A-Class Australian Nats 2018: Day 1 report by Ben Hall

All images taken by Ben Hall , click pics for slidehow and orig size. – Report & pics by living Legend Ben Hall (aka The Admiral) and sent by US Class Assoc. Recognition to the US A-AClass Assoc as they were indeed the first implementing the now called “Classic” rankings in the US. Nowadays the IACA has officially adopted the two fleet concept and they are even getting separate fleets courses within same event.

Text and photos descriptions by Ben Hall:
-First pic above: The Admiral with two of the sponsors who have adopted USA 99 as there “boat to follow”. Good idea for Emmanuel for 2020 as this has given the sponsors a chance to be more involved. Great guys…hope I can do them proud
-2nd: Mischa with new DNA foils
-3rd: Red A is Classic flag. Black is foilers.
-4th : Benny Hooper putting on Worlds 2020 sticker
-5th pic: Matt Keenan pulling off old stickers…ready for bow numbers. Matt is sailing Mike Krantz’s Foiler. Mike will be sailing Emmanuel’s new Exploder Classic…musical boats

-Exploder custom TNZ rudders setup: “ETNZ rudder adjustment system…not as trick as DNA but has ability to set angle of attacks for lift and downforce for upwind foiling. Glenn, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke using this system. It was like monster garage watching them blast through this mod.

-Glenn polishing the Exploder D3
-Last: Brucie fitting rudders on DNA (Glenn’s boat but Bruce sailing it)

First day for the 2018/19 Australian Nats : 
Shortly after the flags shot the AP flag went up and never came down. Too much wind…gusts to 28 kts….so special briefing outlined tomorrow’s schedule.

Classics will start at 9:30 and have 3 races ( and an option for 2 laps). After Classics finish the Foilers will have 3 races on the same course. Reason for sailing on the more inshore course is that the wind and seas are lower. Wind tomorrow is close to the same as today so hopefully we can get some racing in!!

Lots of great banter in the boat park about foils, rudders, Classic rule, sails and masts.
A lot of positive vibes on the general health of the class…lots of new young sailors.

We in the US have definitely lead the way in the Classic division. Europe is slowly catching on. Exploder has made a nice Classic and now DNA will make a Classic model which will use many of the same components as their slick foiler but with much simpler systems to keep the cost down.

Hopefully have a racing report tomorrow.
Cheers from Oz
The Admiral
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