Jacques Valente. Sadly missed.
Jacques Valente passed away on July 11. He was a seasoned sailor with a rich career, known for his participation in events such as the Mini Transat and the Route du Rhum. His passion for sailing began at the age of 9, and despite significant health challenges, including a kidney transplant in 2008, he continued to be an active advocate for organ donation and a prominent figure in competitive sailing. Jacques owned several A-Cat’s during his sailing career and was member of the I.A.C.A. Committe from 2021 to 2023. We express our deepest sympathy to his wife and survivors.
- Read more about Jacques Valente. Sadly missed.
Swiss Open Championship 2024 in Dongo, Lake Como
A great fun event, with some interesting moments for all. Christian Stock reports.
- Read more about Swiss Open Championship 2024 in Dongo, Lake Como
World Sailing approves new rule changes
The following alterations to the class rules have been approved by World Sailing.
The amendment of rule C.1.1(b) : "...allow the use of trapeze harnesses that are not of the quick release variety".
And slight alteration of rule C.7.1 : the Event TC and the Race Committee may allow .
Available at - http://www.a-cat.org/sites/default/files/CTACR20240508.pdf
- Read more about World Sailing approves new rule changes
Matthias Dietz - another legend sadly passes.
It is with great sadness that we must report the passing of another A-Cat legend, known to a great many of us. Matthias Dietz was a beloved and gentle character for many years on both the German and European circuits. His immense knowledge of all things, ranging from the 1970's Le Mans Porsche 917 breaking systems that he worked on as an engineer, up to how he sets his rig up for those light airs, of which he was one of the Kings.
- Read more about Matthias Dietz - another legend sadly passes.
2025 European Championship dates announced.
Book the dates - 7th-14th June. A-Cat Euros 2025, Spiaggia 151 Riccione, Italy
More details to follow!
- Read more about 2025 European Championship dates announced.
Our new Instaboss Queen
It gives us great pleasure to introduce Matilde Delaite to the IACA team. Mathilde will be looking after our Instagram account and helping to spread the A-Cat love across that platform, so hopefully engaging a few new sailors to join us.
- Read more about Our new Instaboss Queen
Thoughts for new recruits.
I was reflecting on the class and where it could want to be heading recently, when I realised the question that we get asked frequently when someone is expressing an interest in our lovely boats is - I’m looking at getting an A-Cat, but what type should I go for? It is usually met with the first question from us, and we must assume that they have at least done a little research, and discovered that we have 2 categories within our class, so it’s do you want an Open or a Classic?
- Read more about Thoughts for new recruits.
2024 Worlds Poster. Get registered!
- Read more about 2024 Worlds Poster. Get registered!
2025 NZL Worlds Dates announced.
OFFICIAL - The 2025 A-Cat Worlds will be held at Manly Sailing Club, North Island, New Zealand. Dates - 8th-16th November 2025.
We can now look forward enormously to this event, at the club where no lesser sailor than Russel Coutts is Commodore, so we hope as many as possible can come over join in the party in Aeoteroa, the 'Land Of The Long White Cloud'!
- Read more about 2025 NZL Worlds Dates announced.
AUS Nationals crown Adam Beattie and Scott Anderson their 2024 Champions
The final day of a regatta can be a strange one. Sometimes, it all comes down to the last race as in the Toulon Worlds, and sometimes the last downwind leg of that race too, as we saw in Houston. On other occasions, the frontrunner is already decided and can afford to not even race as the discard would take care of the points gained for a DNR. Today was such an event. Both Scotty Anderson and Adam Beattie had the championship sewn up probably 2 races ago. So, some choose not to race and give someone else their chance of a bullet.
