Moths, C-class, F18 (spinnaker, selftackers)

Lets just see the A-cats for what they really are ; excellent lightweight singlehander racers that are both very expensive, have a continiously changing design and lay claim to a status that is larger then they really are.

It is also a common mistconception that the A-cat class rules are only length, width, beam and sail area. The only class that still has a simple setup like that are the C-class boats. For example the A-cats rules also rule on ready to sail weight and the forbid the use of any lifting foils. They also break their high-tech masts when they pitchpole in any decent wind.

Surprisingly enough cheaper boats like the F18 are actually outperforming the A's on the race course. To make the picture complete a 11.500 Euro F16 (without a spinnaker or jib setup) is only 5% slower then the newest 18.500 Euro A-cat. That is a whole lot of money (60% more) for a more fragile boat that is only 5% faster around the race course (3 min per hour).

In summery the A-cat is everything that a youth catamaran should not be. Expensive, relatively fragile, outdating older boats relatively quickly and is hardly seriously faster.

I like the A's for what they are but they are simple not a good example of what to do with the F12 youth catamaran. Neither are the F16 or F18 catamarans for that matter.

Wouter