United States A-Cat Association (USACA)

There is a new A boat sailing. This probably comes as no surprise to many of you as we haven’t kept it a secret and photos are on the web. The idea of building another boat was generated about a year ago when my son, Ian, thought “we” should build a new boat. The last A I built was 18 years ago and sailed it in the 1988 Worlds. Ian always liked that platform and thought that todays, more powerful rigs could drive it to potential. I had to contact the designer of that boat, Richard Roake, to see if he had any ideas to improve that design. Little did I know he would put all his energy and hours of computer time into a brand new boat. The question was “If I design it will you build it?” My answer was “yes” and we were off and running. The combination of Roakes computer and my epoxy and sandpaper had worked twenty years ago and has worked well again. Ian knew what was good and what was bad from his sailing experience in A boats, 18 squares and a variety of other boats. Dad listened and since we had a brand new design we came up with a very unique build method for the boat. We strip planked a hull shape with 3/8” thick foam. The shape was achieved by using female building frames CNC cut from Roakes design. The shape was carboned with WEST System epoxy and we came out with an exceptionally stiff platform. New boards and rudders were designed and built as well. We used an existing rig of Hall Spars and Glasier sail so we could evaluate the new platform independent of a rig change. So far the performance has exceeded expectations. This boat just feels different underfoot. There is almost no pitch, great stability downwind, and excellent windward VMG. We believe the design premise of a more responsive hull has been achieved. We have built two boats (one has gone to Fred Smith, who gambled with us, right from the beginning) and will have a third built in time for the Worlds.

Contact:
John Lindahl (jlindahl_lcd@yahoo.com)
Ian Lindahl (ian_lindahl@yahoo.com)

All competitors racing the 2007 A-Class World Championship are asked to be
ready with the following SIGNED (by an approved IACA measurer) documentation
for the platform, rig, and sails they plan to enter:

1. IACA General Calculation Form


2. IACA Sail Measurement Form (s) for sail to be raced at event and any
   backup sail (some sailmakers are IACA approved measurers so check the tack
   of your sail to see if the measurements are there and signed by a measurer)


3. IACA Hull Measurement Form


4. IACA Mast and Boom Measurement Form (s) for mast and boom to be used
   and any backups


5. Copy of Insurance Policy (with $100K minimum liability coverage)

If you have all of the above, your measurement process will be simple and
fast and will consist of weighing your boat and stamping your equipment. If
you have any equipment you currently own and plan to race at this event that
is not measured, you should make every effort to get this done prior to
arrival to assist with expediting the measurement process and competitor
check-in.



If you have any questions about getting your equipment measured prior to
this championship, please contact Carla Schiefer at schiefers@earthlink.net
and she will advise you on how best to get it done. In the event you do have
equipment that will have to be measured at the event, it would be good to
let Carla know so she can plan the number and type of measurements that will
need to be done.



We appreciate everyone taking care of this prior to arrival in Islamorada.



Bob Hodges