05/21/2026
Regatta Report: High-Performance Catamarans Shred the waters at the CSA North American A-Cat Championships. Bailey White reports.
The racing calendar delivered spectacular conditions this past week as sailors from ARG, CAN, and USA gathered for one of the most anticipated events of the season, the A-Class North American Championships. Lake Carlye in southern Illinois outside of St Louis, Missouri is known for its tactical challenges, hospitality and stellar race management. It lived up to its reputation, providing tight racing across a multi-day schedule.
The official notice board, full scoring breakdowns, and tracking links were hosted directly via the event portal at csa-sailing.org/regatta/3VQxQFbbZy.
The Venue & The Host Association
The regatta was organized and hosted by the Carlye Sailing Association (CSA), a largely volunteer group that reflects the best of midwestern American culture and hospitality. The club hospitality deserves special mention with dinners, breakfasts, PB&Js, and refreshments all provided to sailors throughout the event by club volunteers. There are too many club members to cite but Rick Bernstein and Tom Paoloi as regatta chairs deserve special mention as well as Tom Wyman, PRO.
Sailors from sea breeze venues had to adapt to the game of shifts and pressure that can routinely be 2X the mean wind speed. This adaptation often starts with frustration and ends with patience and better results. This is lake sailing and brings a new level of challenge to those who might otherwise rely on speed to win the day. It brings tough lessons that have helped this club’s sailors win world championships in fleets including the Lightning.
Sailors each day arrived at the club after driving down long straight roads beside fields of agricultural crops and enjoyed the beauty of the region. The area is a perfect embodiment of the heartland of the USA and why USACA picked Carlyle for the 2026 North Americans. It served as a way to have a unique experience together as a fleet in preparation for the 2026 Florida Worlds in November at David Island Yacht Club.
The Podium and Key Battles
Looking at the results, you’ll see just how close the competition was. Even Ravi, didn’t always have it so easy, barely pulling off one 1st place finish over Bruce, Todd, and Bailey with a foiling jibe.
Two Open sailors have moved into Classics with a vengeance. Bruce Mahoney and Todd Woods, sailing DNA Vintage F1 and eXploder Classic respectively, showed what is possible in that fleet and overall. Todd in particular transitioned his Open fleet approach to classic mode upwind speed and set a high bar for all. Todd would have finished higher if not for his top hook breaking way from his mast due to age and rust.
Francisco Venetucci deserves special mention. First, he traveled farthest, flying from Argentina to compete. Second, he now owns a 2020 eXploder in the USA and will be training with Ravi and Lena in Long Beach this summer. He is already fast and will only get faster.
As with any great fleet, there are stories throughout it worth mentioning and this article only covers a few. Olivier Lajoie deserves special mention as a new CAN fleet member how has just learned to sail 9 months ago. Olivier has gone all in with two boats, dedicated time with Red Gear Racing and Ken Marshack’s tutelage in Key Largo, and results that consistently improved throughout the regatta. Watch this man go in the coming years.
Other relatively new fleet members like Alex Hart, Scott Ledbetter, Ian Ray, Mark Sellnau, Patrick Work, and Kirt Simmons were awesome to have in the event. Scott is already on the podium and has a fascinating history as a captain for megayachts.
Leon Pinson, a soon to be wedded man, hosted his batchelor party at the event. He and his regatta cat, Louise, are event favorites and Leon showed he will go for it on the water every time, even if it is not in the best interest of his ankle or foot! Youth.
We had six decades of ages racing. Olympic medalists, top sailmakers, composite engineers, doctors, lawyers, air traffic controllers, industrial experts, real estate professionals, electric vehicle entrepreneurs, royal yacht masters, etc etc. You won’t be disappointed to get to know any of them better.
Congratulations to Patrick Stadt, new USACA President and thank you to Mike Christensen for his two years of leadership.
Pics - Carol Ann, CSA
