Hey guys,

I've been thinking for a while about getting something fun and exciting for the summer months and came to the conclusion that a A Cat could be for me. I was watching a typical small Hobie cat a few weeks ago sailing in 5-7knts an was really impressed at how it went compared to me on my Mistral one design.

Has anyone had experience to how windsurfing a formula board vs A class cat compare? I imagine that the boards have the edge in speed but lose out in pointing ability and general performance below 12knts.

I got talking to a former Tornado sailor from our island and it sounds like it's possible that many others are expressing interest in this class. This is good as it would give more reason to get one.

So if anyones had experience in both or sailed against boards I'd like to hear their comments. I'm sure I'd be really impressed as it seems like an aweful lot of boat to handle by one person, staying upright looks to be the hard part! I'm going to get a ride on a tornado hopefully in a few weeks just to get a feel for what cats are like.

Scott

Bermuda

You are only allowed to go from Windsurfer to A-class cats if you are over 40. I did that, partly because of too many sprained fingers for windsurfing, so my almost new Ultracat is still hanging in the garage.
A cats are like Formula 1 race cars, and climb to weather like angels. I say they are more fun than big, heavy cats. My back says "Thank you very much" every time I lift and move one by myself. They are tough and very managable up to 20 knots of wind. But A-cats do not like thunderstorm winds, and are NOT cast-iron Hobie 16s. They are not built for the surfline even tho they surf great in swells.
I'm not going back.

A-class: US 196, US 21

Hey Dave,

I've got a Mega Cat and a 10.0 (among the four other boards and 6 sails) in the garage, but I haven't touched them since I've driven the cat.

I'd consider borrowing a H-16 to get the feel for cat sailing, and then consider the A cat or F16. I like spinnakers, and I don't believe the A cat comes with one.

Both A cat and F16 are racing boats, and will require more care and maintenance than a true "beachcat" like the H-16. If you want something to putter around in light air that you can ignore for long periods, the H-16 might be more cost effective.

If, however, you're hooked on beating the next guy and screetching down the waterway with full sail, the A cat or F16 might be the way to go...

Wow Bermuda. That would be a cool place to live. What kind of winds would you be sailing in?

Board sailors around here keep the cats for when the wind drops below 18 knots.

A cats are great boats. So are F18's and Inter 20's if you like crew. The H16 is a great boat to get started on and have some fun on.

People don't tend to race against Board sailors on cats around here. I've never seen a competition between the two.

Good luck in whatever you choose. Let me know if I can come and visit and give you some free lessons.

Mike Hill
www.stlouiscats.com

Thanks for the quick responses! I'm still a young guy at 32, but once you've been windsurfing for a long time, winds below 14knts aren't much fun. I generally go kitesurfing when it's light or windsurfing in waves, especially in the winter or nearby hurricanes.

I've got a Garmin GPS and found in 11 - 14knts I'm getting 22-23mph on a broad reach using a 7.5m sail, I'm 155lbs. When the Tornado worlds were here maybe 10 years ago it was blowing up to 25knts and well off the wind the boards are faster by a fair bit, but watching them accelerate in the gusts was impressive, just so much raw power.

But I'm sure it's a case of the challenge of different sports as watching the guys maneuver 20' cats barely staying in control was impressive, plus scarey when they would bear down on you in the gusts!

I'm thinking of maybe trying to get over to watch an event on the East coast some time to see the A class boats in action. I know the local tornado sailor said they had thought of perhaps bringing in second hand A class cats to start with. I'm not sure letting a total novice onto a A2 or XJ is wise! Suppose sailing lasers and laser 2's back when I was 16 don't count for much!?

Thanks for the responses, I'll search through the archives to see older posts.

regards

Scott

Scott,

Of course we're biased since we went the cat route rather than the kite route. I'm only a few years older than you, but have found more fun in catsailing because I've always like boat racing because there's a challenge when you've got a bunch of boats in a small area trying to work each other over.

Windsurfing (slalom racing)is great in big wind. Sailboard racing (triangles) can be fun, but raking that 10.0 around all day has it's disadvantages..

Imagine, even in 5kts, the cat can move pretty quick, and you don't have to hold the sail by yourself or stand in one place the whole time..

I would imagine that a windsurfer, by skipping over the water, would be faster than a cat (small displacement hull) on a broad reach, but I think overall, the cat will move better, especially when you can't get your windsurfer on a plane.

I had thought about kitesailing, but I'm not sure how you would race with one of those in tight quarters...

So, compromise by getting a cat WITH a kite (spinnaker).

Hi, "once you've been windsurfing for a while, winds below 14 knots aren't much fun" is exactly why I bought a Tornado. In our area, once spring is over, the wind doensn't blow hard very often, I've found the Tornado is great entertainment when it's relatively light air, especially single-handed.
I've never seen an A-cat so no opinion there.
Good luck
Al
ps. the Tornado is great entertainment 2-up in heavy air as well, and not as physically demanding (I guess I'm getting older after all).

Spinnakers on A-cats: example shown.

On the F18HT it seems much slower to raise the hull like this, but it is fun!

Yeah, getting a cat's hull high up out of the water does slow it down, but you don't fly hulls that high to go really fast. I used to stop my H16 an balance the boat like that, then let it down part way and take off again. Lots of fun, but poor racing technique.

Spinnakers are fun but wild-thinging while laying on the tramp with your feet on the leeward hull steering with two fingers has it's own thrills.

Humm, I think I rather do this in 8 knots of wind :




See ya !

Wouter

Hey thanks for all the comments! The weekend was blowing 30knts due to a nearby tropical storm. I met a guy who kitesurfs on Sunday and he also takes out a Tornado every so often, so he's going to call me the next time he goes out! Al that's pretty impressive taking out a tornado on your own! Can you right it if it goes over by yourself? How much do you weigh?

Anyway I'm doing lots of research thinking perhaps the Bimare XJ type A class looks like fun, though shame spinakers aren't part of the class as it would add something to do in the sub 10knt winds I figure!

Scott

You can have it both way mate !

Close to A-cat feel and performance upwind and full head on spinnaker sailing downwind. Do a search on Blade F16.

Why settle for only halve the fun ?

Wouter

Hi again. I'm about 160 lbs., so there's absolutely no hope of righting the boat by myself, but, I make sure to arrange for rescue before heading out (either my dad or one of the neighbours with motorboats) just in case. I haven't gone over yet singlehanded.
Nice pic Wouter!

Al

ps. I've been thinking a 'chute would be a lot of fun by myself for those days with 3 knots of wind

Did Wouter mention that the F16 will rub your back and wash your car for you too!?!

How could you possibly go wrong!?!?

I dunno guys, more and more A cats are popping up with SPINS here in the US.

3 knots winds are very little. Probably too little for the spi. If the chute won't fill properly (hanging limp) than you're faster without a set spi.

Best weather for a spi is 5 to 12 knots. Biggest speed increase there; a real exitment inducer. In higher winds the boost is a little less; although still significant.

Picture was taken in Australia (2005) at the Port Kembla spinnaker run event. Skipper is Gary Maskiel. He is sailing his own one-off Altered F16. Actually he revamped an Boyer mark 5 A-cat (2001) and made an F16 out of it. Hence the name "A-ltered". Needless to say that the A-cat sailors had a scolding thought or two about that !

Wouter

I guess the A-catters just needed someone to show them the way forward !

Wouter