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 Open Letter to A-class catamaran sailors and sailors interested in sailing A-cats 

What are your ideas for saving A-class Catamarans from obscurity?

Participation in the A-class has been trending down sharply since 2019. This is partly because of the effects of the recent worldwide pandemic. Unfortunately, numbers have not rebounded since the pandemic ended. See A-Class Participation at Championships. Another reason for declining participation is that the rapid evolution of aerodynamic details on new boats cannot be easily added to older boats. Many owners of boats, older than 5 years old, feel as though that can no longer keep up with the rapid evolution in the class both among foiling and classic boats.

This forum investigates the feasibility of creating a Formula A Catamaran Rule (Formula A) with four primary goals.

Goals:


 * 1) Greatly expand participation in lightweight, high performance, single handed catamaran racing.
 * 2) Create opportunities for women, heavier weight and lighter weight sailors to race high performance singlehanded catamarans.
 * 3) Provide competitive racing opportunities for the 400+ older A-class catamarans around the world that have now been made increasingly obsolete by the recent aerodynamic innovations made by the foiling and classic new boats.
 * 4) Simplify construction of the Formula A catamarans to make them easier and less costly to build for small manufacturers and home builders.

Rule Strategies:


 * 1) Expand participation by creating three additional weight divisions to allow more equitable racing for lighter and heavier sailors than is now possible.
 * 2) Existing boats meeting current A-class classic rules would form the basis of the middleweight division.
 * 3) Boats not meeting all Formula A rules are immediately grandfathered into the class but must sail with corrector weight to compensate for items not conforming to Formula A rules.
 * 4) Increased boat widths for lighter weight sailors increase righting moment in exchange for a reduction in sail area.
 * 5) Increased sail area for heavier sailors in exchange for a narrower boat width.
 * 6) Prescribed construction materials to lower the cost of new boats.
 * 7) Simplified design eliminates aerodynamic details to lower the labor and costs required to build new boats.
 * 8) All four weight divisions are intended to sail together and with International A Class foiling and classic boats without handicap.

!Weight Division !Max Boat Width
 * +Weight Divisions Summary

!Sail Area m2, sf !Mast Height !Notes
 * Heavy Weight
 * 213.36cm   (7'-0")
 * 46.94 (154)
 * 9.04 m.
 * Suitable for > 90 kg (198 lb) sailor, no sailor weight requirements
 * Middle Weight
 * 228.60cm  (7'-6")
 * 13.93 (150)
 * 9.04 m.
 * Same as A-class classic rules but with weight penalties for aero details, no sailor weight requirements
 * Light Weight
 * 243.80cm  (8'-0")
 * 13.56 (146)
 * 8.5 or 9.04 m.
 * 74 kg (162.8 lb) max sailor weight
 * Feather Weight
 * 259.08cm   (8"-6")
 * 13.19 (142)
 * 8.5 m.
 * 64 kg (140.8 lb) max sailor weight
 * }
 * 13.19 (142)
 * 8.5 m.
 * 64 kg (140.8 lb) max sailor weight
 * }

Example Feather Weight Formula A Boat Details

Compared to the A-Class Classic: Wider platform, smaller luff sleeve sail and lightweight round carbon mast to allow easy self rescue for lighter sailors. (think Moth mast and sail)


 * 1) 5.490 m. (18') hull length
 * 2) 259.08 cm (8"-6") overall width
 * 3) 85 kg (165 lbs) minimum weight
 * 4) 43.28 m2, (142 sf) sail with mast sleeve and camber inducers or split battens
 * 5) 9.04 m mast height, 2 -piece 57.1mm (2.25") id, 42.6mm id at tip, 1.6mm wall, high modulus carbon fiber round tubes
 * 6) 4" round diameter standard modulus removable cross tubes, no aero fairings
 * 7) Hull: centerline symmetrical, carbon matt, balsa cored, epoxy resin and epoxy gelcoat, no aero fairings
 * 8) High mounted curved boom eliminates the need for spreaders and curved travelers (think windsurf boom)
 * 9) 2 X 5 Cascade system simplifies mainsheet

A-Class Participation at Championships

Proposal for a Formula A Catamaran

Please add your comments and ideas here: https://f-acat.fandom.com/f

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