Whilst having a lovely pleasant afternoons sailing on the Solent, UK National Champion Chris Rashley was most rudely awoken by the AC45 being flown by the BAR team.  And I bet they ignored his call for Starboard!

Enjoy.

Photo Harry KH / Land Rover BAR

Now, also available in white - Holland Composites have announced that Goodall Design will now be their official distributors 'Down Under'.  

They announced in a Press Release - DNA is pleased to have Goodall Design appointed as its official sales & service point for DNA F1 A-class catamaran (A-cats) in Australia and neighboring countries.

Because the Worlds 2020 will happen outside Europe, we will need a country to organise a Europeans for 2020.

An International flavour at the Belgian nationals, and a non-foiling Classic proves they are still compitetive.  Michel Warlop reports.

Belgium held its nationals on September 10th and 11th at the lake of l’Eau d’Heure, situated about 1 hour South of Brussels.  Philippe Muyzers was crowned Belgian champion, beating the 14 sailors that included French and Dutch sailors that joined us for a wonderful weekend in a 15-boat fleet.

Over the weekend of the 10th to 11th of September, the Danish nationals where held at the Sønderborg Yacht Club, close to the German border. 

18 A-cats from Denmark, Germany and Sweden attended, and the weather gods blessed us with sunshine, over 20 degrees but unfortunately the forcast was for very light winds. 

The Spanish A-Class Nationals were held last weekend in Calafell, just down the coast from Barcelona. Conditions were pretty light throughout the whole weekend with winds between 5 to 9 knots, with a couple of races just under 12 knots. Friday started with zero wind and the breeze built up just enough to kick off the first race after a 2 hour delay. On Saturday the fleet awoke to stormy conditions but these suddenly changed into a perfect sunny day. Sunday was pretty much like the Saturday but with lighter winds.

The VDAC has announced that the Yachtclub Steinhunder Meer, Grossenheidorn, near Hannover, will be this year's host of the German Nationals on October 7th - 9th 2016.  See the NOR and entry form here

It is with great pleasure that we announce that the 2020 A Class World Championships will be in the USA, hosted by the St. Petersburg Yacht Club, Florida, from the 16th to 23rd October 2020.  

Bailey White, Bruce Mahoney and Emmanuel Cerf have put together a superb package at a venue that is used to hosting many other World class sailing events.   So put the Sunshine State in your diary for 2020!

Check out the full programme here

In difficult winds, the Italian Nationals were a success.  Pier Faccin reports.

It was held in Porto Corsini the A Class Italian Championship with the organization of the Adriatico Wind Club. The only issue of the event has been the wind strength, which was just above the limits set by the International Class, with the exception of the last day, when the pressure has been enough to allow the helmsmen to sail on the trapeze. 

Robert Griffits reports - September traditionally means the commencement of sailing season "Down Under". The sun is slowly making its way higher into the sky at each noon sighting. The late Winter/ earlySpring winds are  however still being their usual contrary selves, either being a faint zephyr, or blowing the dogs off the chains.