RS Sailing

Romsey

£74,550 Bridging the Gap Recipient - November 2014

RS Sailing was launched 20 years ago when they launched a sailboat brand and began trading as RS Sailing. The company has been prominent in the research and development leading to the subsequent manufacture of a range of small sailboats and over 60% of their boats are now exported annually to around 35 countries worldwide. They aim to promote not only a healthy lifestyle, but to encourage young people to develop new life skills. Their racing boat range includes some of the most successful sailboat classes or recent years and encompasses boats for sailors of all ages.

The company requested funding to support the strategy to increase international sales through broadening the RS range with suitable models and increasing the dealership network.

Martin Wadhams, Chairman of RS Sailing, said:

Bridging the Gap funding is making a real difference - helping us progress development of a new RS model which will grow our business in key target markets in the UK and North America. The team at Solent LEP have been extremely helpful, making the process so far as simple and painless as I could reasonably have hoped for.