach
4.4 Sailing Close-Hauled and Tacking
4.5 Downwind and Gybing
4.6 Reefing
4.7 Using the Mini Sail
4.8 Using the Oars
4.9 Using the Top Cover
5. MAINTENANCE
5.1 Boat Care
5.2 Foil Care
5.3 Spar Care
5.4 Sail Care
5.5 Fixtures & Fittings

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6. WARRANTY
7. GLOSSARY OF COMMON SAILING TERMS
8. USEFUL READING & WEBSITES
All terms highlighted in blue throughout the Manual can be found in the Glossary of Terms.
Warnings, Top Tips, and Important Information are displayed in a yellow box.

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1. INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on the purchase of your new RS Tera 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 Tera 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 Tera, 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 Tera.
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.
For further information, spares, and accessories, please contact:
RS Sailing
Premier Way
Abbey Park
Romsey
Hants SO51 9DQ
Tel.: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
For details on your local RS dealer, please visit www.rssailing.com

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2. RS TERA TECHNICAL DATA
Length Overall (LOA)
2..87 m
Beam
1.23 m
Hull Weight
40 kg
Sailing weight
56 kg
RS Tera Sport Mainsail
3.7 m²
RS Tera Pro Mainsail
4.8 m²
RS Tera Mini Sail
2.7 m²
Draught
0.75m
Max Weight of Sailor
80kg
Designer
Paul Handley

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3. COMMISSIONING
3.1 Preparation.
Your RS Tera comes complete with all the components necessary to take the boat sailing.
Whilst your RS Tera 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 fittings and knots. It is also important to check
such items prior to sailing regularly.
3.2 Unpacking.
Having unpacked your RS Tera, you should check that you have all of the items listed
below before throwing away any of the packing, as there may be some small items still
wrapped.
1 x RS Tera hull
1 x two-piece mast with pin
1 x boom
1x boom pad
1 x rudder, with stock and tiller, tiller extension and self-tapping screw.
I x daggerboard
1 x main sail (Sport or Pro)
1 x rope pack –consisting of:
o1 x mainsheet
o1 x daggerboard retaining elastic
o1x downhaul
DO NOT use a knife or other sharp object to cut through packaging containing
parts –you may damage the contents!

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o1x kicking strap
o1x kicking strap boom tie
o1 x mainsheet clip
Daggerboard
Rope
Kit
Drain-Hole
Bung
Rudder
Gudgeon
Mainsheet
Bridle
Sail
Number
Plaque
Lifting
Handle
Toe Straps
Side Safety
Line
Main-Sheet
Centre Block
Transom
Mast Top
Section
Mast
Lower
Section
Boom
Mainsail
Boom Pad
Rudder,
Rudder Stock,
& Tiller
Extension
Gunwhale
Cockpit
Deck Moulding
Daggerboard
Case
Buoyancy Compartment
Bow Lifting Handle
Mast Plate

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Kicking Strap
Boom / mast
Tie x 2
Mainsheet
Downhaul
Mainsheet Clip
Kicking Strap

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3.3 Rigging the mast
To prepare the boat for sailing:
1. Join the mast by inserting the mast top section into the mast lower section. If you are
sailing with a Pro mainsail, insert the pin in the upper hole. If you are sailing with a Sport
mainsail, insert pin in the lower hole.
2. Push the mast top section in until it hits the pin.
3. Slide the front sleeve of the sail over the mast until the mast top reaches the top of the
sail.
4. Put the battens into the sail (See page 22).

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3.4 Stepping the mast
1. Lift the mast and sail over the mast plate on the deck.
2. With the mast upright, lower the end through the mast plate ensuring that the retaining
key is in line with the slot in the mast plate. When the mast is fully in, rotate it through 180
degrees so that the key is under the back of the plate. Note: the mk2 kicker eye is located
on the front of the mast.
Top Tip
If the wind is blowing there will be a lot of pressure on the top of the mast making it wave
around. Consider finding somebody to help if you feel that you will struggle, especially with
the Pro sail.
WARNING
When lifting the mast, make sure that there are no overhead power lines.

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3.5 Rigging the boom
1. Thread the kicking-strap boom tie through the eye of the pulley on the kicking strap.
2. Thread the kicking-strap boom tie through the eye on the boom, and tie it off.
3. Thread the Kicking strap Mast tie through the eye on
the front of the mast and tie a knot in one end. Wrap the
other end around the mast twice each time going through
the eye. Tie a stopper knot in the end
3. Attach the clip on the kicking strap to the
metal eye at the bottom of the mast.

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4. Take the boom and push the gooseneck onto the mast, just above the plastic sleeve.
5. Now attach the sail downhaul:
Pro Sail: Thread the downhaul through the hole
in the mast collar, thread it through the sail eye,
and back down to the cleat on the mast. Make
sure that the downhaul runs on either side of the
boom through the holes in the gooseneck.
Kicking-Strap
Boom Tie
Kicking-Strap
Pulley
Gooseneck
Plastic Sleeve
Downhaul Cleat
Eye at the
Bottom of
the Mast
Kicking
Strap

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Sport Sail:
Tie the
downhaul on to the metal ring on the sail sleeve, then
pass it through the cleat on the front of the mast. Coil
and tie off the excess downhaul.
6. The outhaul comes ready on the boom.

