'A' Class Worlds in NZ

Apparently the problem is that the board still enters the cassette from the bottom, and the cassette is considered part of the hull...
IMHO it's getting a bit silly.

Not sure how I feel about this. Yes, it's a development class, but there are rules to keep the competition somewhat fair, right?

Not being a development class guy, it's hard to pick a side...

Mike

I guess it boils down to the intent of the rule...My perception is that it was designed to prohibit L-shaped foils and was really an attempt to keep the boats from full on foiling. The guys have figured out how to start tinkering with the foiling thing anyway in spite of the rule...but it's still not easy. At the time, I thought it was a creative way to make a simple rule to limit those foils. However, in hindsight, it might have been smarter to define the limits of the foil in geometric terms.

I can see that a fully foiling A-class, class, is probably in our near future.

From SA FP.

My interpretation from reading others is that Landy really did this as an experiment, so we can all see if the L-foils are faster than the C's and J's. Plenty of discussion on SA, the cassettes are a few kg weight penalty. He also purposely wanted to push the rules, to see if the technical committee would ban them...

I don't think these are going to be faster round the track, you have to lift the weather board ala Hydros and Groupama. I haven't seen any other photos of the boat to know if there is a trick board upfucker setup to make that efficient.

All I really know is this is going to be exciting to watch! Krantz you're on-site???

He's racing. shipped his boat a couple of months ago.

I thought the C Class guys had given up on foiling being faster upwind, on a standard windward/leeward course, a long time ago? Too much leeway or something? I know they are still doing it, but did they also change their course away from the traditional course?

From Mike on SA 2/5/14:

Landed yesterday morning. Plan was to set up the boat, get measured, and possibly go sailing. However, it was raining, blowing 30, and jet lag was kicking my a$$. So I checked in with the rest of Team USA, grabbed a bite, and called it a day.

Today, the sun is out, the forecast is for 10-15, and I hope to walk through measurement and go sailing this afternoon.

-Mike

Timbo, time to catch up to the latest event. Plenty of live coverage and interviews. Not going to spoon feed you, check out Groupama C.

Mike, have an awesome time, clearly having an epic year of sailing <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />

I thought that thing looked more like an 8-track... or a toaster...

Results from the NZ Nationals:
http://www.sailingeventstakapuna.com/bweb-information/nz-national-results/

Thanks for posting the updated results Tony. Do you know the age brackets to go with

Master, Grand Master and Great Grand Master

? Wondering where I'd fit in at age 54. I'm guessing they only break it out like that at the Worlds?

I see there's a Youth in first place with 3 bullets! Nice, especially given the stiff competition that class has.

From a NYYC laser thing, probably the same, not sure though.

The Masters format groups sailors by age: Apprentice Master (35 to 44), Master (45 to 54), Grand Master (55 to 64), and Great Grand Master (65 and older). A handicapping formula allows for all the sailors to be ranked in one fleet in addition to being scored among their respective age categories.

I think that youth is an Olympian.

Glad they got some racing in. Hope Mike, Skip and Ben didn't break anything.

TV coverage. Nice!
NZ TV

Interview with Burling and Ashby, Burling seems like a pretty relaxed guy:

Makes me want to get one of these! <img src="<>/laugh.gif" alt="laugh" title="laugh" height="15" width="15" />

Beautiful day - 72 degrees, sunshine, and breeze.

I spent the morning in measurement/registration and got that sorted out.

The Worlds do not start until Tuesday, but today was the last day of the NZ Nationals. A lot of boats are using this as a tune up for the worlds.

Once I got on the water, I had missed the first couple of races, so I decided to just

pace

the fleet and do some boat speed checks.

Boat feels good, but no where near the speed downwind the leaders are showing. Those guys are sailing 3-5 knots faster than the rest of the fleet. Didn't see any foiling, but everyone was on the wire downwind.

The wind was extremely puffy and shifty. 5 knot holes, followed by 20 knot puffs. Lots of capsizes. Ben Hall flipped 3 times, Kiwi did it twice, and Skip only flipped once, but broke his mast.

Forecast for the worlds looks light, so everyone is working on their setup, so non-foilers may have an advantage to start with.

Here are a couple of shots Rebecca took from the hotel.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4037474/Room%20shot%201.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4037474/Room%20shot%202.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/4037474/room%20shot%203.jpg

More updates to come.

-Mike

Pete Burling “A Class” above the rest

“It feels pretty good to be honest,” said Burling, who has limited experience in the A Class boats, having only sailed them over the last week.

Pete Burling is a 49'r champion, yes?

It's amazing that he's been able to figure out the A cat so quickly, if indeed he's only been on one for a week!? Maybe the 49'r is a lot more like the A cat than a Laser, with the trap and apparent wind sailing, etc. OR...maybe all the other A Cat Champions are just getting too old to hang with the 23yr. old?

Maybe he's a phenom and the torch has passed..

Well, I guess we'll see if he can repeat in the upcoming Worlds. If he does, I'd say yes, the torch has clearly changed hands, changed a whole generation actually!

I was thinking about an A cat, but because of this kid, I'm thinking Wave!

;^)

Join the club! But you've still got that pack of old gray sharks just waiting for fresh meat, it might be a rough initiation.

World champion, Silver medalist and winner of the Redbull/AC youth series. He's not exactly a hack. Apparent wind sailing is similar rather it be on one hull or two. We all thought we were so

specialized

,maybe not. The AC seemed to tap into the skiff world more than the multihull world.

Timbo,
So if that old geezer Glenn Ashby had won, you'd have bought an A class?

Hey Todd, your still a young guy as far as I am concerned. Heading for Admirals cup in March , pick up newer boat.

I heard, congrats. Don't think I'll be able to make it, work.
There was definitely sarcasm in the geezer quote, although Jeremy was makin' alot of folks feel old at the Coconut Grove Invitational.

All right race fans, the worlds start today with a practice race at 13:00.

Still lots of tweaking going on in the boat park. This afternoon is the last chance you get to pick your foil/sail package and declare it for the worlds. I think most people are setting their boat up for low drag configuration. Long range forecast for the week shows it being a 10-15 week. There seems to be a subtle difference in foils for sub-15 knots vs 15+ knots. The guys that can actively adjust their foil AofA on the water may have an advantage if breeze comes on late in the day.

Forecast models are predicting 12-18 today, depending on whether you are using Meteo or WWO. (today's tip is check out weatherspark.com)

Here's a fine shot of the sunrise this morning.

Thanks mike, looking forward to hearing about what works.

Good luck Mike ,Kick some Kiwi A$$(Not Andrew). Lifting a Rum and coke to you now. That Weather Spark site looks awesome.
Thanks for the updates ,keep 'em coming when you can.

a-class-worlds-takapuna-equipment.

You can probably bet he also knows a thing or two about training, coaching, and preparation as well.