F18 Worlds 2013 @Grosseto: Besson-Lagarrigue lead to the Final Day
Anything can happen with 3 more races, but the title should be within the top 4 above. And let me put again the Stars of the event, without any subjective opinion: Sergio Mehl & Nico Aragones from Argentina, currently 7th and racing one on one against “Monster Inc” in the top 6. It is a massive achievement beyond any further result for a crew that trains at our local F18 Class.
To have an idea, Sergio Mehl in 2010 was +120 at Erquy Worlds and he did not even knew how to start … well he still doesn´t …as I’ve been confirmed today! And Nico started sailing F18 only 2 years ago. They are 2012 Arg Champions too. But imagine the improvement range and level you must have to be after 6 Qualy and 4 Final races with 180 boats , behind a group of top World sailors… not even racing the European circuit or being an Olympic campaigner, It is just too much, so I wanted to take a snapshot of today results beyond whatever happens tomorrow.
Besson-Lagarrigue are a joke too, their discards are 6 & 5…..
Styles-Mason only 4 behind , Gabart-Vandame still with some chances and Heemskerk-Tentij had a broken main haylard giving away precious points, but still nothing is closed….. 3 Races scheduled for tomorrow. A great Worlds so far at Marina di Grosseto , Italy.
All images Jasper van Staveren / www.sailshoot.com – Full results not published yet. +100 Image gallery from today at CSN FB.
Official Website report & images at 2013.f18worlds.com
Top 7 below (the rest to be confirmed & still to be officially published):
1. Besson/Lagarrique (FRA 1796) – (6), 5, 2, 1, 2, 1, 1, (5), 5 – 18 points
2. Styles/Mason (GBR 7) – 3, 1, 2, 3, (7), 7, 3, (12), 1, 2 – 22 points
3. Heemskerk/Tentij (NED 1796) – 2 RDG, (18), 1, 1, 10, 1, 10, 7, (81 DNC), 1 – 33 points
4. Gabart/Vandame (FRA 301) – 2, (81 BDF), 1, 3, 4, 4, 2, (23), 15, 4 – 35 points
5. Booth/Booth (ESP 1910) – 1, 8, 6, (11), 6, 6, 7, 6, 2, (27) – 42 points
6. Bontemps/Amiot (FRA04) – 4, (ocs), 2, 2, 1, 1, 28, 8, 3 , (bfd) – 49 points
7. Mehl-Aragones (ARG 21) – (dnc) , 7, 12, 1, 3, 13, 12, 3, 5, (51) – 56 points
I just heard that my great sailing friend and former CEO of Hobiecat Europe has passed. May The endless oceans…
...Report was sent by an F18 Sailor, if you want Hobies reported send your own, we'll publish as usual. Cheers.
Looks like in your report the Hobies are not really present. Suggest to rewrite the article.
Thanks for the great report Wik. Great battle.
If I correctly read the results the overall winner this year is a Hobie16