America’s Cup vibe extends to A-Class Worlds

The waters of the Hauraki Gulf off Takapuna Beach in New Zealand have seen many yachting contests over the years, including the 30th and 31st America’s Cup. Next month the A-Class Catamaran World Championship will gather in Takapuna for what arguably will be the strongest fleet to ever contest the title.

Also on display will be foiling solutions, with variations of J-boards and C-boards in use. Invariably the Worlds will also be a proving ground for those sailors seeking a role in the next America’s Cup. Here’s a preview report by Bob Griffits…

The fleet which that gathers for the Pre-Worlds (Feb 6-8) and Worlds (Feb 11-16) will very much be a contest between the professional sailors, and the talented amateurs. The professionals will be largely drawn from the Emirates Team New Zealand, with a strong input also from the helmsman of the Artemis AC 72. The amateurs will be drawn from both the class stalwarts, some of whom have sailed in the class for years, as well as some recently signed-up emerging talent.

Headlining the field is Glenn Ashby, 10 time Australian, 7 time World A Cat Champion, Olympic Silver Medallist, and the Wing trimmer on the ETNZ AC 72. Glenn reconfirmed his A Class status by winning the recent Australian Titles.

Nathan Outteridge will be making his 5th appearance in a major A Cat regatta. He has already won a New South Wales title, and was runner up to Glenn in the star studded Aussie Championship of 2011, an event in which he left Brewin, Spithill, Slingsby, Landenberger, and Anderson in his wake. Nathan has recently signed up with another America’s Cup Campaign with Artemis. He enjoys sailing in the class for its good racing, and skill development. He will be sailing Glenn Ashby’s spare boat.

Dean Barker will be making his first appearance at an A Cat World’s, although he has previously sailed the boat in Australian National Titles. His AC 72 team tactician, Ray Davies will be making his A Cat racing debut. Several of the ETNZ design team members will also have the opportunity to take on their sailing team members. Luc Du Bois, a performance analyst, first with Alinghi, and then ETNZ, has always sailed well, and has been at the cutting edge of catamaran sailing technological innovation.

Pete Melvin, hull designer and analyst in ETNZ, also knows his A Cats well, having previously won the A Cat World Title twice. Nat Shaver (foil design and analysis) will be having his first year in the class.

Peter Burling and Blair Tuke have been singled out by Glenn as ones to watch. They are the London Olympic 49er Silver medallist’s and current World Champions, as well as the Youth America’s Cup winners on the AC 45. They have just signed up with ETNZ for the next America’s Cup match.

Mischa Heemskerk, the 2012 A Class World Champion, will be defending the title that he won in Islamorada, Florida. In 2013, Mischa was heavily involved in the “Hydros” International C Class Catamaran project, and has accumulated many hours experience of these foiling designs. It will be interesting to see how all that experience translates to flying on his DNA design with its “J” shaped centreboards. He should do very well, particularly if it is windy series.

Challenging the professional’s is quite a large pool of talented amateurs, including some whom have acquired an Olympic medal along the way. The current top performer in this group is Steve Brewin, twice World Champion, current European Champion, and the chap who sailed bow to bow around the course with Glenn Ashby at the recent Aussie Nationals. Steve is a full time builder, and a sail maker in his spare time.

Andrew Landenberger, who has an Olympic Silver medal in the trophy cabinet, as well as a number of podium finishes in European and World A Cat titles, will be taking a break from his sheep and cattle farming duties to compete in Takapuna. Always the innovator, it will be interesting to see what hardware Landy turns up with in NZ.

1984 Olympic bronze medallists Scott Anderson and Chris Cairns, now class veterans, continue to perform well, particularly in the light to moderate conditions, and should figure in the top group.

The emerging talent group includes Stephen Brayshaw and Adam Beattie, whom have been shining in the Australian regattas. Both are very strong and agile, and are able to drive their boats hard when the going gets heavy.

Leading a numerically strong German contingent is Thilo Keller, the current German and Dutch Champion, a talented naval architect, who will be sailing his own “Arrow Design”. This design has already drawn many accolades, both in Europe, and Down Under.

The most distant traveller will be Thomas Paasch from Denmark, another strongly performing amateur on his Nikita design.

The United States will be well represented, with nine boats making the trip down under across the Pacific. The US talent pool includes Lars Gluck, Ben Moon, and Ben Hall.

The Kiwis are renowned for their yachting organisational skills and hospitality, and this regatta should be a remarkable event both on and off the water.