After six races at the A-Class WC, competitors with curved daggerboards were in 5th, 8th, and 9th overall. At this point, it seems clear that this current generation of curved daggerboards is not a class killer as many predicted. The sailors using these boards would be capable of being in the top ten with straight boards.

The Aussies are dominating with Ashby way out ahead (sailing one of his best events ever) followed by Scotty Anderson and Steve Brewin (as usual). Interesting to note that last year Ashby fought to the wire against Lars Guck with Pete Melvin not so far back. He did not dominate like he has so far in this years event. Anderson finished 7th last year behind Charlie Ogeltree.

Heading south tomorrow to Islamorada for the annual A-Class winter race week. I think we will have 30-35 boats racing, 26 pre-registered right now including Randy Smyth and Robbie Daniel. Ya hoo!

You can get lift and stability by using curved centerboards or canted centerboards, but the tip distance must be more than 1.5 meters. Ashby has straight boards that are canted, I'm not sure about the rest of the boats.

/hakan

Are there any pics available of the boards in use? I saw a board in the Keys at the Steeple Chase party but it would be neat to see it on the boat on the water.

We'll get to see a Marstrom with curved boards next week. Goran Marstrom is supposed to have them. Why? It appeared to me that either Marstroms do not do the Wild Thing so well, or their (very-well-experienced) skippers do better low and slow in recent big-show events: will this be the antidote? Opinions needed.

As mentioned, curved boards and canted boards offer lift. From talking to Steve Brewin, he tells me he does not think there is much difference between them but believes both are better than non canted straight boards.

The only advantage I see for curved over canted is that you are increasing the area of the board and hence increasing the area for creating lift. But means more drag in the lighter stuff. And due to the 1.5m rule, this probably makes things marginal between the two.

Possiblt a little more sideways slip also with teh curved boards. Particularly on the start line.

Here is a very interesting summary of the worlds 09 in AUS written by Luc du Bois who also happens to be a performance analyst for Alinghi. Luc was the only participant with adjustable (lateral angle) curved daggerboards at the worlds.
http://www.saca.ch/world2009_compte_rendu.pdf

Regards

Daniel

In the german A-Class association is a discussion going on if curved boards are class-legal. What is your opinion in this matter?

Luc's conclusion needs to be quoted

"My final conclusion will therefore be that, for sure fast equipment is a must to win
championship, but being on the water and racing as often as possible is still the key to
success. After having seen the average sailing level and enthusiasm in Australia, I
think I will definitely try to spend more time on the water rather than building carbon
parts and it will be much more fun as well!!!"

... as long as they conform to the still current "box rule" they are legal, rule 8 (hydrofoils are not permitted) cannot be enforced properly since a hydrofoil cannot be conclusively defined other than "the spirit of the rule".
Or there is another way to lok at it. Rule 8 was created when the first pictures were sighted of an A Cat flying on traditional/classic hydrofoils in the form of v-struts and t-bars. So when the experiments with canted and curved boards started, so did the discussions as to what was and was was not legal. Rule 8 needed clarification in order to prevent an a cat from flying and the box rule was born. It can then be argued that whatever conforms to the box rule is not a hydrofoil, since that was the purpose of the box rule.
But thats just my opinion.

I also thought this was a very interesting comment, especially in light of no US presence:

"If we look at the points in the result list we can see that to finish in the top 10 you needed no more than 53 points. That is an average of 7.6 points per race. This is [by] far the most difficult championship that the class have sailed in the last years."

Daniel, I gather from your post that in your country is a discussion under way, too. Do you think that there will be an 'official' decision - who would be responsible for that? The international A-cat association?