Eurocat 2011: April 29 – May 1st

Photo above from Franck Gicquiaud, one of the best racing pics I’ve seen. More at www.littoral-ouest.com/
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Already a classic start for the F18 racing season, the Eurocat organized by Yacht Club Carnac
is the right ocassion for the Pro teams and amateur sailors to test their new weapons and their new skills. Clearly a preview of things to come at every F18 Worlds.

This year no new designs will be launched, (maybe one but not confirmed for the Eurocat) as the lead teams all have proven and uptodate F18s.
In 2010 we had the C2 and in 2009 the Wildcat started their season here.
Boulogne Cirrus “R” was already tested at Erquy, but as a proto, so this year we’ll be able to analyze it.
Previous Results and reports for 2010 here
2009 Edition here

In the 2011 edition we’ll see 5 stablished teams:
– The AHPC gang has step a solid foot in Europe with 2B Sailing (Darren Bundock and Carolijn Brouwer) The local support lead by french dealer Francis Ferrari and maybe the Australian task force with the Goodalls and Steve Brewin. Also from USA JCasey and Robbie Daniels if they plan to attend.
Boat C2

– Hobie should have Mitch Booth and the NL team with Mischa Heemskerk as their best racer, also Christophe Mourniac, Billy Besson and other french teams.
Don´t know if Glenn Ashby will have time to race F18 as he is involved with Team New Zealand.
Boat Hobie Wildcat

– Nacra team will rely on 2x WChamp Coen de Koning, company CEO Gunnar Larsen and Hugh Styles. Andrew Mac Pherson is no longer part of the team.
Boat: Nacra Infusion Mark II

– Sail Innovation took home the 2010 World Crown and also placed another top ten with Gurvan Bontemps & Hubert Savatier
Boat: Waiting for Udin for more info, I say Wildcat but maybe they’ll show up with a surprise…

– Shockwave Team: 2009 ViceWolrdChamps Rob Wilson/ Marcus Lynch and François Morvan/ Matthieu Vandame , both top ten at Erquy.
Loday-White Shockwave F18

I might start playing some bucks on my bets as I clinched 2009 and 2010 Dark Horses (Wilson-Lynch Tied 1st, finally 2nd in 2009 and Backes-Jarlegan 1st 2010).
This year and after a solid 12 month testing and racing, peaking at the end of the season, my bet goes for the entire season with Darren Bundock – C2 combo.
The rest is obvious and mentioned above.

As ‘Dark Horses’ maybe the Hobie Wildcat Italian team of Vittorio Bissaron and Lamberto Cesari.
Youths for the ‘Petit Leopards’: Brieg Lecoublet and Loic Flocher (they are locals too at Carnac)