With the A-Cat Worlds 2024 entries for Italy, having now closed, we have 184 boats. I’ll just say that again, we have 184 boats! This is probably the largest single class multihull event in the World this year and it’s also one of largest cat fleets assembled outside of the Texal race this year too! In fact, that’s bigger than all the combined boat fleets at the Olympics!
So yet again, the most beautiful people from the A-Class Cat world, will be gathering to sail on the Mediterranean Sea. This time, the circus has moved eastwards from the Toulon event of last year, to the sandy Italian shores of Tuscany and to the Puntala Camp & Resort, opposite the island of Elba and about an hour and a half or so South of Pisa. This place has history for the A’s as the fleet was last here some 9 years ago. The winner of that event was one Glenn Ashby, who being chased by Mischa Heemskerk, together they showed the world that a proper foiling A-Cat could be a thing.
The previous largest A-Class fleet ever at a Worlds event was also at Punta Ala in 2015, with 155 boats, splitting into 2 fleets, and with the top halves of each fleet joined together, after the first 2 days racing, into a Gold and Silver fleet system.
It was also at that 2015 event that the landmark vote took place, at that year’s WGM, on abolition of the famous class rule 8. (Daggerboards to be inserted from the top etc). It was voted to be retained by a mere 0.3% majority in favour of the retention the rule, based on the IACA rules sensibly requiring a 2/3rd majority for any rule change. I mention this because it had a significant effect upon stabilising the class’s future and ultimately led to the class becoming the twin fleet we see today, with the Open (Foiling) and Classic (Non Foiling) categories now officially designated by World Sailing.
The fleet subsequent history is well documented, and a whole host of foil shapes and versions arrived. Glenn and Mischa had raced on the J shaped foils. These tricky early boards proved so successful speedwise, when sailed by highly skilled operatives, that in one early qualification race, Mischa slowed right down on his last finishing leg in order not to render the vast majority of his fleet DNF due to being timed out at the finish.
This year, PuntAla will host sailors, from 20 different nations, and with a rough equal Classic/Open category split. The home Italian fleet leads the boat numbers, with some 41 boats, and Germany is next sending 26 or so.
As far as the conditions go, it’s a lovely venue, with that Isle of Elba on the horizon. Sandy beach, with no obstacles or rocks. There can be a bit of beach break, but there are plenty of waterproof helpers about. The sea is reasonably deep, so no short, sharp chop to cope with.
They will all meet up next month at the lovely Tuscan beach resort, with its dunes, sands and pine forests, and scattered with lovely little chalets and vans, wonderful eateries, and cold Prosecco and Limoncello coming from the taps. It will be hell, but these sailors will take one for the team and battle through somehow.
Now, let’s have a look at a few runners and riders.
Classic Fleet
This fleet is usually hard fought and with plenty of physically close action and place swapping throughout the fleet. This is the reason it is the most popular version of the A-Cat, as it can accommodate most sailors both in terms of physical ability, and in terms of its affordability.
The reigning champion, veteran Olympian Scott Anderson, AUS 31, will be keen to defend the crown he regained at Toulon after a 37 year gap. The wily old fox had never scored lower than a 5th in France. But this year, and we know his prep is second to none, Scotty’s big thing again will need to be his consistency. A string of seconds and the odd bullet could see the championship retained if someone else has one or two bad races. However, is likely to be up against one of probably two others. The reigning European Champ is Spaniard Gustavo Doreste ESP 72. Gustavo lost out to Scotty in Toulon on countback, after a bad 2nd race, held in debatable minimum conditions and left him with a 10th place, but which also rendered many other top sailors haemorrhaging points. He really is Mr Steady, although he isn’t as happy in the really high-end stuff, which allows the ‘larger gentlemen’ in the fleet to prosper, he can still hang in for a decent finish.
The other threat is likely to be the triple Classic World Champ, and another Olympian, Andrew Landenberger, AUS 308. Landy had a poor 2023 Worlds start, and a DNF in race 5. But then he really hit his stride with bullets in all the remaining five races, and if this happens again, I feel he’s pretty much unstoppable. Plus he has changed boats recently, moving from the Exploder Ad3 he won his championships with, although he was never really totally happy with that platform, so he has moved back to his beloved Scheurer designs and has the latest version for Puntala. All being well for him, do probably expect a podium place again.
