A-Scow

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Specifications Under Current Rules

Number of crew:	6-8
LOA	11582 mm 38 ft
Beam	2438 mm 8 ft
Hull weight (with fittings)	839 kg 1850 lb
Sail Area of total of Jib	?? m² 150 ft²
Sail Area of total of Main	??m² 350 ft²
Sail Area of total of Spinnaker	?? m² 1200 ft²

In sailing, the A-Scow is the largest and fastest of the scow family of sailboats. It is 38 feet long and with reported top speeds of over 25 knots. The boat is mainly sailed in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The A-Scow has a long history with its rules of design, or scantlings, first being written in 1901. At 38 feet, and with a large sail area, the five to seven crew members must work in unison on the A-Scow to keep the boat sailing fast and upright. Accidents do happen, and it is the largest sailboat that regularly tips over.

1 Recent Politics
2 A-Scow, the Movie
3 Fleet Growth
4 External links

[edit] Recent Politics

The A-scow’s politics are as hot as its sailing. With the scantlings being much like they were over 100 years earlier, the boat could be built with any shape and rigging as long as it fit within the rules. For many years, Melges Performance Sailboats was the only builder of the A-scow, and so the existing boats all were from the same design. However, the rules left the door open for another builder, and in 2002, VictorybyDesign, a new boat, came on to the scene. Having an optimized boat shape and new rigging, the boat was significantly faster than the older design. There quickly developed a rift between Brad Robinson, the owner of VictoryByDesign, and the majority of the class. After three years of battle on the water, internet and court, the sailors decided to split the fleet. A One-design fleet would exist for the older boats, and a developmental design would exist for the new boat.

[edit] A-Scow, the Movie

In August of 2006, a feature length documentary film about the boat entitled The Ultimate Ride 107 years of the A scow was released. It was narrated by ESPN commentator and world-class sailor Gary Jobson, and features A-scows sailing at their best.

An A-Scow ripping on Lake Minnetonka

[edit] Fleet Growth

Six new Melges boats will be built in 2006 in Wisconsin. In addition to the new One-design hulls, there will also be at least one new Victory design being built in Minnesota.