The RSYS Radio Sailing Fleet
At RSYS we sail a fleet of DF65s (radio controlled yachts) with members of other Radio Sailing Clubs in the Pond all year round:
Summer Months – Wednesdays from 5:30pm (the Summer daylight saving months)
Winter Months – Sundays from 2pm (the remainder of the year)
Anyone is welcome to join the Fleet and participate. For more information on joining the fleet, and what this means contact Martin Brady at rsysrcsailing@gmail.com.
What is a DF65?
A DragonForce 65 (DF65) is a very well designed, low cost entry level start into Radio Controlled sailing. The boat is an International Class with over 60,000 sold and raced in over 20 countries. It’s a one design and strictly controlled ensuring the performance of every boat racing is identical. The boat is 65cm long and fits easily into the boot of an average car. You can be sailing for a total cost of about $300, and race with three rigs to suit multiple wind ranges for an additional $400. Many sailors start out with just the basic (middle range) rig. Don’t buy a boat without reading below, and check out the background in “Dragons Tale” Click here
What should you do next
If you’ve never sailed a DF65 before, then come down to the pond and try out on a “club boat”. It’s great fun and you will be surprised how quickly you pick it up and apply your sailing skills. If you are worried about getting in the way of the competition, then come down an hour earlier to practise before the racing starts (Everyone is willing to help and will welcome you). Don’t be concerned about how to operate the controls …. that’s just practise. Contact Richard Franklin at rsysrcsailing@gmail.com to book a spot, or come along to the Pond to watch.
You can join the Australian DF Association for free and get allocated a sail number – Click here
If you decide to buy a boat, we have workshop notes and tuning guides to help you buy and then set up your boat competitively from the start:
What and Where to Buy – Click here
Workshop Build Notes (help is available if required) – Click here
DF65 Tuning Guide – Click here
DF Maintenance Schedule – Click here
FlySky Transmitter Manual – Click here
DF65 Racing at RSYS
The RSYS DF65 Fleet has built up significantly since it started five years ago in 2017. The Fleet has more than 30 members, with nearly 20 members racing each week, all year around and often in two fleets to help new owners.
In terms of skills needed to race effectively, a good guide is that 20% of the skill is in boat control (operating the transmitter), 40% in boat set-up (the tuning guides are a good start) and 40% in tactics and strategy (a good knowledge of the RRS is necessary). This is not just a pastime for millennials competent on Xbox.
We try to run more than eight races in a session, with each race taking between five and ten minutes. The results are recorded and count for a season pointscore and Club Championship. Each month we endeavour to hold one Club Championship race, Two pointscore races and one Handicap Event (where the emphasis is on helping anyone to improve their racing capability.)
