C-Class Catamaran Canann, skippered by the defender Fred Eaton, of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, tests the breezy waters of Newport on Sunday, Aug. 22.  Christophe Launay photo.

 The wing of Canaan at Sail Newport's Fort Adams Site. Christophe Launay photo.

 Christophe Launay photo.

  Fred Eaton, left, the Canadian defender, and Steve Clark, the American challenger but the holder of the International C-Class Catamaran Trophy from 1996-2007. Michael Levitt photo.

C-Class Catamarans on the lawn of Harbour Court, the NYYC's on-the-water clubhouse in Newport, RI. Christophe Launay photo.  

  "Wing Nuts" Tom Schnackenberg, left, and Duncan MacLane. MacLane, a most talented designer, has had his hand in these boats since the Tony DiMauro (Patient Lady) era beginning in the 1970s and most recently in Steve Clark's current Aethon. Schnackenberg, long one of North Sails's best and brightest, has focused on the America's Cup for the last 20 years, including the Swiss Defender of the 2010 America's Cup, as did MacLane. Michael Levitt photo.

 Wings under the tent at Harbour Court. Christophe Launay photo.  

 James Spithill, right, was the helmsman on BMW Oracle in the 2010 America's Cup, the winged trimaran that won the event. On the left is  A-Class World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist Glenn Ashby. The duo will be sailing Alpha, Fred Eaton's successful defender from 2007 but here representing Spithill's and Ashby's Australia.  Michael Levitt photo.

Yacht-designer Juan Kouyoumdjian visiting the C-Class Cats at the New York Yacht Club..Christophe Launay photo.