The RS Aero national titles will be decided on the Port’s waterways in December 2018. In December 2019, the RS Aero world titles will be held in Port Stephens.

“This is a big event for a local community already experienced with major sailing events,” Paul O’Rourke, a Port Stephens sailor and chief executive officer of the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club, said.

“It will promote our region, showcase the sport of sailing and create a measurable economic impact on the local economy.”

The RS Aero is a new class of lightweight, single-handed dinghy.

The dinghy’s hull weighs less than an Optimist at just 30kg and has three rig options that suit three different weight categories: 35-65kg (Aero 5), 55-85kg (Aero 7) and 75kg plus (Aero 9).

The RS Aero is fast growing in popularity not only around Australia, but the world.

Port Stephens was selected to host the national and world titles due to its experience in hosting large scale regattas such as Sail Port Stephens and other titles, plus its protected waterways.

O’Rourke, who joined Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer and a number of other dignitaries in Salamander Bay at the end of January to announce the titles, said the RS Aero world title would be the first of its kind to be held in NSW for a decade.

Steve Race, the Commodore of NCYC, Peter Malloch, Vice Commodore of Port Stephens Sailing and Aquatic Club, Tom Pearce, CEO of Sailing Raceboats, and Peter Stephinson, the current Aero world grand master, joined O’Rourke and Palmer in Salamander Bay on January 23 for the announcement.

A date for the national championship has not yet been locked in, however it is expected to run either between December 15-18 or December 20-23, 2018.

There will be two events run during the world titles in 2019.

A pre-worlds event will be held December 14-15 followed by the world titles between December 18-22.

Race management will be overseen by Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club in partnership with Port Stephens Sailing and Aquatic Club, which will be the physical venue for the event.

Principal race officer will be Denis Thompson.

At the inaugural RS Aero world titles held in France last year, 96 Aeros representing eight nations competed.

More than 130 Aero dinghies are expected to compete at this year’s world titles in Weymouth, UK hailing from Europe, US, Australia and New Zealand.

Simon Reffold, an Australian distributor for the RS Aero, expects a similar entry level for the first southern hemisphere edition.

“We know transporting boats from overseas has its challenges so numbers for an Australian-based world championship will be bolstered by the fact we’ll offer up to 60 Aeros for charter,” Reffold said.

“We’ll stage this year’s nationals at same venue at the same time of year, so competitors have the opportunity to get a handle on local conditions.

“We expect many families to compete at the world title across a number of rig sizes, as was typical in [France].”

Organisers are targeting a figure of 120 entries with 40 per cent of those from overseas.