all this info comes from the us website : www.usaca.info check this out for more info and pictures !
Pete Melvin is the 2004 A-Class North American Champion. The regatta was sailed September 14-17 in Traverse City, MI. Twenty eight competitors participated in the event in which 11 races were sailed. The first seven races were held in 12-22 knot westerly winds. The last day of racing featured four races in a 6-12 knot northeasterly.
Melvin won the event racing a new A2 platform that he personally designed with Jeremy Laundergan. The major components of the A2 (hulls, beams, foils) are built by Melvin and Morrelli. The boat is being marketed by Performance Catamaran which assembles the boat. Masts and booms are supplied by Hall Spars in Bristol, RI. While Pete won 7 of 11 races, other races were won by Peter Johnstone on a new Bimare XJ, Ben Hall on a beautifully restored first generation Egner Flyer, Bob Hodges on a 2002 Auscat Mk. V, and Phil Kinder on a 2002 Auscat Flyer. The remaining top five overall finishers (in order) were Phil Kinder, Ben Hall, Eric Marshack, and Peter Johnstone.
Information is Final
Regatta results saved: Friday, September 17, 2004 7:21:52 PM EDT
A-Class Catamaran · Grand Masters · Masters · Junior · Female
 Division: A-Class Catamaran (28 boats)
Pos
|
Sail
|
Skipper
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
Total
Points
|
Pos
|
1
|
US 69
|
Melvin, Pete
|
1
|
2
|
[4]
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
4
|
1
|
1
|
[29/DNS]
|
13.00
|
1
|
2
|
US 110
|
Kinder, Phil
|
2
|
[4]
|
2
|
2
|
4
|
4
|
2
|
[19]
|
2
|
2
|
1
|
21.00
|
2
|
3
|
US 99
|
Hall, Ben
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
5
|
[7]
|
3
|
[6]
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
33.00
|
3
|
4
|
US 197
|
Marshack, Eric
|
7
|
[29/DNF]
|
7
|
4
|
2
|
5
|
4
|
2
|
[8]
|
5
|
6
|
42.00
|
4
|
5
|
US 200
|
Johnstone, Peter
|
3
|
1
|
[29/OCS]
|
3
|
3
|
6
|
3
|
[9]
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
43.00
|
5
|
6
|
US 147
|
Hodges, Bob
|
8
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNF]
|
6
|
5
|
2
|
8
|
1
|
6
|
10
|
2
|
48.00
|
6
|
7
|
US 166
|
Cope, Woody
|
6
|
3
|
[29/DNF]
|
10
|
6
|
7
|
5
|
[28]
|
10
|
3
|
3
|
53.00
|
7
|
8
|
US 28
|
Anderson, Eric
|
10
|
6
|
3
|
7
|
9
|
11
|
[13]
|
7
|
[14]
|
7
|
7
|
67.00
|
8
|
9
|
US 140
|
Moss, Brett
|
[17]
|
11
|
9
|
9
|
8
|
9
|
7
|
6
|
[19]
|
11
|
12
|
82.00
|
9
|
10
|
US 192
|
Marshack, Ken
|
5
|
13
|
[29/DNF]
|
14
|
14
|
8
|
[17]
|
8
|
5
|
9
|
8
|
84.00
|
10
|
11
|
US 122
|
Schiefer, John
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNS
|
12
|
12
|
16
|
15
|
10
|
11
|
13
|
4
|
122.00
|
11
|
12
|
US 170
|
Mayo, Clive
|
11
|
7
|
5
|
17
|
16
|
[29/DNF]
|
10
|
[26]
|
22
|
18
|
16
|
122.00
|
12
|
13
|
US 135
|
Oliver, Tracy
|
13
|
10
|
[29/DNF]
|
15
|
10
|
14
|
12
|
18
|
15
|
[20]
|
15
|
122.00
|
13
|
14
|
US 138
|
Gruber, Mike
|
18
|
14
|
8
|
8
|
11
|
12
|
11
|
21
|
21
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
124.00
|
14
|
15
|
US 149
|
Gougeon, Jan
|
16
|
15
|
10
|
[29/DNS]
|
13
|
19
|
[29/DNS]
|
17
|
12
|
14
|
11
|
127.00
|
15
|
16
|
US 190
|
Webbon, Bob
|
9
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
11
|
29/DNS
|
13
|
14
|
14
|
4
|
6
|
29/DNS
|
129.00
|
16
|
17
|
US 7
|
Batchelor, Chris
|
14
|
[29/DNS]
|
6
|
16/DNF,RDG
|
