The European Association's 2016 ranking events get into full swing.

The European ‘A’ Cat 2016 season saw events in Italy and France over the Easter weekend with victories for Giuseppe Colombo and Thierry Boisbouvier.

Cesenatico - Italy:

Giuseppe Colombo wins the 42nd A-Class Vele di Pasqua

A Class racing season started quietly. In fact, only 11 crews took part in the 42nd Vele di Pasqua, the traditional international event organized by Congrega Velisti. Such reduced participation can only be the result of a combination of factors; Rather low temperatures, uncertain weather forecast, as well as the memory from last year that it was only possible to race one day due to the bad weather.

Luckily, from the competitive point of view, things went much better. The confrontation of the top three crews was really heated. In fact, before the last regatta, they had only one point between each other. Unfortunately the young Luca Micolitti had to retire because with a broken diamond wire

1st Giuseppe Colombo

2nd Daniele Menegatti

3rd Luca Micolitti

4th Riccardo Mellina

5th Stefano Sirri,

6th Michele Patelli,

7th Mark Sweet,

8th Federico Feletti

9th Willy Pozder.  

Giuseppe Colombo was also awarded the City of Cesenatico Trophy, thanks both to his final score and to the number of ‘A’ cats, which on this occasion, were the most numerous class.

Weather conditions were good for the whole period, especially on the Saturday with sunshine and good wind, which grew up to 9kts.  But in such ideal conditions, only two races were held, causing a general disappointment from the sailors.  On Easter day, the wind was light, from 4kts, three races were held without the possibility of the ‘A’ Class sailors getting out on the wire in the upwind legs.  On Easter Monday the wind was slightly stronger and a single race was scheduled in order to complete the program.

The crews on the podium all raced with ‘Classic’ boats, or non foiling platforms - Giuseppe Colombo used a Nikita platform with Fiberfoam mast and Landenberger One Design sail. Daniele Menegatti an eXploder A14 platform, Fiberfoam mast and Brewin Sail. On the other hand Luca Micolitti used a Bimare Zero 2014 platform equipped with Fiberfoam mast and Landenberger One Design sail.

The next National Regatta event will be organized by the Club Nautico Versilia in Lido di Camaiore, 16th and 17th April. The fleet then will move to Centro Vela Sunset in Calambrone, near Livorno, on the weekend of May 1st. After that, the next National Regatta will take place in Maccagno on Lake Maggiore, on May 14th to 16th, where the local organizing authority Unione Velica Maccagno will also organize the Swiss Class A Championship. The ‘A’ Cat Italy’s schedule of national events continues with other events like the International Regatta of Circolo Vela Arco, which you can check at the website of Cat-A Italy (http://classeaitalia.it/calendario-regate/)

A Cat Italia reporting.

Montpellier - France

Regatta Yacht Club of La Grande Motte.

The last weekend in March saw a race meeting for the French rankings and took place in ideal conditions on Saturday and Easter Sunday.

Only 9 ‘A’ Cats made it on the water amongst the thirty catamarans racing. Two Swiss ‘A’ Cats had made the trip though.

Saturday, wind of 15 knots to 7 knots weakening gradually. 3 races sailed. Sun, 20C

Sunday 12C with fine rain and a wind of 15 / 20 knots. The wind weakened over 4 races.

1st Thierry Boisbouvier

2nd Charles Buesche

3rd Piallat Jacques

4th Herman Wallmer

5th Michel Thiebault,

6th Jo Chetcuti

7th François Bouvier,

8th François Brault

9th Robert Coste.

Two flying boats took the first two places. But there was little good flying as the wind was too vague or had vicious gusts.  But Jo Chetcuti made a surfing demonstration, gliding downwind on the weakening wind the final round on Saturday. His poor ranking was due to the DNCs.

Too bad the ‘A’ Class neighboring clubs did not make the trip ...

Photos - A Cat Italia and Didier Hillaire