Capricorn 1st Timer

Photo: Matías Capizzano
Yesterday I finally had the chance to sail the only Cap (the 1st local built is almost ready..) available at Buenos Aires and I must say at South America? Brett can correct me on that one.
14 knots plus, short steep waves, classical Rio de la Plata conditions for the Sudeste wind (South East).
First impression leaving shore was how firm and rigid the platform is, also as I used to ride V shape designs like my F18 or the H16, the ‘slap’ of the ‘fat bottom’ after passing some intial waves at low speed was something new.

Then the response with gusts was pure accelaration, and after double trapeze the boat was a pleasure to ride upwind, I was crewing for Cruz and we were matching some Infusions.
We started back some good meters and after some sync with her and my helmsman we managed to caught them, it was full dominance speeding up or pointing for us and the Cap.
So I felt really good as I´m not sailing that much as we are building and delivering some boats, and the other crews are training almost every day for the Nationals in december.

Slicing easy through waves and a ‘planing’ sensation were some aspects I could compare with a traditional hull like the Tiger or the RC.
But I already knew the Cap was a rocket upwind, I wanted to test it downwind in those specific conditions and the boat passed the test, with even more planing feeling and some good margin , although we sunk the bow hard three times in tough conditions due to waves shape (where I was catapulted hard to the bow! the three of them) we didn´t pitch pole and the boat showed a good recovery.. after I recovered from my smashed ribs… jaja but I was not using boots so that was key in those sudden stops falls.
Also some waves were slapping rear beam, but that feature is already modified for the local version, a key feature here as these short waves are something special.
Just one thing: I was barefoot, but that strap line almost cut my feet in two in those catapults!! A change for the new boat for sure.

So it may sound strange to many, but I never get tired of repeating that we didn´t have any F18 here before, so to me is a 1st time on a Wave Piercer F18. Now I have to sail the Infusion too, and next year I will launch my 2nd F18, a wave piercer of course.

Congrats to AHPC for such a fine machine that set the trend for current top notch F18s.
1st Class ride.
I’m sure the factory new F18 will be even better!