1st F16 offical Worlds: July 23/29 at Bordeaux

Photo: Marco Iazzetta- F16 Europeans 2010
The first official Formula 16 World will take place next July 23 at the Bordeaux Maubuisson Sailing Club www.cerclevoilebordeaux.com
The F16 is now an isaf international recognized class, and the previous events were called ‘Global Challenges’. The class is growing strong with some major builders like ahpc joining the game, having Bundock and Brouwer involved is just more exposure for all.
Good number of teams: 62 Check Registered crews here
The Formula 16 is the best option for mixed crews, I’m not talking about olympics here… I started sailing H16 with my wife and the truth is we can´t race on the F18, but I would consider sail with her again on the F16 Class for ie.
More info on the Championship at www.formula16.net
With the F18 Worlds I had several mails in queue that I couldn´t publish, below a good analysis and press release sent by Gill de Bruyne, dealer in Belguim for the Falcon F16 on the class at the Texel week:
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By Gill de Bruyne:
Is there finally a good alternative for catracing mixed and youth teams?
For many years racing has been dominated by the F18 catamaran, but the boat is in many cases too physical for mixed or youth teams, especially in 15+ knots where you easily feel overpowered. Some teams switched to Hobie 16 or Dart 18, others remained on the F18 as there was no real alternative in their eyes, this is about to change.

This year Gill and Kathleen wanted to show what the potential was of the Falcon both for mixed as for youth teams.
“We really managed to show what a great boat the Falcon is”, says Kathleen Vandenbulcke.

Photo: Thom Touw – Texel 2011
“What a great month we have had, both for ourselves as for all the mixed and youth teams out there. Both on the Belgian as on the Dutch open championships we were the first mixed team and could keep up with the professional and semiprofessional teams, so exciting!” Weekend racers Gill and Kathleen set down 2 impressive results on both the Belgian as Dutch Open Championships, showing that nonprofessional, mixed teams can be competitive if on the right equipment.

“I think our good results in both light as heavy winds will definitely show other mixed teams that they can have super exciting sailing/racing on high level and still be ‘alive’ in the evening as long as they are on the right size of boat for them”, Gill says.

Youth sailing
But next to mixed teams we also want to concentrate on youth sailing. 2 youth teams have been selected to train and race on a Falcon they can use the whole year. “Mostly training has been done up to now as it had to be combined with studying”, says Gill. “This summer they will be racing the Falcon. And we intend to continue this promotion hopefully even in closer co-operation with youth training programs as they are the future of catsailing!”

Gill de Bruyne
www.theboatshop.be
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