If the conditions are permitting, i.e. not blasting to Garda-like levels, we might expect to see the young German sailor Mortiz Wies, GER 121, to be up among the front runners. The reigning GER Nat Champ is, like all the Southern German sailors, a superb light wind specialist and this likeable 22 year old Swabian lad has been seen to leave many of the class luminaries far behind in his wake. With the recent sad passing of his mentor Matthias Dietz, and who, along with his buddy George Reutter, GER 2, were always to be found at the front in the light stuff. I do feel Moritz has a Championship in him at some point. But also look out for last year’s no.8 finisher Lars Bunkenburg GER 31 on his Nikita. His form in recent events could show he is up for it again. Then also another to watch out for is that quiet Italian (yes they do exist!) Marco Radman, ITA 55. Marco was World No. 5 in Toulon and will, no doubt be looking to repeat that form in his home waters.
With a large USA/CAN contingent of 14 boats registered, and led the ‘Admiral’ himself, Ben Hall, USA 99, a US sailing legend. We could expect to see former US Nat Classic Champion, Bob Webbon, USA 165, battling it out at the top part of the fleet, together with his fellow countrymen Bobby Orr, USA 4, Woody Cope, USA 310, Ken Marshack, USA 192 and that ever-cheerful Mike Kranz, USA 007, who is looking to better his top 20 finish from Toulon. It’s good to see so many North American sailors outside their home waters this time, and particularly for their less internationally travelled sailors. It’s a really good way for them to calibrate their performance, and all fleets will benefit as a result.
In the light stuff, the big lads will always suffer, regardless of their skills, it’s just physics. But if the wind is up, although the top three or so should cope, keep an eye out for the likes of ‘The Big Swede’ Alberto Farnesi, SWE 59. He is a monster in a blow and his boat, the well suited Marstom M5, is a perfectly chosen mount for the larger gentleman. His third in that exciting final Toulon day was testament to this. Also, that quiet, reflective and rather fast Scotsman, Hugh MacGregor, GBR 18, needs watching in the big stuff on his beautifully configured Tool. He’ll be looking at challenging another Scotsman, Micky Todd, ESP 7, who thrives in the mid ranges, but has the experience to manage the ends too, and his 11th at Toulon proves that.
A few fast others to mention could be former BEL Nat Champ, Astrid Janssens, BEL 17, is the only woman in the Classic fleet, but she knows her way around a course quickly and can certainly show the lads how. From Italy’s neighbour, we have 12 boats from France, and their largely Classic fleet. Top among then is likely to be the multiple F-16 champion, Emmanual Le Chapelier, FRA 399, who would be looking to get into the top ten in this strong fleet, improving on this 14th at Toulon. And it will be great to welcome back everyone’s friend, the great Polish sailor, and the man who drove the class in his country, Jacek Noetzel, POL 1. This year, he has moved away from his previous foiling boat this time and is now on an Exploder Classic, so do expect to encounter him up near the leaders too. He is reported to already beating the Open Champ Kuba upwind in training.
Open Fleet
It feels like in the very top of this huge 91 boat fleet looks a little less easy to call than the Classics. No one sailor, other than Mischa maybe, has dominated the fleet for long since Glenn Ashby left for us for even greater and faster glory, if that were possible. The design arms race has pretty much finished, at least for now, although gains can be made by relatively small design alterations, these remain small and it is really techniques that will determine the winner, together with a dose of luck as ever.
The reigning Champ, Kuba Surowiec, POL 41, is there to keenly defend his hard-won crown. And hard won it was indeed, as in the Classic fleet, only a few points separated the top riders going into that epic, full-on conditions final race. A capsize by Mischa, NED 007, at the first bottom mark saw the young Pole manage to put enough boats between them to clinch Championship victory despite falling off himself. Of course, old Mischa isn’t going to go away. He’ll be back chasing as he always does and no doubt, he’ll turn up with some secret weapon up his sleeve to try and be looking to get his 4th World title. Hunting both, is likely to be a trio of Aussies. Darren Bundock, AUS 88, won that last race and no-one looked more comfortable and so totally planted in those lumpy, gusty conditions than Bundy. The multiple Tornado, Olympic and America’s cup sailor would love to add this to his extensive trophy cabinet as he is a top 5 finisher in all the A-Cat Worlds he has sailed, but has always been the bridesmaid, and this prize has always eluded him, but maybe this year?
The other two antipodeans are triple WC Stevie Brewin and AUS Nat Champ Adam Beattie. All three are sailing on Lake Macquarie, North of Sydney, a hotbed of sailing quality, both could be capable of taking the crown from Kuba. Stevie needs to avoid the kit failures that have dogged him occasionally in the past, whereas Adam in particular, is currently blisteringly quick. Whether this can be translated to ITA waters and he can win the big points though, remains to be seen. They lead a fleet of 14 boats.
