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RS Zests Instructions and Videos

The Nyack Boat Club has purchased two RS Zest sailing dinghies for use by club members.

Most important thing to take away from your RS Zest Safety Orientation is that you are using these boats at your own risk.

The boating area is from 1,000 yards north of the bridge to the start of Nyack Beach, and the eastern boundary is the fairway marker at the east end of the mooring field.

RS Zests are equipped with a mainsail and because of their broad hull are able to be sailed with up to two people on board, total weight 500 lbs. or less, depending on conditions and abilities. Check the weather before departing; if the forecast is for gusts higher than you're comfortable with, or if the forecast is for thunderstorms, wait it out or come back another day. Note, if the Club anemometer (wind gauge) at the Launch pavilion (or online) indicates a steady breeze in excess of 12 knots, then you should not sail.

As an NBC member, you will be able to reserve an RS Zest once you complete three tasks (details and links here):

Attend a RS Zest Safety Orientation session (either in-person or online).
Complete the Dingy Experience Questionnaire.
Successfully complete the online NBC RS Zest Safety Orientation Assessment of your comprehension of rules and best-practices from orientation.

Once Zest-approved you may go to the NBC website to reserve a boat. Boats are only available during daylight hours, and only during NBC launch/tin tender service (June through August, starting at 9 am daily).

When you arrive at the club, begin at the RS Zest lockers (shared with the kayak lockers) where you can pick up a VHF radio and sign-out the boat on the log.

From there you will head down to the drysail to uncover and rig the boat.

Who can use the boats?

For a complete description of who may skipper and be a passenger on the Zests, please see the RS Zest Use Terms & Conditions.

Regular Members (Active, Provisional, Senior, Life) including their Spouses and Partner Members and current year Seasonal Members are all eligible to sail Zests as either Skipper or Passenger.
Non-member guests, Associate Members and Senior Associate Members are not eligible to sail on Zests as Skipper or Passenger.
Children over the age of 16 accorded member privileges of a Regular Member may be a Zest Skipper or Passenger.
Children accorded member privileges of a Regular Member may be a Zest Skipper or Passenger.
Only children over age 8 who can swim may be a Zest Passenger.
Certain current season Junior Sailing participants may sail Zests. See Terms & Conditions for details.
Only Members (and eligible family members) who have successfully completed the Zest Safety Orientation Assessment may skipper RS Zest sailboats. This includes Member children.

To rig the boat:

The Zest will be secured to a dolly with its painter, mast up, with the sail rolled up around the mast. The boat is covered and under the cover you'll find the daggerboard, rudder/tiller, and the boom with mainsheet and boom vang attached. Also in the boat, a paddle. Note the painter is secured to the mast step and mast and may be used as a tow line, if needed.

Remove the cover
Attach VHF radio to the deck
Check to make sure the paddle is attached to the deck (don't leave without it)
Check the drain plus is secure and tight
Attach the boom to the mast
Unfurl the main sail
Attach the main sail clew to the aft end of the boom
Tighten the outhaul
Attach the lower part of the boom vang to the mast.
Check all your Zest sail controls: mainsheet, boom vang, outhaul, cunningham
Attach the rudder and tiller assembly to the transom, making sure that the rudder is flipped up and locked.
Ensure the centerboard is in the fully up position and locked in place.
Being sure to avoid other boats and fence posts, carefully maneuver the boat stern first down the laser lagoon launch.
Launch the boat into the water, drop the centerboard down, drop the rudder down, trim the sails, set the dolly out of the way and steer off the wind.

Once Sailing:

When sailing in light wind, make sure you begin your sail into the current so that in case the wind drops you're more likely to make it back to the club.
If you should capsize, get yourself to the water-side (under-side) of the hull and grab onto one of the handles. Use them to put your weight on the centerboard and get the boat righted and pull yourself back into the cockpit.
If you hear thunder, turn the boat around and high-tail it for the club.
If you see lightning, head for the closest shore.
In case of other kinds of trouble, try calling the launch driver on channel 9. They will be able to either help you or alert someone who can.

To De-rig:

Upon arrival at the club, pull up the centerboard and rudder, and lock both in the up position. Once landed and secure retrieve the dolly.
Pull the boat up the laser lagoon and de-rig: remove rudder/tiller, disengage boom vang from mast, disengage sail from boom, remove boom from mast, leave the mast up and roll the sail carefully around the mast, tying it in place.
Spray the boat off inside and out with the hose (located under the hoist). Use a brush if necessary. The boats came to us spotless.
Ensure the tiller/rudder, centerboard and paddle are all in the boat. Replace the boat cover. Bring the radio up to the boat locker and sign-in the boat, making sure to document the time returned in the log. Write any notes in the log book, including damage or general notes on your experience.
If necessary, send an email to zests@nyackboatclub.org with details, or to convey an urgent matter about the condition of the boats.

To Right a Capsized Zest:

When your Zest capsizes, position yourself on the underside of the hull, use the righting line (if available), and lean back against it to gradually rotate the boat upright, while ensuring your weight is distributed evenly and you avoid getting caught under the keel as it swings around; once upright, quickly climb back onto the deck and secure the boat properly.
Key steps:
- Access the boat: Swim to the capsized boat and climb onto the lower hull, positioning yourself near the transom.
- Secure the righting line: If your boat has a dedicated righting line, grab it and ensure it is properly secured over the top hull.
- Lean back: While holding the righting line, lean back steadily to initiate the boat's rotation towards an upright position.
- Control the movement: As the boat begins to right itself, move carefully to avoid getting caught under the keel.
- Climb back on board: Once the boat is mostly upright, quickly climb back onto the deck and secure yourself.
Important considerations:
- Safety first:
- Always wear a life jacket when sailing and prioritize safety during a capsizing situation.
- Crew coordination:
- If sailing with others, coordinate actions to effectively right the boat together.
- Check for damage:
- After righting the boat, inspect for any damage and address it accordingly.
Scroll down to VIDEO RS Zest Dinghy Review ... (capsize at 14:00)

Additional Information on the RS Zest

RS Zest Rigging Guide with detailed illustrations (PDF)

VIDEOS (scroll down):