The explosion of interest in the C-Class has happened almost too fast to keep up with, and with the announcement that both Franck Cammas and Michel Desjoyeaux are bringing their own teams to the 2013 Little AC, interest is building fast for this ultimate development class.
Willy Clark gives us the story on who’s who, what’s where, and who’s coming to the show. From Clarksail, with a photo of Aethon from Sam Moore and more here.
The United States -“The Cogito Project”
Boats: Aethon, Cogito
The standard bearer of American C-Class sailing since 1996 Steve Clark’s team has USA 105 “Aethon” fully functional while USA 104 “Cogito” is moving toward the water. The 104 spar that was destroyed in 2010 has been stitched back together and is currently being detailed at Guck Inc. Meanwhile Clark is also considering altering the surfaces on the 105 wing during the winter. Barring setbacks both boats will compete in Falmouth in 2013.
Canada -“Team Canada”
Boats: Canaan, Fill Your Hands
Fred Eaton’s squad, having sold CAN 4 “Alpha” to France still has the defending champion CAN 6 “Canaan” fully functional and prepared for Falmouth. The platform for CAN 7 “Fill Your Hands” is finished as are designs for a new wing. The team is contemplating building a new wing over the winter.
Switzerland -“Hydros”
Boats: Hydros 1, 2
The Swiss team is currently in the midst of two builds, one of which will be a foiler built using L’Hydroptere technology. The first set of hulls are already out of the mold and least one of the Swiss boats will be sailed in Quiberon, France in May at the 2013 C-Class Cup. The team plans to race both boats in Falmouth and expects to be in England as early as July for training.
Italy -“Challenge Italia”
Boats: Challenge 1, 2
Roberto Grippi’s group based in Palermo, Sicily intend to build four platforms with the first hitting the water in January and the second in March. At least two of the Italian boats will be sailed in Falmouth, one by Luna Rossa’s Francesca Bruni, with a third possibly sailed by another Italian group that are high on enthusiasm but currently low on funding.
France -“Challenge France”
Boats: PL VI, Potential CF 1
Sponsored by ABM Manutention, Benjamin Muyl’s program Challenge France has been sailing “Patient Lady VI” for the past two summers and are pursuing sponsorship for their next generation C-Class build.
“Franck Cammas Racing”
Boats: Alpha, FC1
Partially backed by Groupama, Frank Cammas Racing has acquired CAN 6 “Alpha” from the Canadians and plans to race in both Quiberon and Falmouth. Construction of their own design is currently under way and Cammas expects to be ready for the water in plenty of time for Quiberon.
“Mer Agitee”
Boat: Mer Agitee
Michel Desjoyeaux’s squad has also announced it’s entry into the class. Having already developed their wing prototype and tested them aboard Nacra 18′s the build is already well in progress. Desjoyeaux has not committed to the Quiberon event but expects to be ready in more than enough time for Falmouth.
England -“Team Invictus”
Boat: Team Invictus
The longest standing C-Class team outside of the United States, the British are currently having their new wing constructed at a Portuguese shop in Cascais in exchange for their wing design. The team plans to use their existing Invictus platform in Falmouth with a new wing and foil set
