A-Class Catamaran North American Championship - Ready for lift-off

by A-Cat North Americans on 19 May 2015 2015 A-Class Catamaran North American Championship - It’s a toss-up which will own the headlines during the 2015 A-Class Catamaran North American Championship: the new boat designs and latest foiling technology, or the incredibly talented sailors racing them. If today’s practice race is any indication, there will be a great mix throughout the regatta, which takes place Tuesday through Friday in Panama City’s St. Andrews Bay.

Hosted by St. Andrews Bay Yacht Club (St. ABYC) and Panama City, 41 sailors are registered from 17 states and Canada, racing on foiling and non-foiling boats ranging from DNAs, eXploders, EVO, XJs, and custom-built designs from OH Rodgers, Ben Hall and Larry Woods. In total, almost half of the boats racing will be testing their foiling skills, promising for great visuals and video throughout the week.

Over the weekend the sailors established A-Cat headquarters on the scenic front lawn of St. ABYC, setting up their boats, comparing notes and admiring each other’s new technology, and making refinements after each day’s practice.

Foiling or not, on the eve of the regatta it’s a guessing game as to who will lead the pack. Looking strong is defending North American Champion Bruce Mahoney, today’s practice race leader Matt Struble, U.S. A-Class Association President Bailey White, and Bob Hodges, although it’s really anyone’s game as Ben Hall is still working through his new boat design refinements, Ken Marshack and Woody Cope have consistently been strong finishers, and a host of others could easily rise to the top.