- Read more about AUS Nationals crown Adam Beattie and Scott Anderson their 2024 Champions
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Published on May 6th, 2022 | by Editor
Some kind of rodeo at A-Class Worlds
Published on May 6th, 2022 by Editor -->
The plan was for the 2021 A-Class Catamaran World Championship to be held November 7-12 in St Petersburg, Florida. But like so much, the pandemic had other plans , but a shift was made for the 2022 title to be May 1-6 in Houston, TX. Class editor Gordon Upton, merging his British-ness with the local flavor, delivers this final day report:
Houston, TX (May 6, 2022) – After high winds kept the fleet ashore more than desired at the Beacon Group A-Class Catamaran Worlds, there was a Gurd ‘Ole Texas shootout on the bay today to end this rodeo.
In somewhat un-Texan style, the locals, and indeed the meteorologists, had been playing down the weather as probably to be pretty light stuff for the twin A-Cat fleets of the Classic displacement boats and the Open foiling boats.
Sailors had mentally prepared themselves for some very hot and pretty sluggish, (especially the foilers,) drifting about in the high 80°F heat, and the possibility of having to drink one’s own body fluids, should your water bottle drop over the side. But…haha… they lied!
Billy Richnow, the venerable event PRO had planned for the Open class to be out first. He wanted to try to get in at least one race so as to get that fleet back level with the Classics who had sailed 6 races up until then. Enough for an official championship, but not a decent regatta series.
The committee boat, complete with ‘Billy’s Bevy Of Lovelies’, his highly experienced and supremely competent all female race team set out for the race area. Soon radio reports were coming back of 6kt winds on the course. It was looking like Game On. The scheduled 9AM start time was approaching, so all the boats were allowed onto the beach area to be efficiently herded and corralled, one assumes using yells and lassoes, and into something looking like an organized launching countdown sequence – really, these Houston and Texan metaphors write themselves.
On the way to the race area on Galveston Bay, the wind had started to slowly build. The riders found themselves able to do a little foiling about, much to everyone’s delight, as these boats can be made to foil in about 8kts, if you know your game, and are a bit on the lightweight side.
All the boats had done their compulsory checking in the start boat by sailing across it’s stern and being recorded by the team, something many events could to with emulating. And after maybe a 15 minute postponement, the sequence was started.
Race one was off up a course in 5kts of wind. Not enough for the hotshots to deploy their superpower, which is the Holy Grail of upwind foiling, and all had to go into a low drag displacement mode, which is pretty much Kryptonite to the open foiler.
The Open boats are not as good as the Classics set like this, for the Classic is designed to remain waterborne and hence has far less drag in their foils and rudders, plus a fuller cut rig to boot. Racing directly against a Classic in these conditions is a frustrating business. However, these fleets are separated in this regatta, so the frustration may be lessened slightly.
The top mark was reached by most of the fleet staying on the left of the course. The ones who went right seemed to lose out somewhat. But the good sailors are the good sailors, as they say, although by now the wind had increased to trapezing speeds, so 7+ kts in the A-Cat.
First round was the reigning US Champ, and local boy Bruce Mahoney (USA 311), closely followed by Tornado and general sailing legend Darren Bundock (AUS 88). Next was the championship leader US Nacra 17 team member Ravi Parent (USA 76), who’s jockey-like stature suited the conditions perfectly.
Chasing a couple of boat lengths behind came the Polish Champ Kuba Surowiec (POL 41), who thrives in this light stuff. However, the current 2nd place rider, the Team USA SailGP and Olympic N17 sailor, Riley Gibbs (USA 96), was further back in the following pack
The first downwind leg had enough wind to allow the leaders to get on their foils, so really started to draw away. All was great with the World, at last. However, while rounding the bottom mark, it was bang into a massive wind hole.
The rest of the fleet then caught back up, much in the way someone stopping at the top of an escalator finds themselves suddenly overcome with people arriving from behind, these front runners experience a similar thing. The fleet then split into right and left sides.
It became a total mental workout task now. Is there pressure over there? No, possibly more over that part. Chess on water ensued. But race time limits were pressing and the PRO made the decision to finish the race at the next mark, so an upwind finish it was to be as the fleet drifted, wafted etc up the course in 5kts, the class minimum.
