De-recognized A Class - Register to Revive

MISS SEATTLE - Photo by Dave Stedman
Rod Carr - Skipper

Description

In Oct 2000 the AMYA A class lost it's AMYA Class Recognition as it had been over two years without 20 or more members registered with A class boats.  These boats are now considered to be part of the AMYA Open Class and can attain Class Recognition when enough members register boats in the Open Class as A class boats.

In 1922 the British magazine "Yachting Monthly" offered a challenge cup for international competition using sailing models in design testing. The rating rule under which the yachts were built was created by Major Malden Heckstall-Smith, the editor of Yachting Monthly at the time. Known originally as the "Yachting Monthly Six Meter," the rule was intended to produce yachts similar to the International Six Metre Class at 1:6 scale. The mainsail, foretriangle height and batten lengths were originally taken directly from that rule but the basic rating formula is similar to the International Five Point Metre Class. The class was adopted by the Model Yachting Association and later renamed the International A Class. From this early beginning, the International A Class Rule was adopted and actively sailed as part of the Model Yacht Racing Association of America (MYRAA) along with the Marblehead and 10 Rater. Enthusiasts such as John Black, J.C. Potter, Bill Bithell, and others produced many designs and actively raced in this country and overseas.

Unlike many of the classes in AMYA, the A Class rule has experienced few changes over the years. The boats designed to the rule were basically similar in appearance with a fully faired keel that usually extended to the rudder. But, with time comes changes and innovations in design, materials and ideas.  Boats designed now are much lighter, faster and easier to build than the plank and frame or bread and butter hulls of old. Boats can be built using fiberglass, kevlar, carbon fiber and wood; the sails are made of dacron or mylar. For steering we now use radios capable of controlling practically every part of the boat rather than the pre-set Braine or vane steering gear. No longer is a crewmember required to sail the boat while following it down the pond with a "fending pole" to prevent it from "running aground". For more information about free sailing visit the USVMYJ web site at: (http://www.swcp.com/usvmyg)

The rule allows the designer/builder to create a boat according to the weather conditions in various parts of the world.  For example, on the East Coast of the U.S., the boats average 68 to 72 inches in length, waterlines are 45 to 48 inches, a sail area of 1700 square inches and displacement of 30 to 45 lbs.  A boat built in England averages 68 to 78 inches in length, has a waterline of 49 to 55 inches, a sail area of about 1500 square inches and weighs 50 to 75 lbs.  A boat built in the U.S. would not be a good choice to sail in England as it would be overpowered and uncontrollable in the high winds.  Conversely, an English boat would be underpowered in the winds experienced on the East Coast. There are no limitations to the materials used in construction and no limitations to sail control by radio. Unlike the sensitive and quirky Marbleheads, the AMYA A Class boat is easy to sail and is very stable when properly trimmed.  Its size, weight and inertia resembles a full size boat which looks very elegant on the water.

A measurement certificate is required to properly register the boat for racing in National and Regional events. For club racing, a certificate is not required but the designer/builder is encouraged to measure his/her boat and complete a certificate. As a member of the A Class you will receive a sail number and the opportunity to vote on the issues concerning the AMYA A Class. Books containing plans, lines and offsets can usually be found in your local library, used book stores and vendors who sell plans or you may design your own using pencil and paper, sketches or CAD.

[Note: The AMYA A class rule is not identical to the International A Class rule.]