2022 A Class Europeans

The 2022 A Class Worlds in Lake Garda , Italy provided a range of conditions mostly moderate to fresh , with a couple for the Classic fleet of +25 knots and difficult waves.

Class rules say maximum 22 knots but this is sometimes overlooked in the pursuit of getting the races in.

 

The course quite 'normal' for Garda considering the area of lake selected for racing , being mostly right hand side favoured.

 

The Classic fleet Race 1 started in light wind with a couple of big shifts before the south wind settled in and young German sailor Mortiz Weiss was 1st.

Race 2 Scott Anderson led until about 100m from finish but again it was Weiss in 1st with better downwind speed.

Races 3 and 4 in stronger wind Anderson led the whole way.

The later part of the regatta was windy and in final analysis it was Anderson , Weiss , then Spanish sailors Gustavo Dorreste and  Kike Cornejo.

And good to see the Classics close racing and 'older' boat designs still competitive .

 

 

In the Foiling Division there were plenty of stars but it was Steve Brewin who emerged the Nr 1 with a strong final race and consistent placings throughout.

Misha Heemskerk was second and Jakub Surowiec 3rd

 

 

In terms of material , below a list of top Foilers:

 

1^st       Steve Brewin              Exploder 2022/Brewin sail

Fiberfoam T6.3 Tapered mast

 

2^nd      Mischa Heemskerk     DNA F1/Mischa sail

Fiberfoam T6.5 mast

 

3^rd        Jakub Surowiec          Exploder /Bryt sail/

Fiberfoam T6.3 mast

 

And for the Classics :

 

1st Scott Anderson

Nikita 2012 / North DS sail / Fiberfoam Untapered mast

 

2nd Moritz Weiss

Exploder / Felix Egner Landenberger DS sail / Fiberfoam Untapered mast

 

3rd Gustavo Dorreste

Exploder / Hammer DS sail / Fiberfoam T6.3 Tapered mast

 

 

Nine of top 10 inluding winners of both fleets used Fiberfoam Sailbattens.

Fiberfoam masts - either Untapered or Tapered filled the top 10 in both fleets.

 

The Class remains strong and since 2018 now has two stand-alone classes , the ‘Classic’ A Class and ‘Open’ A Class .

 

This is the result of the Class listening to its sailors worldwide , many of whom expressed a desire to remain non-foiling.

 

The Classic A Class is straight or curved foils, and sailied with at least one hull in the water in the course of normal sailing.

 

This has proved great for the Class , encompassing a large number of sailors , many of whom do not have the time to master foiling or keep up with foiling developments , plus who simply enjoy classic sailing.

 

The next worlds in Toulon , France in September 2023 , with unrestricted number of entries is generating lots of enthusiasm.