Coming up towards the finish, the leader Kuba was coming from the right side. All looked good until the boats who elected to go left had found a little bit more. The breeze shifted right slightly, Kuba, ahead of Ravi, was desperate to cover him, and knowing that tacking a 5m, 2.3m cat platform in light airs is a real super delicate trick.
It’s easy to lose way and destroy the sail airflow as you need to flick the thing onto the other tack – you get one shot at that level. Seeing the left siders coming across just ahead, and not able to lay the mark, he had no choice.
Fortunately he nailed it and kept Ravi behind him, crossing the line in 3rd, behind the wily old US A-Cat veterans Bob Hodges (USA 230) and Lars Guck (USA 330). Ravi slipped back into 6th, and to compound his miseries, hooked himself on the anchor line of the mark boat.
Race 2 started after the fleet drifted back to the start. After a 15 min delay, the wind returned, the course was shifted, and go was pressed. Upwind mark, after most went left again, Bruce rounded in pole. Local knowledge paying off again. Ravi then rounded, just ahead of Kuba. This was a championship that was going to the wire.
The wind was up and down, foiling and not foiling, it was properly challenging stuff. Bruce pulled away and got the bullet. Next was through Kuba, who had managed to get past Ravi on the last upwind by picking the correct way up on the left side as Ravi when right. However, a single place ahead would not be enough to do it for Kuba; he ideally needed a boat or two between them.
Race 3 was the championship decider in true movie third-act stuff and Riley had dropped out of contention with his lower finishing positions. It is superb, and rare, when two such talented young sailors get to fight out the whole thing in the very last race. Kuba needed a win and ideally a boat between them. Ravi on 13pts, Kuba 14.
The wind was rising along with the tension. Go for 3 laps. First lap most went to the left. Bundy decided it was his time to show there is still life in the old dog yet and not worrying about the rest. He led the whole race.
Left side, right side, they did them all, but the left seemed to pay better. Bundy led, Kuba second on the last lap. But at the finish, it was Ravi who had followed Bundy over the line, with Kuba some 20m behind. Ravi Parent (above) became the thoroughly deserved new Open division A-Class World Champion for 2022.
The Classic fleet was a less fraught affair. Billy wanted to give them 2 more races, and the wind was co-operating. Andrew Landenberger (AUS 308) was the runaway winner yet again, coming into the last race with 6 straight bullets. Micky Todd (ESP 7) was also a solid second. Only 3rd was being contested between Andreas (Baby Landy) Landenberger (AUS 300), Ken Marshack (USA 192), and OK Rogers (USA 73).
Landy celebrated his last race with a massive port flyer on the start as a nice wind shift to the right made it too impolite to refuse. And three fine 3rd places cemented his son’s podium position in this division.
There endeth the regatta. The race committee managed get 8 races ran even after 2 lost days blown out. However, that gave sailors a chance to recover, repair, look at space stuff or go and shoot things. It was considered to be yet another memorable Championship, and certainly, with regard to the Open fleet, the closest fought that anyone could remember for a long time.
Houston had delivered all that was asked, and considering this regatta was only conceived back in November, a remarkable achievement. Shore crews, rescue crews, medics, all the Houston Yacht Club staff, Billy and the race committee all need to be mentioned in dispatches.
The Jury, who were only kept busy on rare occasions, and never on any actual race issues. And, as ever in such things, there’s usually a highly competent person placed at the canter to oversee. Debbie Cardenas was that HYC person with the big skills. She was the regatta chair, seeing it all through in fine style.
Also thanks must also go to the sponsors of the event. This is easily the biggest headache for any organizer, how do we pay for all this lot? Huge thanks go to the Beacon Group Consulting, who underwrote the whole thing. Mahoney Projects, and Bruce who was the quiet man working away in the corners and getting stuff squared away.