[29/OCS]
|
10
|
9
|
12
|
16
|
25
|
21
|
129.00
|
17
|
18
|
US 128
|
Wallace, Mike
|
12
|
8
|
[29/DNF]
|
18
|
15
|
17
|
18
|
22
|
[25]
|
21
|
17
|
148.00
|
18
|
19
|
US 167
|
Carlson, Dave
|
21
|
9
|
12
|
21
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
[25]
|
18
|
[22]
|
19
|
154.00
|
19
|
20
|
US 112
|
Sellnau, Mark
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNS
|
19
|
18
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNS
|
5
|
9
|
12
|
10
|
160.00
|
20
|
21
|
US 186
|
Haines, Howard
|
19
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
20
|
19
|
15
|
16
|
23
|
20
|
17
|
13
|
162.00
|
21
|
22
|
US 191
|
Hamilton, Martin
|
15
|
[29/DNF]
|
11
|
16
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
16
|
13
|
19
|
29/DNS
|
177.00
|
22
|
23
|
US 121
|
Schiefer, Carla
|
20
|
12
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
20
|
23
|
16
|
20
|
198.00
|
23
|
24
|
US 173
|
Goritski, Danny
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
11
|
17
|
15
|
29/DNS
|
217.00
|
24
|
25
|
US 198
|
Gougeon, Meade
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
13
|
26
|
23
|
14
|
221.00
|
25
|
26
|
US 3065
|
Block, Peter
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
13
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
15
|
24
|
24
|
29/DNS
|
221.00
|
26
|
27
|
US 115
|
Thiessen, Robert
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNF
|
20
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
24
|
29/DNF
|
26
|
18
|
233.00
|
27
|
28
|
CAN 51
|
Smith, Fred
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
29/DNS
|
255.00
|
28
|
 Subdivision: Grand Masters (4 boats)
Pos
|
Sail
|
Skipper
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
Total
Points
|
Pos
|
1
|
US 167
|
Carlson, Dave
|
21
|
9
|
12
|
21
|
17
|
18
|
19
|
[25]
|
18
|
[22]
|
19
|
154.00
|
1
|
2
|
US 198
|
Gougeon, Meade
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
13
|
26
|
23
|
14
|
221.00
|
2
|
3
|
US 3065
|
Block, Peter
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
13
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
15
|
24
|
24
|
29/DNS
|
221.00
|
3
|
4
|
US 115
|
Thiessen, Robert
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNF
|
20
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
24
|
29/DNF
|
26
|
18
|
233.00
|
4
|
 Subdivision: Masters (10 boats)
Pos
|
Sail
|
Skipper
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
Total
Points
|
Pos
|
1
|
US 99
|
Hall, Ben
|
4
|
5
|
1
|
5
|
[7]
|
3
|
[6]
|
3
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
33.00
|
1
|
2
|
US 166
|
Cope, Woody
|
6
|
3
|
[29/DNF]
|
10
|
6
|
7
|
5
|
[28]
|
10
|
3
|
3
|
53.00
|
2
|
3
|
US 192
|
Marshack, Ken
|
5
|
13
|
[29/DNF]
|
14
|
14
|
8
|
[17]
|
8
|
5
|
9
|
8
|
84.00
|
3
|
4
|
US 122
|
Schiefer, John
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNS
|
12
|
12
|
16
|
15
|
10
|
11
|
13
|
4
|
122.00
|
4
|
5
|
US 138
|
Gruber, Mike
|
18
|
14
|
8
|
8
|
11
|
12
|
11
|
21
|
21
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
124.00
|
5
|
6
|
US 149
|
Gougeon, Jan
|
16
|
15
|
10
|
[29/DNS]
|
13
|
19
|
[29/DNS]
|
17
|
12
|
14
|
11
|
127.00
|
6
|
7
|
US 186
|
Haines, Howard
|
19
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
20
|
19
|
15
|
16
|
23
|
20
|
17
|
13
|
162.00
|
7
|
8
|
US 191
|
Hamilton, Martin
|
15
|
[29/DNF]
