Introduction to the RS Venture Dinghy
The RS Venture is one of the larger and more stable dinghies on the market with a length of 4.9m. It will hold 6 people (I have sailed with 8 including some children). Despite its size it can be comfortably sailed by one person in light winds.
The primary market for this dinghy is for training and cruising, it is a good sea boat and can be readily manhandled and towed by almost any car. It may also be raced as its sleek hull and good rig provides a decent turn of speed.
Since its inception in 2011 RS Sailing have produced many different versions of this boat - all confusingly known as an RS Venture. Much depends upon the script and letter designation following the name. Some boats are produced for use by people with limited mobility, others with large built in storage boxes etc for cruising and yet others that are basic dinghies. When purchasing on the second hand market do not rely upon the name alone. This website references the basic dinghy ie with no built-in storage, ballast keels etc, built around 2014.
The dinghy, unlike many others, may be left on moorings with the bailer bungs removed as the cockpit will self drain even when the boat is not moving (the deck is slightly above the waterline).
When sailing, the Venture tends to remain dry due to its sizable foredeck and good freeboard. It is only in extreme sailing conditions that it will ship water but the rear chutes quickly drain the boat.
As standard, the road trailer comes with an effective winch that enables a lone sailor to load the boat and trolley on to the road trailer. The road trailer is also fitted with front riding lights that operate in addition to those on a lighting board.
The Mainsail is controlled via pulley blocks mounted on a central hoop. This enables the boom to be drawn in close to the centreline of the boat to aid upwind sailing. The blocks also permit varying the control line rigging to suit the wind conditions. The hoop also provides a very convenient steadying post for the helm in moments where it is needed.
Helming
The uncluttered crew area has been achieved by the crew taking responsibility for adjusting the kicker and downhaul tension via cleats mounted on the mast. This design avoids the need to run control lines through the crew area but at the expense of a slight loss of control when racing.
Comfort
The Venture has two full length built-in seats along the gunwhales and a central seat in front of the hoop. The mast and boom are fitted with a gnav system that leaves plenty of open space in the cockpit area for 3 crew and removes the risk of becoming entangled with kicker ropes and such like. The gunwhales are broad and offer comfortable hiking and also a useful surface on which to mount a suction pad for a camera or navigation lights etc.
There is ample room for drinks and food under the foredeck but there are no built-in buckets or bottle holders. At the rear of the dinghy the helm has plenty of space to move around and the high boom makes for easy tacking and gybing.
Cruising
The Venture will carry 3 or 4 persons in comfort for distance cruising. The capacious foredeck will hold paddles and a boat hook as well as an anchor bag and cooler box for food etc. A net may be fitted immediately under the deck to hold clothing etc ready to hand yet away from the deck.
There is room for fenders to be stored under the seats but these need to be tied in.
An outboard motor mounting is fitted to the starboard side of the transom. The RS Venture will take an outboard of up to 3.5hp.
It is possible to fit a small rope ladder to the port side of the transom to aid re entry if a person goes overboard or the children wish to swim!
The Venture is fitted with a single line reefing system. Pulling on the reefing line at the forward end of the boom will cause the rear mainsail section to begin to collapse and the sail to reef. Convenient if the weather changes for the worse. More details are given in the reefing section of this manual.
The Venture can be fitted with stainless steel keel bands as an optional extra and also a gunwhale rubbing strip. In practice it is surprising that these are not standard fitments as they are so useful when cruising and gently beaching the boat. With its centre board lifted it can be brought in to very shallow waters.
The Venture is fitted with mooring rings at the bow and the transom centre - these should not be used for towing - see section on Towing. It is useful to keep a 5mm rope attached to the front ring for use during launching and coming ashore.
The asymmetric gennaker fitted to the standard boat enables cruising sailors to readily launch and retrieve the gennaker quickly and easily, whereas spinnaker sails take a little more time and effort to launch.
Leisure sailing
For use during club sailing the boat is easy to launch and retrieve and its ability to float in shallow water is very useful. The dinghy has a fair turn of speed as soon as a breeze arrives and is easy to handle. Launching from a low jetty is extremely easy, step in and push off, the boat is not unduly 'tippy' when a person steps in from the side.
The other big plus for the Venture is that it will comfortably take a number of grandchildren and permit them to move around the boat and even jump in and swim and re enter over the stern as the mood takes them.
The standard Venture model is fitted with an asymmetric gennaker. This is a lovely sail and is easy to launch and retrieve with the single line launching system. The chute is stored below the fore deck and retrieved through the bow opening. A minor issue when sailing in rough weather is that waves breaking across the bow area will cause water to enter the boat via the gennaker chute.
The mast is also fitted with a spinnaker kit and converting to a spinnaker boat would be relatively simple, but not cheap, requiring the addition of a spinnaker launch line, spinnaker sail and pole. The mast is fitted with a pole ring.
A fixed masthead float is optionally available for the Venture as well as the usual inflatable tube or balloon floats.
The primary market for this dinghy is for training and cruising, it is a good sea boat and can be readily manhandled and towed by almost any car. It may also be raced as its sleek hull and good rig provides a decent turn of speed.
Since its inception in 2011 RS Sailing have produced many different versions of this boat - all confusingly known as an RS Venture. Much depends upon the script and letter designation following the name. Some boats are produced for use by people with limited mobility, others with large built in storage boxes etc for cruising and yet others that are basic dinghies. When purchasing on the second hand market do not rely upon the name alone. This website references the basic dinghy ie with no built-in storage, ballast keels etc, built around 2014.
