About
Welcome to the Beetle Cat® Class Association
The Beetle Cat Boat is a twelve-foot, gaff-rigged wooden catboat designed by John Beetle in 1921 and originally built by the Beetle family of New Bedford, MA, famous for their whaleboats.
After three years of somewhat informal regattas to determine the "New England Champion" in Beetle Cats, the New England Beetle Cat Boat Association (NEBCBA) was formed at New Bedford, MA in the spring of 1940 for the purpose of providing an annual junior championship for Beetle Cat Boats. Over the years, NEBCBA initiated several other championships for both juniors and adults. Today NEBCBA still sponsors championships under the umbrella of the "Leo J. Telesmanick Championship" in honor of Leo J. Telesmanick (1915-2001), who built the Beetle Cat for over 50 years.
NEBCBA's original purpose, however, has been expanded to include promoting the maintenance, restoration, preservation and just plain sailing the Beetle Cat Boat. It is one of the oldest classes raced actively and probably the only one still made exclusively in wood. The New England Beetle Cat Boat Association is dedicated to continuing this success into the future.
Association Board of Governors
Officers:
Bob Hawes
Immediate past chairman
Members at Large
Ery Largay (Term ends 2026)
Karen Fallon (Term ends 2026)
Bob Bartro (Term ends 2028)
Steve Glovinsky (Term ends 2028)
Ken Rodgers (Term ends 2027)
Cathy Taylor (Term ends 2027)
Newsletter Editor
Stephanie Van Patten
2026 Leo J. Telesmanick Beetle Cat Championships at Barnstable Yacht Club Aug. 15th and 16th
NEBCBA 2026 Spring Meeting of the Board of Governors will be held Sat. April 18th at 10:00am via Zoom
The purposes of the New England Beetle Cat Boat Association (NEBCBA) are:
- Promote and encourage the sailing and racing of Original Beetle Cat Boats.
- Maintain uniform measurements and specifications so as to assure, to the extent possible, a truly one-design class.
- Sponsor class regattas and determine class champions.
- Foster a feeling of good will and neighborliness between and among sailors of Original Beetle Cat Boats throughout New England and elsewhere in the world.
- Promote the maintenance, restoration, and preservation of the original Beetle Cat Boat.
Builder:
In addition to new Beetles, Beetle Inc. provides parts, accessories and services including repair, maintenance, moving, and storage.
"Beetle Cat" and the Beetle Cat logo are registered trademarks of Beetle, Inc.