LaPorte Texas, the local dock authority, who helped with support and finance. Ingenious Brewing and Fox Breweries who made us all free beer. And finally the support from the sailing trade; Zhik, Ronstan, Total Boat and Robline who supplied daily prizes and helped out with the foodie nights enjoyed by all.
And finally to the ‘Screaming Texas Frontman’, Bob Webbon, the USACA President, the man who probably had more sleepless night than anyone else. Thanks you, Bob, we salute you sir! Now where did that lizard go?
Event information – Race details – Results
Tags: A-Class Catamaran , A-Class Catamaran World Championship , Andrew Landenberger , Ravi Parent
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The website for the annual International 'A' Class Catamaran World Championships. top of page. Home. Documents. News. Logistics. Racing/Social Schedule. Venue/Accomodation. Entrants. Our Sponsors. Media & Gallery. Previous events. FRA Worlds 2023; USA Worlds 2022; GBR Worlds 2019; More. A-Class Catamaran World Championships 2024. Punta Ala ...
The racing time (11AM-3PM) temperatures average 75-80°F (24-27°C), with average water temperature of. 77°F (25°C). This chart shows the average wind strength at HYC from 11AM-3PM over a 6-year period from April 15 to May 15. This is not a 24-hour average, but zoomed into our racing times.
A-Class Catamaran World Championships official results. top of page. Home. Documents. News. Logistics. Racing/Social Schedule. Venue/Accomodation. Entrants. Our Sponsors. Media & Gallery. Previous events. FRA Worlds 2023; USA Worlds 2022; GBR Worlds 2019; More. Results. Official results for both events. Admiral's Cup Results. Classic Division ...
The United States A-Class Catamaran Association has requested a change of location and date for the 'A' Cat World Championships 2022. Instead of St. Petersburg (FL), the event will take place in Houston (Texas) from April 29th to May 6th, 2022. A preceding event will be the Admiral's Cup, taking place from April 25th to April 28, 2022, on the ...
A-Class worlds: April 29th to May 6th, 2022. 2022 A Class World Championship - Friday, April 29 0900 - 1600 Registration - Saturday, April 30 0900 - 1300 Registration 1030 Support Boat Briefing ... Catamaran Racing, News & Design + Foiling Mag. Inquiries, submit Articles & Advertising rates: [email protected]
A-Class Catamaran World Championships what and when it happens. A-Class Catamaran World Championships what and when it happens. top of page. Home. Documents. News. Logistics. Racing/Social Schedule. Venue/Accomodation. Entrants. Our Sponsors. Media & Gallery. Previous events. FRA Worlds 2023; USA Worlds 2022; GBR Worlds 2019; More Schedule ...
A-Class Catamaran World Championships. 1,021 likes · 131 talking about this. The official site for the A-Class Catamaran World Championship events, for current, past and future
2022 A-Class Catamaran World Championship. Friday, April 29, 2022 10:00 AM 10:00 Friday, May 6, 2022 11:00 AM 11:00; ... After a careful review, the IACA Committee agrees to the USACA and HYC proposal and is happy to confirm the A-Cat Worlds 2022 to the Houston Yacht Club. Please see the letter from Commodore Fontenot and the attached ...
The Beacon Group 2022 A Class World Championships started with a bang today, as a large thunderstorm tracked into Galveston Bay from the South. The first Open Division race was finishing when the lightning struck a nearby water tower. This was the trigger to the race committee to send everyone scurrying ashore.
by Gordon Upton 7 May 2022 23:45 PDT 1-6 May 2022. Top end conditions on the bay caused the 3rd race to be cancelled by the PRO on day 2 of the Beacon Group A-Class Catamaran World Championships in Texas ©Gordon Upton / www.guppypix.com. 2nd race Classics get away - an interesting point is how few recalls there are in the fleet, as the time ...
Sponsorships are available! Contact Bob Webbon at [email protected] bit taken from the official site:https://www.aclassworlds.com/Howdy Fellow A-Cat Sailors...
