The old Nacra 6.0NA in Worrell-1000 configuration required a heavy hot stick to fight the rudders, 2:1 systems for massive spinnakers, and a mainsheet that regularly required so much tension that exploding bolts on the high end haarken slides push many of us to switch to titanium bolts when sailing in the strong stuff.

On the other hand, my mother could steer and A-class (if I could strap her into the boat without the police arresting me as she screamed). It is lightweight, nimble, and sensive to the lightest pressure. Downwind, when I overheat, my Bim2000 punches into waves and usually slows down-- the Nacra would carry so much momentum that it would dive like scenes in the movie Das Boot. The A-class still likes tension on the mainsheet, but the carbon mast is more responsive so you don't need to be so cruel to the boat.

Don't get me wrong. The A-class is not for the Benetau 42 crowd. You need enough fitness to get on and off the wire quickly (very quickly-- it is simply un-sailable without using a trapese9. And you need even more flexibility since the boat is smaller. You move more like a dancer and less like a rugby player. When I entered regattas out of practice or in bad physical shape on a Nacra 6.0, I would get injured. On an A-class, I usually injure the boat first.

buy and A-cat, you'll will love it.