RS Elite Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The Elite's hull is a monohull with a bulb keel, a spade rudder, and a fractional sloop rig, and it adheres strictly to one-design principles so that the class stays close on the water. Morrison gave it almost parallel sides and a long sloping transom, both serving a maximised waterline length that helps the easily driven hull carry its speed anchor. The keel is moulded directly onto vertical stainless-steel struts, a construction choice that keeps the ballast low and the structure simple. With a displacement of 2,149 pounds and 1,378 pounds of lead ballast, the yacht carries a high ballast ratio of 64.12 percent, which the class association describes as a defining trait of this modern, lightweight, low-maintenance yacht anchor. A full-length alloy tube kickbar runs down the centreline; occupants hook their feet under it, and the same tube anchors the no-hiking posture the boat demands.

Rig and Handling

The mast is carbon fibre and can be erected by hand, a real advantage for a keelboat that owners launch, sail, and maintain without a crane. The non-overlapping jib is self-tacking on a single line led to a 4:1 purchase, so the trim load stays manageable for any crew. A symmetrical spinnaker is part of the inventory, and the sail plan totals 236 square feet against that modest displacement for a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22.67. On the water the Elite is forgiving and fast, a nimble boat and a joy to sail on any point of sailing, and in handicap competition it races off a Portsmouth Yardstick of 938 anchor. For racing it is a no-hiking boat: crews' knees must stay inside the hull at all times, which keeps everyone dry and upright without the athleticism of a dinghy.

Accommodations and Crew

This is a three-man keelboat with an efficient layout that suits both women and men, and the manageable loads mean a short-handed pair or trio can race it hard. The class rules specify sailing by between two and three crew members, though the race committee may grant dispensation for more or fewer; there is no crew weight limit, so the boat does not punish a light or heavy team. The kickbar foot brace and the self-tacking jib remove the usual sources of cockpit chaos, leaving the crew to focus on boat speed and tactics rather than gymnastics.

Known Issues

The keel's moulded-on stainless-steel struts are the one structural junction worth watching over a long service life, simply because a through-hull bonded joint is where fatigue or impact damage would first show. Beyond that, the one-design rulebook means any deviation from spec is itself a problem at a measurement, not a hidden defect.

Ownership

Owners live with a modern, lightweight, low-maintenance yacht that is easy to launch, sail, and maintain, and the minimal upkeep story is borne out by the solid fiberglass hull and deck with no core to saturate. The hand-erect carbon mast and self-tacking jib keep shore-side and on-water effort low, and the class's Cowes Week start plus active one-design racing give the boat a purpose that resists obsolescence. As a Phil Morrison design craft, period testers framed it as a new Morrison design that produces truly tactical racing rather than a mere club trainer anchor.

The Verdict

The RS Elite is a clever Morrison interpretation of the small keelboat: a no-hiking, one-design racer that is genuinely fast and forgiving, easy on a short crew, and cheap to keep. Its high ballast ratio, hand-raised carbon mast, and self-tacking jib make it a rare blend of low-effort ownership and close tactical racing. The solid-glass construction reinforces its standing as a sensible used-classic buy.

Pros