|
11
|
16
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
16
|
13
|
19
|
29/DNS
|
177.00
|
8
|
9
|
US 173
|
Goritski, Danny
|
[29/DNF]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
11
|
17
|
15
|
29/DNS
|
217.00
|
9
|
10
|
CAN 51
|
Smith, Fred
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNF
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
27
|
27
|
27
|
29/DNS
|
255.00
|
10
|
 Subdivision: Junior (1 boats)
Pos
|
Sail
|
Skipper
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
Total
Points
|
Pos
|
1
|
US 7
|
Batchelor, Chris
|
14
|
[29/DNS]
|
6
|
16/DNF,RDG
|
[29/OCS]
|
10
|
9
|
12
|
16
|
25
|
21
|
129.00
|
1
|
 Subdivision: Female (1 boats)
Pos
|
Sail
|
Skipper
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
Total
Points
|
Pos
|
1
|
US 121
|
Schiefer, Carla
|
20
|
12
|
[29/DNS]
|
[29/DNS]
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
29/DNS
|
20
|
23
|
16
|
20
|
198.00
|
1
|
Notes
- Scoring System is ISAF Low Point 2001-2004
- Finishes in [brackets] denote throwouts
- Time limit penalty is: DNF
Information is Final
Principal Race Officer: Eric Lind
Jury Chair: Bill Cheek
 September 17, 2004 - Race Day 4
The final day of racing at the 2004 A-Class North American Championship ended on an excellent high note. Four races were held on a cool, clear, and crisp day with north-northeast winds of 6-12 knots that kept the sailors in their trapezes upwind and at times flying a hull downwind.
In the first race, most of the fleet broke to the right side of the course but the race winning move was made by a group of four boats that played the left shore on the first beat. Bob Hodges fought off Ben Hall and Eric Marshack to take the win. In the second and third races, Pete Melvin and Phil Kinder battled for the race lead with Pete prevailing each time. The final race had an exciting battle among five boats with Phil Kinder finally notching a deserved race win followed closely by Bob Hodges. The final overall top five were Pete Melvin in first followed by Phil Kinder, Ben Hall, Eric Marshack, and Peter Johnstone.
Here is the equipment used by the top five overall finishers:
1st – A2, Ullman sail, Hall mast
2nd – Auscat Flyer, Ashby sail, Australian mast
3rd – Egner Flyer, Ullman sail, Hall mast
4th – Auscat Flyer, Goodall sail, Australian mast
5th – Bimare XJ, Ashby sail, Hall mast
This was the first championship win for the new Pete Melvin designed A2 platform that is now being distributed by Performance Catamaran. The hulls, beams, rudders, and daggerboards are manufactured by Melvin and Morelli, the mast by Hall Spars, and final assembly by Performance Catamaran. It is encouraging that another competitive A-class platform is now available to sailors but equally encouraging that the design appears to be a subtle step in A-class evolution. The fact that races were also won by an Egner Flyer, Bimare XJ, Auscat Flyer, and Auscat Mk. V show that sailors still have a good choice in competitive hull platforms. This is very good for the class. There is a lot of hope that the A2 concept will succeed in the United States (and abroad). This will be critically dependent upon several factors that will include optimization of the manufacturing and assembly process while still offering a complete or partial package at a competitive price.
