On Wednesday evening, at the Worlds in PuntAla, a presentation took place honouring four great contributors to the A-Class Cat.  Artworks were presented for each nominee.  

They were: Dieter Melcher, SUI 192, he wrote most of the IACA Constitution

Ben Hall, USA, for numerous contributions to the class, especially in USA

Graeme Harbour, for his incredible help in the IACA Committee (Class Rules and Championship Rules modernizations), and of course as International Measurer

Open - Kuba Surowiec POL 42 retained his Open title, with a hugely impressive display of sailing in all conditions

Classics – Gustavo Doreste Blanco, ESP 72 is the new name on the Classic World Champions Cup.  He overcame a first race retirement co come back against a very strong field of former winners.

Congratulations to them both!!

results - https://www.manage2sail.com/en-US/event/ACatWorlds2024#!/results?classId=acatfoiler

After the Southern Ocean conditions on Monday, then the Prosecco sailing of Tuesday, Wednesday was always going to be a come down at the World A-Class Cat Championships in Punta Ala, Italy.  And so it was, the winds of the Golfo Di Follonica needed a rest.  Both Classic and Open foiling fleets remained bolted to the sandy beaches of the PuntAla Camp & Resort for a few hours more that the sailors cared for.  There was only so much lovely Italian coffee to be drunk before the visions started to appear as they developed caffeine overdoses. 

If Monday was the sailor’s day of nightmares, then Tuesday was their day of dreams

The morning after the night before had dawned at the PuntAla venue on the delightful Tuscan coast.  The region had been due to get a little spot of weather the previous evening.  And by little spot, I mean a massive slow-moving thunderstorm accompanied by biblical rain levels that found every crack and gap in restaurant roofs and came under doors.  But no lasting damage and the resort awoke to a few puddles, but as the place is built upon sand, the water had largely dissipated.

The largest ever A-Cat Worlds opened today in PuntAla Camping & Resort, Italy.  Nearly 185 sailors are entered in the twin classes with the first races scheduled for Monday 9th Sept. on two course areas.  However, due to an extreme weather warning, the race committee decided not to hold the practice race on the Sunday, so the sailors go an afternoon off for exploring the local area, or just sitting in the ridiculously high humidity of the resort, waiting for the inevitable thunderstorm to arrive, which it has now done.

Photo- guppypix.com 

Within the pine forests and on the sandy beaches of the PuntAla Camping & Resort, the excitement is building. The little lizards are scampering about in anticipation as the A-Cat Worlds start Monday, the practice race is due Sunday.  This should see the biggest A-Cat fleet starts ever witnessed by most sailors.  85 or so boats in two fleets, stretched out, should be a magnificent sight. The sound of their pilots screaming at each other could also be an interesting thing to witness.

The New Zealand A-Division Association have announced a change in venue for the 2025 Worlds.  Due to recent financial commitments now being demanded by the previous venue, that were unaffordable and far in excess of the current IACA World Entry €300 per boat fees, the NZADA have decided to switch venues to the Auckland based Milford Cruising Club.  This is just around the corner from the 2014 Takapuna venue as will sail on the same waters.  

PJ and Mischa tell all they know, so far.

https://youtu.be/-3MU1MlTWbs

Welcome to the first ‘proper’ racing day of the PuntAla regatta festival.  Next week we see the 2024 World Championships, for both Classic and Open categories, but this weekend we have an Italian National event, a TT series event if you will, and it is being used as a practice/warm up event for the Worlds.