F18 Australian Nats 2018: James Clark & Max Puttman, Champs

Photo: Jervoise Bay Sailing Club. James Clark & Max Putnam completely dominate the 2018 Formula 18 Australian Nats. Eight bullets out of 10 races… not much to add on their performance. What I heard is that they trained plenty for this event, and remember they were the guys who discarded the new DS Jib & Snuffer system.
Their Windrush Edge built by Brett Burvill confirms again it is a winning platform, the Champs equipped it with a Goodall DS Main (boom setup) plus a Jib & Spi of their own, Nextgen Sailmakers

Second place overall for Gavin Colby & Jaiden Dalton (Scorpion / Brewin DS)  and third place overall for Lachlan Gibson  & Josh Fugill (Edge/ Brewin Sails)

On the snuffer system & DS jib, it was finally used by Burvill & Duffield , after race 3 they discarded the supporting high dyneemas acting as support bridles, so they raced fully legal the rest of the event.
They were protested by the org requested by the IF18CA officials and those first 3 races were disqualified. Thus putting them in 10th place, on the water they raced for a third overall.

In the end the DS Jib & fibeglass aero chite prototypes worked good but clearly didn’t gave the former Aus Nats Champs any key advantage on their scores in this breezy regatta.

Still much to refine and test, and many will find this new devel might suit their needs or preference, and in spite many don’t get it, when people start developing and pushing the envelope again, it is the first sign of renewed interest in the Class.

Top ten below, full results here. Later info on the Nacras 17 Miami WC & Martinique Cata Raid.