Mahoney and Hodges Win 2026 A‑Class Midwinter Championship as Final Day Abandoned

Bruce Mahoney and Bob Hodges emerged as the headline winners of the North American A‑Class Midwinter Championship at Upper Keys Sailing Club in Key Largo, where a powerful front and extreme breeze on the final day forced racing to be abandoned and the Friday standings were locked in as final. The result gives a clear early read on form as teams head toward the 2026 A‑Class World Championship.

Mahoney dominated the foiling/Open fleet, sailing USA 311 to a commanding series and finishing the championship with 8 points. Sailors on foils noted his consistent speed and race wins across the event, which left him well clear in the standings even before the weather shut down the finale. Francisco Venetucci (ARG) staged a late‑series charge to take second in the foiling podium, with Axel Issel (ARG) third.

Bob Hodges claimed top honors in the Classics/Floating division, adding a division crown to his overall place in the championship fleet. Hodges finished listed as USA 230 with 22 points and appears among the top five in the overall Championship Fleet standings. The Midwinters offered a split narrative this year - foilers showing raw speed while the Classics fleet rewarded setup and heavy‑air seamanship.

Championship Fleet top five (boat numbers and points): 1 Bruce Mahoney USA 311 - 8 pts; 2 Ben Moon AUS 11 - 9 pts; 3 Jeremy Herrin USA 31 - 14 pts; 4 Woody Cope USA 310 - 22 pts; 5 Bob Hodges USA 230 - 22 pts. Intergalactic Fleet top five (voluntary subclass for older boats and bodies): 1 Ken Marshack USA 192 - 4 pts; 2 Martin Hamilton USA 335 - 7 pts; 3 Joe Leonard USA 44 - 11 pts; 4 John Schiefer USA 122 - 14 pts; 5 Mark Batchelor USA 17 - 17 pts.

Ken Marshack, winner of the Intergalactic subclass and noted for traveling the furthest, summed up the community spirit: "It's been great fun, and I want to thank the volunteers and SailNC for a wonderful time." The voluntary Intergalactic title highlights how the class keeps older designs active and competitive alongside cutting‑edge foilers.

Race organisers and teams also used the regatta as a proving ground for new boats and updated systems, with several crews debuting equipment and dialing foils and rigs under pressure. That technical development matters for readers following gear trends and boat setup ahead of the season's big targets. IACA President Bailey White framed the class milestone and speed evolution in a broader note: "Dear A‑Class Sailors, Happy 2026 to you and welcome to our class’s 70th anniversary. With speeds up to 34+ knots these days, she is quick for a 70 year old!"

Photographs from the event were credited to Hannah Lee Noll. With the Key Largo results set, attention now turns to the 2026 European Championships at Mar Menor (May 28–June 7) and the A‑Class World Championship at Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa (November 9–14). Mahoney’s foiling form and Hodges’ Classics win both offer measurable storylines to track as teams refine setups and tactics for the rest of the season.