The Portsmouth Yardstick handicap rating for the Classic A-Cat, used in GBR handicap racing has just been changed. It has gone up by 11 to 695, with a corresponding adjustment in the SCHRS number. This will now mean that in mixed fleet racing, the A-Cat will now be much more competitive against other classes, giving it a rating pretty much the same as the Hurricane SX, and could gain the class a few more sailors who enjoy club racing but shied away from the class for that very reason.

The following changes to the NOR are as follows - 

- The point n. 3.1 of the original NoR is changed as follow. 

The new link for RRoS is https://www.racingrulesofsailing.org/documents/9427/event?name=2025%2520A-Class%2520European%2520Championship 

- 17.2 add: the European Championship title will be released to the first European competitor 

What to do if you get a boat, but have no National Association to organise you?  

Fox Friday Australian A-Cat championships, Lake Cootharaba Qld.

The AUS Nats gets underway. AUS President Bill Michie gives us a quick report for the action.

A beautiful sunny day greeted competitors, fifty four of them, for the first day of the AUS Nationals.

With the forecast 12 to 18 knots, as predicted by the AUS President many weeks ago holding true the fleet experienced what can only be described as champagne sailing.

Some might disagree as some big shifts and holes in the breeze were to found.

Regardless all had fun and as usual the cream of Aussie A Class Catamaran sailors rose to the top.

2024 Review – An A-Cat year of Massive Fleets and Bendy Masts.

JAN

And all the best for 2025!

The Notice of Race for the 2025 Euros at the 151 RICCIONE club in now published.

 https://151riccione.com/regate/european_a-cat

In October Ben Hall has been inducted into the US National Sailing Hall of Fame in Chicago, alongside another A-Cat legend, Pete Melvin.

USACA Sec, Pat Stadt reports.

USA 99 was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame during October 2024 ceremonies at the Chicago Yacht Club. Among others, A-Cat sailor/boat designer and builder Pete Melvin was in this year’s class. Ben’s brother Eric was also inducted this year, and the Hall “Clan” gathered to celebrate the great occasion on the shores of Lake Michigan.
 

Advice on container shipping

For those used to shipping their boats around the world, skim through this as there are a couple of key bits of NZ specific information.

To get your boat to NZ, you will need a 40” high cube shipping container. Within one of these, you can fit up to 10 A-Class (Stack them bow to bow, 4 high, then 2 on their side in the middle). To make it worthwhile cost wise, you usually need about 5 or more boats in a container. Costs vary obviously, but the return trip could cost between €1,500 to €3,000 Euro per boat.