SECTION S - SAILING

Radio controlled sailing - RC Sailing - is run by NAVIGA already for many years. The yachts are similar to the full size yachts, not built to scale, but optimised to the relevant class rules. They are pure sport devices, built to most modern knowledge with high technology materials.

As in other sailing sports in our category also exist some classes, beginning with the E class, the smallest with a maximal overall length of 100 cm, next the M class (called Marblehead from a town in the USA, where this class was created) with a maximum hull length of 127 cm and last the Ten Raters our biggest class at the moment. In this class the hull length is calculated in relation to the sail area.

RC Sailing is run world wide in many countries. The basis are the clubs, normally they are members of national federations and these are again member of NAVIGA, an international organisation seated in Austria. NAVIGA runs many different classes of model ships, from static scale models, steam engine powered models to high technology electric race boats. They all belong to different sections, RC Sailing is one of them. The sections are attended by a section leader, elected directly by the section members. He has a stuff of experts and he is responsible for the developments in the section.

As already mentioned, the sailing section is responsible for RC Sailing. The section develops all the rules, beginning with the class rules for the measurements of the different classes, the racing rules for sailing in so called fleets on the water in a event and also the rules for the organisation of international events as Continental and World Championships.
If a member organisation is interested in running an international event - for instance a World Championship, it first contacts the relevant section. The section first controls the places and resources and if the section agrees, a proposal is made to the presidium of NAVIGA.

In Radio Controlled Sailing the commands for the rudder and the sail winch of the yacht come from a radio transmitter operated by the sailor. With these two functions a completely controlled sailing on the water is possible. As some different channels are available, sailing of many yachts at the same time is possible - as in full size regattas. As the sailor is standing on the beach only quite small courses are possible because the sailor can not watch his yacht accurately over big distances. Because of this, the yachts must be divided in fleets up to usually 16 boats sailing at the same time against each other. Important here is good stereoscopic seeing and tactical knowledge. The racing rules are, except for some minor changes, the same as for full size sailing. The class rules are of course specific for every class of yacht.

To achieve a yacht, different possibilities exist. A yacht ready for sailing can be bought from some distributors, which is quite expensive, or only different parts of the yacht could be bought and the boat assembled by the sailor. Or if you have accurate knowledge in metal work, work with synthetic fibre material and resin and sail making, a boat can be built up completely by the sailor. Sailing itself then is very inexpensive as the yachts usually last many years. The only costs arise from travelling to the regattas.