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Whereas most other
racing classes are one-design, the A-Class is a development class and as a
result it has become the very pinnacle of the high-tech sailing
boat. Many state-of-the-art design developments seen today in, for
example, the latest Americas Cup racers, have been first developed and
then applied to the 'A' Class cat.
Whilst being a relatively easy boat to actually
sail. They are stable and not particularly prone to cartwheeling or
'pitch-polling' even in the strongest of winds, unless you do something
really stupid. But the 'A' Class Catamaran is difficult to sail well,
requiring many subtle tweaks and fine tuning to get it up to it's full
potential. You can be sailing upwind and suddenly realize that
everyone else is out-pointing you, for no apparent reason! A slight
sail trim here, a small mast rotation there - it all has an effect, which
is more noticeable because you are traveling faster. It suits people who
like to fiddle and tune, but the feeling when you hit the sweet-spot is
superb!
It is so responsive that it almost talks to
you! You just have to learn to listen.
Hardly any two 'A' Cats are the same.
Each sailor likes to have things customized to suit their own style.
Transom or centre mainsheet, different downhaul and mast rotation systems,
even rudder and daggerboard shapes can vary. You will see many
different hull shapes. The current trend is for wave piercing bows
and curved daggerboards which are thought to give an edge when sailing
downwind.
However, the actual hull shape has a lesser
effect on the speed than having the correct rig setup. The mast and
sail are designed to work together for a particular crew weight.
Having the correct sail shape and mast stiffness for you is far more
important than having the latest hull design. A smooth sailing style
is also crucial, and with an all up minimum weight of 75kg, this is
essential to maximizing your potential boatspeed.
So, if you are up for the challenge of the
Formula One of the sailing boat world, drop us a line. We can then
hopefully put you in touch with someone who can help, as the 'A' class
'scene' is a very friendly and helpful one!
Now you wouldn't want to die not knowing, would you?!
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