Bob, I agree that the A-class seems like the perfect boat for women. And I think more women might enjoy sailing if they could single-hand -- I know I certainly prefer sailing alone and being the one in control. If we could get all racing couples to split up and sail single-handers, we would have a lot more boats on the water and a lot less strain on relationships.

However, I only recommend the A-class cats to women if they are sailing in a predominantly light-air area, because the boat can be a handful when the wind gets above 12 knots. It sort of reminds me of the Laser in that way. I could race a Laser pretty much all summer in Ohio, but when we moved to the Keys, there was just too much wind for me to keep the boat flat and be competitive. At least in the case of the Laser, they have the Laser Radial rig for women and kids.

What do you think about having a smaller sail plan option for the A-class to make it easier to handle for women and kids, especially in areas that normally have pretty breezy conditions?