F18 Arg Nats 2012: Sergio Mehl & Nico Aragones Champs
All images Fabian Haiek –
One of the most competitive Nats since the first back in 2008. The top three crews leading each day for a last gold medal race with a MR included.
Smith-Heuser went to hunt Mehl-Aragones (who needed a 4th to take it all) for the title as Bundock did once for the 2nd place at Erquy, all was working to perfection with both crews back in the fleet match racing, at that point Smith-Heuser were champs but their spin broke and Mehl-Aragones flew to a super comeback to grab a 2nd behind the other contenders, Blando-Joubert.Offshore shifty winds above 14knots on Sat, 4 to 8knots Sun and another super breeze day with offshore shifting to southeast, perfect conditions but tricky on the rising current and the wind maintaining force while while while going SO to SE. Sergio and Nico with a great comeback as they started the last day 5 points behind the leaders in 3r place.
Smith-Heuser went to hunt Mehl-Aragones (who needed a 4th to take it all) for the title as Bundock did once for the 2nd place at Erquy, all was working to perfection with both crews back in the fleet match racing, at that point Smith-Heuser were champs but their spin broke and Mehl-Aragones flew to a super comeback to grab a 2nd behind the other contenders, Blando-Joubert.Offshore shifty winds above 14knots on Sat, 4 to 8knots Sun and another super breeze day with offshore shifting to southeast, perfect conditions but tricky on the rising current and the wind maintaining force while while while going SO to SE. Sergio and Nico with a great comeback as they started the last day 5 points behind the leaders in 3r place.
Nico grabbing the Arg Nats for 2nd consecutive year (2011 with Esteban Blando) , putting more stars to the Arg Youth Acup CV, as his mate Gaston Terrab was crowned Arg 29er Champ past week.
The Tiger was fast as any other in the breeze and even in 4knots (just ask Antoine Joubert) the only problem was that speed without proper course racing takes you nowhere and I didn´t make a single good tactic leg not even one good start. We couldn´t pass mid fleet results,
All in all, another great experience racing yet another different F18 design.Lots of boats were sold last month and new owners didn´t race, but we will peak next year for sure.
Thanks to Agustín Krevisky, and his friend Fabian Haiek we could finally get some pics, as this was the first year the class didn´t care about this point after 4 years of excellent coverage.
Thanks to Agustín Krevisky, and his friend Fabian Haiek we could finally get some pics, as this was the first year the class didn´t care about this point after 4 years of excellent coverage.
Thanks Fabian Haiek for filling that gap with really great images.
Special mention to our friend Antoine Joubert that came for the 2nd consecutive year to race with us, he was really close to take the title to France with Esteban Blando, but still a great event for them racing together for the first time and ending with another bullet. Check results to see how close it was. More images to come.
Full Results here
Hope the worlds come to ARG, would love to sail there!