It is with great sadness that we must report the death of top New Zealand A class sailor Murray Philpott in a gliding accident at the weekend.  Our thoughts are with his family and friends. 

NZADCA President, Brent Harsant, released the following statement.

It was with great sadness that we heard of the passing of Murray Philpott on Saturday 6 February in a glider accident.

Murray was one NZADCA's longest serving members, and was happy to offer his services as a technical advisor and measurer to other sailors. 

The Vele di Pasqua is a traditional sailing regatta at Cesenatico. During the Easter holidays, the international competition returns to the Adriatic coast with over 100 participating boats of all cat classes including A Cats. For those wishing to attend this unique show, the 42nd edition of the Vele di Pasqua will be held in front of  the Piazza Costa and the Congrega Velisti Cesenatico club. A chance to see and sail with some of the best international skippers and attend the opening

While the North European fleets shiver in drysuits and 5mm wetsuits or are still laid up, over in Florida, the US Ronstan Midwinters took place at Key West.  USACA President Bailey White reports

The 2016 Ronstan Midwinters at the Upper Keys Sailing Club turned out to be much bigger than we expected and even more fun.  What started with registration just breaking twenty turned into 35 boats as they just kept showing up on Friday.  

About 15 boats made a week of it and enjoyed flat water, mid teens winds, and warm tropical weather all week.

A clarification on measurement, released by the IACA Technical Committee.

Rudder Hanging Interpretation.

Sailing superstars Carolijn Brouwer and Glenn Ashby have both confirmed their attendence at the 2016 Worlds.   For further details see http://acatworlds2016.nl 

There is now a dedicated IACA YouTube channel, the A Class Catamaran Channel, where you can view a selection of videos related to the A Cat world.  If anyone has any video they would like us to put up on there, please let us know.

With the new year, and the Aussie Nationals behind us, many are now turning their attention to training for 2016 and particularly for the 2016 Worlds at Medemblik in June.  It is recomended that you get your entries in earlier rather than later as this would greatly help the organisers plan the event.  Please register here 

Whilst much of the Northern Hemisphere sits by the fire with the central heating turned up, we must all spare a thought for those in sunnier climes.  Bill Vinning has a quick report from Coconut Grove, Islamorada, Florida. 

Separate ranking announced for non-foiling boats at the A-Class Worlds in Medemblik 2016

The Organisers announcement is -

With the support of the IACA, we have decided that we will have a separate score sheet for ‘non-foiling’ boats   

• Daily prize giving, 3 additional prizes for ‘non-foilers’ 
• Overall prize giving, 5 additional prizes for ‘non-foilers’ 

This in addition to the junior, master, grandmaster, great grandmaster and female prizes.

A quick check around the boat park at the Australian Nationals revealed that, decksweeper sails aside, design has as ever, been going into improving foils and particularly rudders.