http://www.sail-world.com/Europe/Pieces-in-motion-at-C-Class-Summit/103788
With the 2013 International C-Class Catamaran Championship in Falmouth, England less than nine months away, C-Class Catamaran enthusiast from six countries met at Rhode Island’s Bristol Yacht Club on the weekend of November 10th. With the Class growing at an unprecedented rate, and interest from Italy, Switzerland, and France joining the class renaissance started in the United States, Canada and England, International Chairman Steve Clark called for a summit in early November to discuss all things C-Class. After almost two days of discussion and deliberation one thing is clear – the C-Class game is afoot.
From 1960 to 1996 the C-Class Catamaran was dominated by an event similar in format to the America’s Cup, in fact the International C-Class Catamaran Challenge Trophy came to be known as the 'Little America’s Cup' because it was conceived along the same lines. However the restrictions of the event were not conducive to class growth. A yacht club would issue a formal challenge to the current holder of the cup, and the winner was determined by a best of seven series at the defender’s preferred location.
In the 60s and 70s the format worked brilliantly – the Cup was in England and teams from Australia and the United States challenged every year. However the format of the racing inhibited the defender’s ability to promote class activity or encourage racing of any kind without a formal challenge. So when the class went semi-dormant in the late 90s-early 2000s Clark seized the opportunity to restructure the class when fresh challenges arrived from Australia and Great Britain in 2004.
'Ten years ago I placed this class under martial law,' said Clark, who was re-elected as class chairman on Saturday. 'There was not enough activity to justify more than one class officer, so I did it all myself, and made a number of changes to the premier event format with the goal of making attending the event more rewarding and increasing participation.'
Clark’s Cogito, who first wrested the cup away Australia’s Edge IV in 96’ with helmsman Duncan MacLane and crew Eric Chase on board, carried the day in 2004 as well with MacLane at the helm and Clark as crew. However the race format was drastically different with both finalists having to be determined by a fleet race series before moving on to match racing for the championship. 'By eliminating some of the barriers to entry active teams are now able to support other prospective participants' said Clark. 'However with this in mind the involvement of Fred Eaton has been the most critical component to the success we are now seeing.'
The game changed in late 2004 when Canada’s Fred Eaton got involved. Eaton’s team took the cup away from the Americans in 2007 at Toronto’s Royal Canadian Yacht Club, and with Eaton’s Alpha and Cogito installed as what Clark calls a 'breeding pair,' the Canadians faced challenges not only from the United States but also Australia, England, and France in Newport, Rhode Island in 2010. Now, with as many as 16 boats expected in England in 2013, the class is well on its way to getting off the sailing endangered species list.
The meeting spent a long while reasserting the bylaws and constitution. However after Magnus Clarke had been elected to succeed Duncan MacLane as International Secretary, and national representatives had been appointed from each attending nation, the chairman opened the floor for team reports.
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| 'From left to right: Steve Killing, Richard Korpus, David Tagliapietra, Roberto Grippi, Claudio Cairoli, Oliver Moore, Norman Wijker (vid Skype), Magnus Clarke, Duncan MacLane, Will Clark, Jaremie Lagarrigue, Stephane Dyen, Steve Clark & Benjamin Muyl' William Clark |
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