F18 Americas 2017 @Alamitos Bay YC : Day 1

All images US F18 fb . Nice to see the new Decksweeper from Goodall Design doing good in local racing level, more when racing in the breeze with the concerns some had on handling.

The new DS from Goodall is a well balanced sail, with a planshape that maintains a good top area for lighter winds, and seems to be working excellent too in the breeze aside the Marshack’s being good sailors of course.
Basically the sail responded, which is the first down to earth racing test after Mischa wiped out the fleet at Denmark.

Ken & Eric Marshack dominate the day with 3 bullets. Plenty F18s racing at the great 2012 Worlds venue, Alamitos Bay Yacht Club.

Official by  US F18 fb  report from the event:
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“The first day of the 2017 Formula 18 Americas Championship featured big breeze of 18-24 knots and 3-5′ steep waves. The F18 normally handles big wind very well, but with these waves caused issued for many teams leading to nearly half the fleet only finishing one race.

After 3 races, Ken and Eric Marshack from Portland, Oregon lead the Formula 18 Americas Championship being sailed out of Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach, California.

Long time F18 sailors, this father son team are one of three teams sailing with a new sail design called the “Decksweeper” sail, they are also one of the heaviest and tallest teams sailing the event which gave them lots of extra horsepower upwind.

In Second place are Charles Tomeo and Dalton Tebo from Sarasota, Florida followed by Charles Froeb and Erwan Griziaux from San Francisco.
Tomorrows forecast is for slightly less breeze of 12-16 knots and the course will be inside the breakwater. 3 more days of racing and with several top teams sitting on the beach the results will get mixed up a bit in the coming days and will lead to some exciting racing!

Full results here: sailwave.com/results/ABYC_2017_F18_Americas.htm
Follow “USF18” on Facebook for more coverage of this event.

Photos credit Rohan Hollingsworth
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Top ten , full results sailwave.com/results/ABYC_2017_F18_Americas.htm