The A Class is another international class, keenly sailed under either radio-controlled or vane-controlled steering.

The Class Rules are 'open', and boats are controlled by a formula which demands a balance between waterline length, displacement and sail area.   Sails get smaller as displacement reduces, and as waterline length increases.  The formula was devised in 1922 by the editor of Yachting Monthly as a testing ground for later use in the full-sized 5.5 Metre class rule.

Boats are typically around 2 metres long, weigh between 14 and 25kg, and carry around one square metre of sail.   They enjoy a long competitive life, and the week's racing sailed alternately at Gosport and Fleetwood currently has the youngest competitor profile of any of the national championships.  

Information provided by the Model Yachting Association