F18, Mar del Plata Sailing Week 2019: Krevisky & Tigre Benitez, 1st

Photos: Matias Capizzano Photography. Video by Nautico Mar del Plata / Semana Internacional del Yachting from the second day of racing.  World Champs battle at Mar del Plata. When we started with the local F18 project back in 2005 we never thought we would reach all the goals we aimed for. Creating a Class from scratch without any other Multihull one being established it was a hard task but accomplished, more than a decade later seeing Agustín Krevisky (former World & Vice Opti Champ + F18 Arg Nats) and Dante Cittadini (Nacra 15 WC & Olympic Youth Gold Medalist) racing for the title on a local event is another milestone, it means the very best Argentine sailors are racing in the local F18 Class elevating the level of  competition to the max.

And that is what they deliver in the final day at Mar del Plata , Argentina’s best sailing venue.  Krevisky & ‘Tigre’Benitez (Phantom /1D) had a great fight on the water vs Dante Cittadini & ‘Cuco’ Benitez (Infusion / 1D).

Conditions today were single to double trap in the last race, coming from two light winds days and the Southern blown out from Sunday. In the end almost every condition was raced and the Nacra 15 star showed he has the racing abilities and handling to step  in the major leagues, as noted having an excellent experienced crew like ‘Cuco’ was a key factor on his first time on an F18 and they could coordinate like they were racing for ages together, specially when you have an established and top notch local team like Krevisky & Tigre Beintez (World & Arg Nats Champ 2016 with Volker) contending with you for the title.

First race was for Krevisky , Cittadini behind. Second race a bullet for Cittadini , Krevisky third. In the last one Krevisky decided to match race the kid to defend the 1pt lead.
With previous two races a bullet each it was game for any, and while Krevisky could control a bit, in the last gate they split and the race and title  was defined in the last leg where Agustin & Tigre put pedal to metal to secure the first place finishing 4th, two places ahead of Dante & ‘Cuco’.

I talked with Agustín earlier today, and he was impressed on how  Cittadini managed pressure and responded with excellent tactics and boat handling. This from a kid that has been sailing Cats for say two years? We know is good on his Nacra 15 laurels, but racing against seasoned senior talents like Agustin was another proof that the kid has a bright future ahead.

Third place overall went for Gonzalez Smith-Heuser (Scorpion / 1D) , with slightly more wind to double trap conditions they close the regatta 5,2,1 to clinch the podium spot from Salerno & Andres Grimaldi (Phantom / 1D).

Towards the Worlds 2019 to be held at Costa Brava, June 27-July 4th, Argentina will send the usual contingent and we expect if schedule allows to have Cittadini attending too.