A Class Catamaran World Championship Victory for NACRA A2

Pete Melvin, sailing a new stock NACRA A2 A Class Catamaran, won the hotly contested 2005 A Class Catamaran World Championships in Sanguinet, France. The A2 is designed by Morrelli & Melvin and Jeremy Laundergan.

“A Class Catamarans are a single handed boat, but this was a team victory” said Melvin. “Our team really came through by developing a great boat and then helping me train and providing logistical support for the World Championship”.

The resin-infused carbon fiber hulls and foils are built at the Morrelli & Melvin Product Development facility in Santa Ana, California. Boats are marketed, assembled, and distributed by Performance Catamarans, also of Santa Ana. Jan DeBoer Catamarans in the Netherlands provide European distribution.

The regatta included 100 of the worlds’ best A Class Catamaran sailors from 16 countries. The fleet was comprised of seven former A Class Catamaran World Champions (including Melvin), and at least four Olympic medallists. Glenn Ashby from Australia, winner of the last two World Championships, ended up in second place. Steve Brewin, also from Australia and a past World Champion, was third.

Melvin completed the event with very consistent scores, never falling below ninth place in any of the eight races completed. “The A2 performed very well in its first World Championship showing. My speed was consistently good, especially downwind, allowing me to move up through the fleet and finish near the top in all races sailed,” said Melvin.

A Class Catamarans are a “box rule” development class that has been in existence since the 1960’s. Current designs are highly developed, with race proven innovations often leading to implementation of these concepts in other classes of boats. Morrelli & Melvin have been at the forefront of A Class design ever since their first offering won the World Championship in 1997.


Pete Melvin has been competing at a world-class level since his youth. He has won three World Championships; over 25 National and North American titles, five WSSRC sanctioned World Records, and has competed in the Olympics. Pete is a founder and principal at Morrelli & Melvin, and manages the Design Office on a daily basis.