The dinghy, unlike many others, may be left on moorings with the bailer bungs removed as the cockpit will self drain even when the boat is not moving (the deck is slightly above the waterline).
When sailing, the Venture tends to remain dry due to its sizable foredeck and good freeboard. It is only in extreme sailing conditions that it will ship water but the rear chutes quickly drain the boat.
As standard, the road trailer comes with an effective winch that enables a lone sailor to load the boat and trolley on to the road trailer. The road trailer is also fitted with front riding lights that operate in addition to those on a lighting board.
The Mainsail is controlled via pulley blocks mounted on a central hoop. This enables the boom to be drawn in close to the centreline of the boat to aid upwind sailing. The blocks also permit varying the control line rigging to suit the wind conditions. The hoop also provides a very convenient steadying post for the helm in moments where it is needed.
Helming
The uncluttered crew area has been achieved by the crew taking responsibility for adjusting the kicker and downhaul tension via cleats mounted on the mast. This design avoids the need to run control lines through the crew area but at the expense of a slight loss of control when racing.
Comfort
The Venture has two full length built-in seats along the gunwhales and a central seat in front of the hoop. The mast and boom are fitted with a gnav system that leaves plenty of open space in the cockpit area for 3 crew and removes the risk of becoming entangled with kicker ropes and such like. The gunwhales are broad and offer comfortable hiking and also a useful surface on which to mount a suction pad for a camera or navigation lights etc.
There is ample room for drinks and food under the foredeck but there are no built-in buckets or bottle holders. At the rear of the dinghy the helm has plenty of space to move around and the high boom makes for easy tacking and gybing.
Cruising
The Venture will carry 3 or 4 persons in comfort for distance cruising. The capacious foredeck will hold paddles and a boat hook as well as an anchor bag and cooler box for food etc. A net may be fitted immediately under the deck to hold clothing etc ready to hand yet away from the deck.
There is room for fenders to be stored under the seats but these need to be tied in.
An outboard motor mounting is fitted to the starboard side of the transom. The RS Venture will take an outboard of up to 3.5hp.
It is possible to fit a small rope ladder to the port side of the transom to aid re entry if a person goes overboard or the children wish to swim!
The Venture is fitted with a single line reefing system. Pulling on the reefing line at the forward end of the boom will cause the rear mainsail section to begin to collapse and the sail to reef. Convenient if the weather changes for the worse. More details are given in the reefing section of this manual.
The Venture can be fitted with stainless steel keel bands as an optional extra and also a gunwhale rubbing strip. In practice it is surprising that these are not standard fitments as they are so useful when cruising and gently beaching the boat. With its centre board lifted it can be brought in to very shallow waters.
The Venture is fitted with mooring rings at the bow and the transom centre - these should not be used for towing - see section on Towing. It is useful to keep a 5mm rope attached to the front ring for use during launching and coming ashore.
The asymmetric gennaker fitted to the standard boat enables cruising sailors to readily launch and retrieve the gennaker quickly and easily, whereas spinnaker sails take a little more time and effort to launch.
Leisure sailing
For use during club sailing the boat is easy to launch and retrieve and its ability to float in shallow water is very useful. The dinghy has a fair turn of speed as soon as a breeze arrives and is easy to handle. Launching from a low jetty is extremely easy, step in and push off, the boat is not unduly 'tippy' when a person steps in from the side.
The other big plus for the Venture is that it will comfortably take a number of grandchildren and permit them to move around the boat and even jump in and swim and re enter over the stern as the mood takes them.
The standard Venture model is fitted with an asymmetric gennaker. This is a lovely sail and is easy to launch and retrieve with the single line launching system. The chute is stored below the fore deck and retrieved through the bow opening. A minor issue when sailing in rough weather is that waves breaking across the bow area will cause water to enter the boat via the gennaker chute.
The mast is also fitted with a spinnaker kit and converting to a spinnaker boat would be relatively simple, but not cheap, requiring the addition of a spinnaker launch line, spinnaker sail and pole. The mast is fitted with a pole ring.
A fixed masthead float is optionally available for the Venture as well as the usual inflatable tube or balloon floats.
Single Handed sailing
I have spent many hours sailing single handed in the RS Venture in light winds ie no more than about 10knots and, in winds of around 7knots, I use the full rig rather than a reefed rig. I use the 4mm gennaker sheet as a Jib sheet and loop this sheet around the hoop to ensure that it is always in easy reach from the helming position. I tie the ends of the Jib sheets together (I always do this when sailing) and put a twist into the loop of the Jib sheet so that the line needing adjustment always falls on the windward side of the boat. I also use a masthead float to prevent the boat from inverting (righting an inverted Venture single handed would be beyond my strength and weight!). The use of a masthead float also permits the single handed sailor to easily climb up the inside of the boat to get on to the centreboard - saves a lot of energy!
Initially I sailed leaving the Jib sail furled but the boat did not 'feel right' and much to my surprise as soon as I unfurled the Jib sail the boat became much more responsive and comfortable to sail. I now always use the Jib sail for single handed sailing.
Single handed tacking is a slow operation, requiring the Jib to be released, the tack completed and then the Jib sheet re cleated. However the angles of the Jib cleats are ideal for this type of sailing. The cleats release easily, simply by giving the sheet a sharp shake and a gentle pull enables the sheet to be re cleated on the new side.