The A-Class catamaran has had 52 boats compete in Florida this winter alone across 5 regattas so far in the Keys, Miami, St Pete, and Sarasota. Next event is the weekend after next in Panama City and could be a good time to check things out. The event is called Caterwaul: http://www.stabyc.com/Waterfront/Racing/2016-Racing.aspx

We have fleets in the Miami area, Orlando area, Tampa / St Pete / Gulfport, Space Coast, and some more scattered. Here is a video of a little racing this winter from Key Largo: https://vimeo.com/154763007

Have the F18s and F16s really been more active than this in Florida? If so, that is great to hear about all the catamaran activity and can only be good for the sport as a whole.

You can buy an A-Class here: http://usaca.info/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=7&Itemid=20

Lots of choices for any budget from foiling to classic, starting around $5K. We do now score non-foiling boats as classics with a breakout for them so that they are racing like boats as well as overall.

Hope you find a boat and fleet to race with no matter the choice.