Final thanks need to go to Mark Sellnau who was our regatta chairman and spent a lot of his time making sure the details worked at this event. The excellent race committee was headed by race PRO Eric Lind. Jan Gougeon did an excellent job as chief measurer while being assisted by Meade Gougeon, Carla Schieffer, Bob Webbon, Martin Hamilton, and Peter Block. A final thanks also goes to Mark Batchelor for getting sponsorship for the event from Maui Jim Sunglasses who donated several pairs of very nice polarized sport sunglasses and accessories for a raffle giveaway at the event.
See y’all next year at the Columbia River Gorge!
 Clinic Photos
 September 15-16, 2004 - Race Day 2-3
A-CLASS NORTH AMERICANS – Days 2 and 3
Five races were sailed over the last two days at the A-Class North American Championships in Traverse City, MI. On Wednesday, only one race was sailed in a 20-22 knot southwesterly with gusts to 27 knots. Today, four races were sailed in a 10-20 knot westerly (with some higher gusts).
Pete Melvin has taken charge of this event winning every race today. He is followed by Phil Kinder in second and Peter Johnstone in third. Ben Hall is in fourth followed by Eric Marshack in fifth.
Onshore, a class meeting was held with a decision to hold the 2005 North American Championship on the Columbia River Gorge near Portland, OR. The class also elected it’s 2005 officers. Bob Hodges is the new class president and Carla Schieffer was elected the class measurement “czarina”. Jeremy Laundergan remains the class information officer and Ben Hall will continue as the secretary/treasurer.
For you gearheads, here are the top five sailor’s equipment selections:
Pete Melvin – A2 platform, Hall mast, Ullman sail
Phil Kinder – Auscat Flyer, Australian mast, Ashby sail
Peter Johnstone – Bimare XJ platform, Bimare mast, Ashby sail
Ben Hall – Flyer platform, Hall mast, Ullman sail
Eric Marsack – Auscat Flyer platform, Australian mast, Goodall sail
The forecast for tomorrow is for 5-8 knots from the northeast and east. It is hoped to have three races to get a total of ten races so there will be two dropouts for some of the sailors who had bad luck in the heavy conditions over the last three days.
 September 14, 2004 - Race Day 1
The A-Class North American Championship started today from Traverse City, MI with two very windy races on Grand Traverse Bay. In the first race, the southwest breeze was blowing 16-19 knots with gusts in the mid 20’s. In the second race, the gusts were up to 28 knots according to the race committee. Fortunately, there was only one mishap in the 28 boat fleet when one sailor got hammered by a vicious gust downwind in the second race and broke his mast.
Past North American champion Pete Melvin is leading the event with a first and second sailing a brand new NACRA A2 platform. One point behind is class newcomer Peter Johnstone with a first and third sailing the new Bimare XJ. The top five is rounded out by Phil Kinder with a 2nd and 4th and a tie for fourth between Ben Hall and Woody Cope each with 9 points.
The weather forecast for tomorrow is nearly the same except racing will start one hour earlier than was scheduled today. Today’s racing was scheduled to start at 12 noon. The sailors knew it was windy and the race committee reported 23 knot gusts on the race course at 11:45 AM. It was decided to postpone for two hours to see if the wind would moderate. After that window was up, it appeared that the breeze had dropped to a more manageable 15-18 knots but by the time the fleet was on the water, it picked back up.
Four races were scheduled for today, it is hoped to do at least three tomorrow, four on Thursday, and 2-3 on Friday. Stay tuned!
 September 13, 2004 - Beach Scene and Boat Measurement & Setup
We did a lot of boat measurements on Sun and Monday, while the fleet setup on the beach. Wind was light all day Sun until about 3pm when we had a nice breeze fillin from the North. About 20 boats got time on the water to tune and test their boatspeed. Beautiful venue with clean beaches and spectatular water. Had a cruise ship park in our race area only to leave by 6pm that day, whew!.
Monday night, measurement and registration finished and we had a pizza /beer welcoming party under the tent. Racing to begin Tuesday with a Committee meetng at 10am, racing at 12noon. 28 boats are entered.
|