F18 World Council Nov 26 Meeting outcomes: All SI Crosscut mains with two cloths Banned
All main sails from Sail Innovation using two cloths (Crosscuts) are now prohibited from racing in the Formula 18 Class.
Until Dec 31 2011, all SI sails produced before September 15th may continue to compete. After Jan 1 2012 you’d better get a new use to it.
These decisions applies to the F18 European taking place right now in Canarias.That is why you’ll see so many changes in some teams sails as published yesterday.
Minutes were distributed to the NAs representatives (I’m for Argentina).
They are not still published on the IF18CA website, will link them as soon as they are available. I was waiting for them to be online to inform the sailors, but some events forced this post.
Also paint is forbidden so SI and some new projects (about to be launched) will need to change their production asap. Also check you don´t have some repair made on your boat too or a standard marine polyurethane finish for ie, damn all my original RCF18s are now ilegal too!
Lots of fun to come though, as I forsee more firebacks 2011 Worlds style, where the 100% of class spis were found ilegal.This Class is so fun in the water as in the administrative aspects of it.
One of the major implications on these decisions is that Olivier Backes and Arnaud Jarlegan won the 2010 Crown with ilegal sails with part of the Class knowing about that fact and only acting one year later when all exploded at the 2011 Worlds final day with the PSA Affaire, (Mischa also was with possiblities on that title with SI sails, he ended 2nd) letting sailors from all over the World buying ilegal sails. (Two crews from Argentina bought sails on the spot at Erquy, the actual winning sail and a sister set)
More analysis and info for all the sailors of the F18 World Wide soon.And please ask a for a signed certificate before buying any further equipment of any brand.
Please contact your NA representative for more data too.
Force the builders to comply with the rules and make the class to establish firm basis and a solid consistent and timely decisions to protect your investment in the future.
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(Touché)
The decision on paint is just plain stupid.
There is no advantage for paint or gelcoat. Look to the olympic classes where if it was possible to have even a tiny advantage from one coating or another for sure 100% of the teams will have it. They have a selection of paint and gelcoat inside each fleet . What also of refurbising an older F18, should we have to pay huge summs of money to get them sanded and regelcoat detailed (3 or 4 times the cost in labour) instead of a relatively inexpensive paint spray job. Class should perhaps look a bit longer and closer before jumping at these rach decisions. We look silly to the outside administrators if we keep changing rules.
I agree 100%, The recent actions by the WC are illogical and destructive to the class.
The aim of the class should be to encourage better products and better value for competitors. I sincerely hope the WC can review these decisions and put the class back on track so we can continue to grow this fantastic class.
refurbising an old boat is a good point.
also a paint is probably lighter than a gelcoat and we could imagine that hulls could have more fibers and make stronger and more durable boats.
making the paint illegal is also a way to stop definitively the chance to see an homemade boat even if we never see somes. that's disturb the f18's world.
but we have to admit that gelcoat is really stronger and less expensive than a paint for the construction.