A-Class Worlds 2022: Ravi Parent World Champ. by Editor · Published May 8, 2022 · Updated June 20, 2022. After two days of non sailing for the Foiling fleet, Friday started slow but in the end delivered a proper closure to the 2022 A-Cat Worlds Open Championship. ... Catamaran Racing, News & Design + Foiling Mag. Inquiries, submit Articles ...
A-Class Worlds heads to Texas. Published on March 24th, 2022. Following a delay of 2 years and lockdown, the A-Class World Championship is back for 2022 on April 29-May 6 in Houston, TX. With the ...
2025 NZL Worlds Dates announced. OFFICIAL - The 2025 A-Cat Worlds will be held at Manly Sailing Club, North Island, New Zealand. Dates - 8th-16th November 2025. We can now look forward enormously to this event, at the club where no lesser sailor than Russel Coutts is Commodore, so we hope as many as possible can come over join in the party in ...
Houston Yacht Club Is Hosting. The Houston Yacht Club in conjunction with the International A-Division Catamaran Association. and the United States A-Class Catamaran Association Invites you to the 2022 Beacon Group A-Class World Championship and Admiral's Cup warm up event. For more information please go to the A-Class Worlds Website.
We start in 1965, covering Hobie, Shearwater, Prindle and C Class, then the Worrell 1000 We delve into the past, and round-up all the videos which show racing catamarans, including Hobie cats, Shearwaters, Prindles and C Class, from the 1960s to the 90s. Plus some Worrell 1000 history. Posted on 7 Apr A-Class Admiral's Cup at Pensacola day 1
Published on May 3rd, 2022. Houston, TX (May 3, 2022) - After the second day at the 2022 A Class World Championships was lost due to excessive winds, it was catch-up today as Billy Richnow, the ...
A-Class Catamaran World Championships sailors entered. top of page. Home. Documents. News. Logistics. Racing/Social Schedule. Venue/Accomodation. Entrants. Our Sponsors. Media & Gallery. Previous events. FRA Worlds 2023; USA Worlds 2022; GBR Worlds 2019; More. Entrants. See who is sailing via the manage2sail HERE. International A-Division ...
2022 A Class Catamaran World Championship CANCELLED St. Petersburg Yacht Club St. Petersburg, FL, USA April 08 - 15 2022: Online Registration Form - Closed For Entry, please contact the Event Organizers. Current Registration List. Scratch Sheet. Crew List. Race Results.
The singlehanded A-Class Catamaran has a strong presence in the USA, which was strong enough to host the 2022 World Championship, and strong enough for the country's Ravi Parent to win the Open ...
A-Class worlds: April 29th to May 6th, 2022. Hecny Group is current working with our primary carrier partners to negotiate and provide an extremely competitive international logistics and shipping program for the International competitors. The designed program will require booking and shipping using Hecny's contract and preferred that you ...
Houston, TX (May 6, 2022) - After high winds kept the fleet ashore more than desired at the Beacon Group A-Class Catamaran Worlds, there was a Gurd 'Ole Texas shootout on the bay today to end ...
2022 Leopard 45 | 45ft. Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. US$799,000 tax included. Own this boat for $6,071/month ... Engine. Yanmar 4JH45. Total Power. 90hp. Engine Hours-Class. Sail Catamaran. Length. 45ft. Year. 2022. Model. 45. Capacity-Just Catamarans, Inc. 850 NE Third Street, Suite 207, Dania Beach, 33004, United States ... but also led the ...
Yacht Scoring is a featured packed 100% web based regatta administration and scoring system that simplifies the task of competitor registration, event management, competitor and media communications while providing results in near-real time to competitors and the World following your event on the internet.
Before Damsgaard made two crucial tackles in Thomas Frank's self-described "world class" press (a claim that is backed up by the performance) he was almost instrumental in what would have been a superb goal. The Dane picked up possession in midfield, did brilliantly to beat Flynn Downes and then sprayed the ball out wide to Bryan Mbeumo.