Another former champ is Ravi Parent, USA 76. He’ll be there but carries an unfortunate and slow mending knee meniscus injury sustained a few months back and thinks he might not be on his superfast best form. The Swiss team of 16 boats are led by National Champion, Robin Maeder, SUI 007. He is looking fast, particularly in the lighter stuff. Sailing on his Swiss lakes, his light wind early foiling abilities could rival Kuba’s, leaving the rest to just float and watch, much to the amusement of onlookers.
From the home team, with their 16 foiling boats, a few of sailors also spring to mind as top finishers. Lamberto Cesare, ITA 13, was World No. 10 at Toulon, and has performed at the highest end in recent National circuit events. He is part of the elite Italian A-Cat training group known as The Squad, with Paulo Penco, ITA 3, Giuseppe Colombo, ITA 72, Piccado Giulano, SUI 14, Paulo Mangialardo, ITA 23, Goivanni Fantasia, ITA 969 and their newest recruit, hotshot Marco Anessi, ITA 7. We have seen Lamberto go fast at Garda events, but Marco has yet to be really tested properly in a strong international field. Holding regular training meetings at different venues, The Squad aim to improve their racing and exchanging ideas, so we hope to see the results next month. (They are not to be confused, incidentally, with The Calamaro, a delicious delicacy available at Puntala’s restaurants…)
Expect to see few other Flying Dutchmen too. The Dutch always bring a strong team, this year their 8 boats are led by Mr DNA, Peiterjan (PJ) Dwarshuis, NED 28 and Thijss Visser, NED 33, both will be hunting in a pack. PJ was never seen happier than when he won the 5th race in Toulon, so should be hoping he can do it again at least one more time. Also, there is a very strong German team, with some 16 foiling boats this year. Among them are former National Champs Bob Baier, GER 14, and Alex Meister, GER 27, and they are supported by Roeland Wentholt, GER 95 and Rainer Bohrer, GER 6, all of whom are no strangers to podium finishes in international meetings.
Also flying the Stars and Stripes in the catagory, USA multiple National Champ Bruce Mahoney, USA 311, is joined by Bailey White, USA 320, who had a great Toulon with a 9th, and Michael Christiansen, USA 37, who is also more than capable of disrupting the party, or any party for that matter. The 13 boats of the Spanish team bring the ebullient Toni Ballester, ESP 75 and Manolo Calavia, ESP 11. Toni had a good 2023 Worlds, but stumbled in the 7th and 8th races, and finished in 14th, so will be hoping lightning won’t strike twice. Former Euro Champ Manolo was going extremely well at Toulon until that ill fated race 7th race DNF set a seal on the proceedings, with DNC in all the subsequent races. He finished 21st. A few Vikings are raiding the Med again this year. A strong 7-man team led by Tom Bojland, DEN 77 and Thomas Paasch, DEN 1. Tom just missed out on a top ten last year in a well sailed campaign, and Thomas’ current form sees him going like a train. And let us not forget the class Greek God, the multiple Tornado champion and long-time GRE Olympic sailor Konstantinos Trigonis. He has been away from the class big events for a couple of years but will be hugely welcomed back in Italy. Other notable singletons are fixtured on the circuit, the popular sailors CHZ sailor Vladislav Ptasnik, CHZ 1, and FIN Matti Niemenen, FIN 1, can both finish well.
French foiling honour, in this Olympic year, is upheld again by Emmanuel Dode, FRA 2. Hoping not to repeat the Toulon experience, where he suffered max point penalties in his first 3 races, he came good with an 8thand a 9th in the subsequent series. And this year again in this category, we have a trio of good women racers. The US SailGP tactician Cam Farrah, USA 426, and light wind horse whisperer Katrin Brunner GER 15. Cam, who has sailed the A-Cat since she was about this big, was a creditable 16th last year and could have been higher had she had not suffered the 7th/8th race curse of so many. And watch Katrin should the wind go light, as her ballerina physique will play very well in those conditions and her long years in the class will come to count yet again, and the Swiss sailor Caroline Jacot, a sailor of great experience, seen in many fleets.
With this many boats, these Worlds are a proper statement by this catamaran class, at least, is still very relevant. This year will be the stuff of legend. And rest assured, unlike some recent other sailing events that feature an all or nothing final race, in this event, the sailor who actually accrues the fewest points will be the actual Champion. It could well be EPIC!
Helping making the event possible are our generous sponsors: WIP Water Protection, Chi-Chi Wines, Challenger Sails and Alpes SRL, and organised by PuntAla Camp & Resorts and the International A-Division Catamaran Association. The event runs from 7th to 14th Sept, with an Italian National event as a warm-up the weekend before.
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