It was back to business as usual today after the sailor’s traumas of Tuesday.  The overnight high winds from the Northeast had left a decent bit of chop though, and this was arriving onshore to scare people, not to mention also leaving big chunks of palm tree bark scattered about the boatpark.  The committee decided for these waves to quieten down a little before hoisting the Delta flag for the Classics to allow them onto the beach at about 1pm.

Sailing, in common with most sports, can both delight and disappoint in equal measure.  Today was one of those days at the 2026 A-Cat European Championships, at the FRVM centre in Los Alcazares.  The day was the usual day the sailors had become accustomed to.  Warm morning sun, the buzzsaw noise of the future pilots of the Spanish Air Force being taught to fly at the San Javier Air Base, and a gentle but steadily building breeze from the East, so onshore.  This could then have a sea breeze component added go give a wonderful 12-14 kts of loveliness.

On the warm waters of Spain’s Mar Menor, the International A-Class Catamaran Association is holding the European Championships this week, the excellent and accommodating hosts are the FVRM organisation and their base at Los Alcázeras.  From the boat pits to the launching area is a mere 100m with plenty of rigging room on the beach. Two courses set with 3 races on the first day.    

The European Championships starts to get serious now at the FVM centre in Los Alcázeras on the wonderful waters of the Spanish Mar Menor lagoon.  Sunday saw the official practice race prior to tomorrow’s event start, at 14:00 we are told, but wind dependent of course.  However, even a few days here teaches you that the wind tends to be lovely and reliable, as the decent sea breeze starts to kick in at about 12:30 to add to whatever base Easterly wind was blowing in.

Champagne training continues on the bath-warm Mar Menor lagoon waters.  Many sailors took to the course for training and practice, and a practice top gate was again set up.  This was made use of by the random flocks of A-Cats that seemed to coalesce, rather in the manner of starlings, and sweep about the waters.  The top gate is a new introduction to the big events for a year long trial that also covers the Worlds in November.

Things are starting to happen at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo del Mar Menor “Infanta Cristina”, or FVRM for short.  Sailors arriving, boats being assembled and readied, modifications being carried out, and much, much talking with old friends last seen a year ago, or with new guys just entering this friendly class and all under the hot Spanish sun, with it's frequent interruptions caused by the Spanish Airforce training it's next generation of fighter pilots at the very nearby San-Javier air base.  The place is pretty idillic really.

Following on the big footsteps of Michael Christiansen, as his tenure comes to it's end, Patrick Stadt has been elected as US fleet President at this important time, with the Worlds due in Tampa, in November.

Some 50 miles East of St Louis, is the Carlyle Reservoir, and the venue of the North American Championships this year, hosted by the Carlyle Sailing Association.  IACA President Bailey White reports.  

Regatta Report: High-Performance Catamarans Shred the waters at the CSA North American Championships

We are only a short time away from the A-Cat European Championships again, and several sailors are onsite already.  Geography and demographics are the trigger for when the Championships to be held. If the Worlds are being held outside Europe, it gets its own championships.  This year the Worlds are to be held in November at Tampa, Florida, so for the first time for the class in recent years, Spain has a major A-class event at the spar and resort town of Los Alcázares, racing on the sheltered waters of the Mar Menor lagoon, South of Alicante.

The Italia Cup, hosted by the Fraglia Vela Malcesine is a highlight of the Garda A-Cat season, and this year is a great warm up for sailors looking towards the A-Cat European Championship 2026 Mar Menor. Chris Stock had fun on our behalf, and reports.