RS700 Sail Setup Guide: Choosing the Right Training Mainsail & Spinnaker

Why the RS700 Demands the Right Sail

The RS700 is one of the most exhilarating single-handed skiffs on the water — a boat that rewards precise sail trim and punishes poor setup. Whether you're a club racer stepping up from a Laser or an experienced skiff sailor looking to sharpen your skills, getting the right training sail makes a significant difference to your development on the water.

At GP Sails, we build made-to-order training sails specifically for the RS700, designed to be durable, forgiving, and fast enough to teach you the right habits.

RS700 Mainsail: What to Look For

The RS700 mainsail is a large, powerful sail relative to the boat's weight. A good training mainsail should have:

  • Consistent, stable shape — so you can learn to read and adjust trim without the sail distorting unpredictably
  • Robust construction — training sails take a beating; reinforced corners and quality stitching extend lifespan significantly
  • Correct luff curve — matched to the RS700 mast bend characteristics so the sail sets properly across a range of wind strengths
  • Clear reference points — batten tension marks and tell-tale positions help you build muscle memory for trim

Our GP Sails RS700 Training Mainsail is cut to class measurement and built from durable woven polyester, giving you a sail that will last through a full season of hard training.

RS700 Spinnaker: Asymmetric Setup Tips

The RS700's asymmetric spinnaker is where many sailors find the biggest gains — and the biggest crashes. A training spinnaker should be stable and easy to gybe, helping you build confidence before moving to a race-cut sail.

Key setup considerations:

  • Tack line length — too short and the spinnaker won't project properly; too long and it collapses in gybes. Start with the manufacturer's recommended setting and adjust from there.
  • Halyard tension — the luff should be just wrinkle-free; over-tensioning kills projected area

Browse our GP Sails RS700 Training Spinnaker for a sail built to the RS700's asymmetric geometry.

Tuning the RS700 Rig for Different Conditions

The RS700's rotating mast is one of its defining features — and one of the trickiest to get right. Here's a quick reference:

  • Light air (0–10 knots): More mast rotation, eased shrouds, fuller sail shape. Let the boom out and keep the vang light.
  • Medium air (10–18 knots): Moderate rotation, increase shroud tension, flatten the main slightly with kicker and outhaul.
  • Strong air (18+ knots): Reduce rotation, firm up shrouds, depower aggressively with kicker and cunningham. Reef early if in doubt.

Common RS700 Sail Setup Mistakes

Even experienced sailors make these errors when moving to the RS700:

  • Too much mast rotation in strong wind — this opens the leech and causes the boat to become uncontrollable downwind
  • Ignoring the cunningham — the cunningham is your primary power control upwind; use it early and often
  • Spinnaker sheet too tight on a reach — let it breathe; the RS700 spinnaker is most powerful when the luff is just on the verge of curling

Ready to Order?

All GP Sails training sails are made to order in the UK. Browse the full GP Sails RS700 collection including mainsails, spinnakers, and covers — or get in touch if you'd like advice on the right sail for your level.

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