The United States A-Class Catamaran Association North American Championship was held last week in Cascade Locks, Oregon from Aug 16-19. Our apologies for not keeping Catsailor better informed during the event. The promised high-speed internet at the hotel was able to hold a wireless connection for about 3 minutes before dropping it.

The event website is http://acatsnw.com/na2005/ and you can find results at http://acatsnw.com/na2005/results/friday.html

The A-Cat North American Championships were scheduled to start racing on Tuesday Aug 16, but the conditions were more conducive to windsurfing. Each of the following three days of the event required waiting for the westerly breeze. However, when the breeze arrived it provided a surprising light to medium wind and proved to be some good A-Cat sailing. Six races were held on Wednesday and the fleet did not get off the water until 6:00. Another three races were held on Thursday with current World Champ Pete Melvin and Lars Guck tied going into the last day of racing and Ben Hall coming on strong in the lighter wind. With a 2:30 time limit to start a race on the last day, the breeze filled in at 2:00. A few sailors lost count on the four lap race with one trying to finish after two laps and another after three. Some sailors even tried for a fifth lap (they must have been having too much fun doing the wild thing down wind). Ben Hall held the lead for the first three laps, but Pete Melvin pulled ahead on the final lap to win the race and the regatta and retain his North American Champion title.

This makes two consecutive North American championship win plus a World Championship win in June for Pete Melvin (of Morrelli & Melvin) on the Nacra A2 A-Class Catamaran that he designed with Jeremy Laundergan of Askeland Engineering.

See Attachment for a start photo by Jeremy Laundergan - More Photos at http://acatsnw.com/na2005/results/photos.html