In 2009, the NSF selected the RS Feva as the ideal boat for their project and clubs snapped up the seventy five Fevas offered at a price subsidised by project sponsor Havfonn. The NSF also created a club based training programme to support the new Class and the young sailors.

A second phase has just been announced, following demand from clubs who missed out last time, or who now would like more Fevas for the fleet they started last year. Forty eight more Fevas are now available for clubs to purchase under the latest phase.

A number of other National Sailing Authorities have also built the RS Feva class in their countries in a similar way, with the same aim of increasing youth sailing participation nationwide.

The RS Feva offers the perfect step from boats such as the Optimist or RS Tera - giving a double handed alternative and a transition into the bigger youth classes. Youngsters love the exciting performance and the Feva Class is building fast around the world, with one hundred and fifty boats competing recently at the World Championships in France. The next major event on the international Feva calendar is the EUROSAF European Team Racing Championships in Venice, where teams representing eight countries are expected, demonstrating the major opportunity offered by the Feva to introduce young, inexperienced sailors, build their enthusiasm at club level and allow progression all the way to international standard if they wish to follow that path.

RS now have a significant amount of experience at helping to put these kind of programmes together, from funding through promotion, distribution and branding to training schemes - they are, of course, keen to help any organizations who would like to find out more about implementing plans to build sailing participation. You can find out more about RS Sailing via their Connect to Sailing page or at www.RSsailing.com.