The FRA Association are looking forward to 2018

editor

The European sailing season is just around the corner, and things are happening in France - Thibault Laudren reports.

Spring isn’t far ahead and as temperatures rise and days extend, the French A Cat fleet is looking ahead to the start of a new sailing season. Following an intense year 2017, full of innovations and novelties with a record of 40 new members joining in, the French A-Cat Association (AFCCA) committee has been working all winter to make 2018 a year to remember for the national A-Cat community. A year we want to be devoted to serenity, sportsmanship and fair sailing. With these objectives in mind:

  • All 2017 partners have renewed their support to the class and AFCCA
  • The official AFCCA website (www.afcca.org) has new categories and features to help new comers get their boat sorted and ready for racing.
  • Training camps are multiplying over France with 3 dates already scheduled in March & April.
  • The sailing calendar develops with a 3rd national regatta in Eastern France, at the Lac d’Orient.
  • The regional trophies have been reshaped by splitting the Med & East areas to keep emulating the regional fleets.
  • Two new memberships are available, supporter & sponsor, to open the class to those who don’t have a boat but also to our foreigner neighbours who are regularly joining us on our regattas and to those who wish to donate more, to help the AFCCA do more.
  • A grant of up to 500€ is available for the youngsters (under 30) to help them finance their participation to international events such as the European or World Championship.

The AFCCA is already enjoying the benefits of these with a record of 91 members who have signed up since the 1st of January, among which 11 of them are new to the class. On that basis, the threshold of 100 members should be exceeded by the end of March.  A good sign proving how attractive and dynamic the class is, with members who are evenly happy to race and share their experience than to welcome and advise new comers on how to the get the most out of their boat.

The sailing begins in about 2 weeks from now, starting in Hyères on the 24th & 25th of March with La Baule and Strasbourg to follow.

Regattas will then take place on an average of one event per month per area, West, South or East, with three national highlights on the calendar that should gather between 30 and 60 boats and open to any foreigners happy to join us:

  • The European Criterium in Sète: 10th to 13th of May
  • The National Criterium at Lac d’Orient: 1st to 3rd of June
  • The French Nationals at Maubuisson to end the season: 24th to 27th of October

Worth noting that all regattas forming the AFCCA Calendar will be run under the double ranking system allowing both the “open” and “classic” discipline to sail together with a common start but enjoying separate rankings and prizes. This to provide fair racing, satisfy both disciplines’ interests while maintaining reasonable levels of logistics and resources for the organizing sailing clubs.

In addition, a group of French sailors is already forming and very much looking forward to taking part in the 2018 European Championship at Warnemünde, Germany, from the 7th to the 14th of July. A good opportunity to meet the worlds elite, share experiences and raise their game before returning home for the 2nd half of the season.

And before the year ends, a handful of AFCCA members will possibly travel down under to enjoy champagne sailing conditions and Aussie hospitality at the Hervey Bay Worlds from the 11th to 23rd of November.

All in all, 2018 is certainly shaping like an exciting and exhilarating season to come with plenty to enjoy and play for. May all AFCCA members and A Cat sailors make the most out of it.

For more information, visit our class website www.afcca.org or find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/afcca.Classe.A/

And in case you cannot find the answer you are looking for, feel free to send us your questions at classaafcca@gmail.com

 

The AFCCA committee