The 2006 A-Class North American Championship finished up this past Friday. The 14 race series was dominated by Lars Guck of Bristol, RI who won every race against the 30 boat fleet which was deep in talent including Pete Melvin, Phil Kinder, Ben Hall, and Woody Cope.

While the domination might have seemed like bad news to the other competitors, it is actually quite exciting that Lars has pushed the performance envelope up. His setup included a 2006 A2 platform, a Fiberfoam mast, and a Glaser sail. There is nothing new here with these equipment choices. Lar's smart sailing combined with excellent technique simply raised the standard that could be very competitive against Australian Glen Ashby at next year's world championship in Islamorada, FL.

The top five was rounded out by:

2. Phil Kinder (Gel Tek Flyer II, Fiberfoam mast, Ashby sail)
3. Bob Hodges (A2, Hall mast, Glaser sail)
4. Ben Hall (Gel Tek Flyer II, Hall mast, Landenberger sail)
5. Pete Melvin (A2, Hall mast, Glaser sail)

Conditions for the series were perfect. Racing on Tuesday was in a 10-18 knot northeasterly. Racing on Wednesday was in a 8-14 knot southwesterly. Racing on Thursday was almost the same as Wednesday. Friday had 8-12 knots from the northeast. Four races a day were completed Tuesday through Thursday with two races on Friday to close the series.

The Bristol Yacht Club did an excellent job both on and off the water. The staff did a great job helping the sailors launch and retrieve boats as well as assisting with the nightly social activities at the club. A-cat spouses Nan Hall, Blaire Kinder, and Carol Webbon coordinated fantastic dinners every night after racing. Every competitor probably gained weight by the end of the week! Lastly, PJ Schaeffer and his race committee team were simply flawless on the water.

The next national event for the US A-class is our midwinter race week in January at the Islander Resort in Islamorada, FL. This event will be the North American championship for 2007 and will serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2007 World Championship which will be held in November.

For more details, visit www.usaca.info.

Sail fast, sail light.

Bob Hodges
USACA President
USA 230

I'm going to try to attend merely as a spectator. I don't get many chances to see that much talent in one spot! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I bet that Phil Kinder sailed the boat which won the 2006 World Championship with Glenn Ashby.
Please Bob confirm my supposition!

Phil purchased the platform sailed by Murray Philpott in Sweden.

Thanks for the info.
What about the other platforms?
Bimare, Marstrom, Ahpc......

For a few pics of the regatta click on:
http://www.aclassracing.blogspot.com/

I was able to find out that the Vectorworks/Bimare XJs finished in 6th, 9th and 10th with respectively Woody Coope, Ian Lindhal and Peter Cogan.
The first two sailed with a RIBA/Glaser combo, the last with a (very fast) Hall/Cogan combo.

I am not saying you are wrong, however, Ian Lindahl purchased an A2 from me this summer after leaving Vectorworks. Ian's A2 has a Hall Mast (purchased from Nacra) and an Ullman (Glaser, when he still was associated with Ullman) mainsail. It would surprise me if Ian sailed an XJ at the NA's.

I got the info regarding Ian from the F16HP Forum
This is the posting:
< Ian Lindahl (finished #9 at Bristol, probably on a VM Bim) is now working with Matt at running the sailing cat (f16 and A) production at VM. Ian was instrumental at getting me to my first regatta on the F16 and has a VERY strong family history (Lindahl 18 squares and more) at building lightweight cats.

Ian will do a a good job and thanks for your help!! Just wanted to make sure he got noticed, as well.

Any input on this topic?

--------------------
Tom aka "Master of the Obvious"
Blade F16 USA 712>

This is my Reply to that post. It is the last in that string (A-Class North Americans) on the F16HP Forum.