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7. Attach the boom pad to the boom, making sure that the outhaul does not become
caught.
Outhaul
Hook
Right-Hand
Hole
Left-Hand Hole
Pulley at the End
of the Boom
Boom Tie

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8. Tie a stopper knot in the end of the mainsheet, and thread it through the eye on the
pulley at the end of the boom.
9. Take the mainsheet block with Inglefield clip from the Tera Rope Pack and thread it onto
the mainsheet.
10. Thread the mainsheet through the pulley at the end of the boom.
11.Attach the mainsheet clip on the mainsheet block onto the clip on the mainsheet bridle
block, and wrap PVC tape around the clips.
12.Lead the mainsheet along the boom, through the tabs on the boom pad and the pulley
on the boom.
Boom Pad
Boom-Pad
Tab
Mainsheet
Mainsheet
Block
Mainsheet
Mainsheet
Bridle

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13.Thread the mainsheet through the mainsheet centre block, making sure that it is in the
right direction for the ratchet to work. Tie a knot in the mainsheet so that the boom cannot
pass beyond a 90˚ angle to the hull centreline when you are sailing.
3.6 The Rudder and Daggerboard

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1. Slide the Tiller into the top of the rudder stock, and attach with the self-tapping screw.
The screw is in a small plastic bag in with the tiller, be careful not to throw it away in the
packaging! Attach the tiller extension to the tiller by sliding it into the fitting and pushing
down the cap.
2. Place the rudder on the transom with the rudder-uphaul line pulled tight, so that the
rudder blade is fully up. Ensure that the tiller and the tiller extension pass under the
mainsheet bridle. To fit the rudder, simply line up the pins with the fitting on the back of the
boat, and push down until the retaining clip ‘clicks’ into place. The rudder may be difficult
to get on at first –all it will need is a simple wiggle from side to side whilst pushing down.
3. Shortly after launching, when you are in deep water, make sure that the white rope is
not in the cleat, pull on the black rope, and cleat. This will lower the rudder in the rudder
stock.
4. When coming ashore, un cleat the black rope, and pull the white rope tight. This will
raise the rudder.
Rudder-Retaining Clip

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5. To remove the rudder, simply push the rudder retaining clip in towards the transom, and
slide the rudder stock upwards.
Make sure that you thread the shock-cord retainer through the hole in the daggerboard
handle and tie a knot on a knot. Note warning sticker on the daggerboard.
Please note comments in Section 5.2 regarding water ingress in foils
TIME TO GO SAILING!!
After launching, the rudder is lowered by releasing the uphaul line and pulling the elastic
tight. The daggerboard can be inserted in the daggerboard case when the water is deep
enough. It is normally best to leave the kicking strap loose while launching, pulling it on as
appropriate once you are sailing.
TOP TIP
Make sure that you un-cleat the rudder and raise the daggerboard before coming in

4. SAILING HINTS
4.1 Introduction
The RS Tera is a very rewarding boat to sail –to fully appreciate its handling,
you should be comfortable with the basic techniques of sailing small boats. If
you lack confidence or feel that a refresher is in order, there are many
approved sailing schools which use the RS Tera. See www.rya.org.uk for
more information.
While we offer you a few hints to aid your enjoyment of your new boat, they
should not be considered as a substitute for an approved course in dinghy
sailing. In order to build your confidence and familiarise yourself with your new
boat, we recommend that you choose a fairly quiet day with a steady wind for
your first outing.
4.2 Launching
With the sails fully hoisted and the rudder attached to the transom, the boat
should be wheeled into the water, keeping it head to wind as far as possible.
If you have a crew, s/he can hold the boat head to wind whilst the trolley is
stowed ashore.
5.3 Leaving the Beach
The easiest way to get going is for the helm to hop aboard while the crew
holds the boat. The helm should put a little daggerboard down, move back to
TOP TIP
If the tide is coming in as you launch, make sure that you leave the
trolley high enough up the beach that it will not be swept away.

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their normal position, and pull gently on the rudder downhaul to lower some of
the rudder blade. Then, s/he may instruct the crew to push the bow off the
wind and climb in. The crew will then lower the daggerboard as depth allows.
The retaining elastic should be tied on as soon as possible to prevent the
board falling out in the event of a capsize.
The singlehanded sailor may choose to ask someone to help them to launch.
If launching alone, stand in the water alongside the gunwhale, holding the
boat head to wind. Lower part of the daggerboard and rudder, and then push
the bow off the wind while hopping in.
As soon the water is deep enough, make sure that you lower the rudder
blade fully by pulling the rudder downhaul hard. You will know it is fully down if
you feel a gentle ”thud” as the front face of the blade hits the front face of the
stock. Cleat the downhaul and tidy it by winding it around the tiller. Pull the sail
in and you are away!
For the best performance, you should ensure that position yourself so that the
boat is sailing through the water as flat as possible. Watch the trim (fore and
aft) and the heel. The boat should always be sailed as upright as possible.
Top Tip
As a general rule, sit further forward in lighter winds and further aft in stronger
breezes.