F18 Croatia, Murter Challenge 2021 for Stella-Recalcati

6th Edition of the F18 Murter Challenge Raid. 2020 Edition was cancelled, thus in currents times being able to travel and sail venues like the Murter Islands in Croatia is really a privilege. Our friend Drasko Andric and the locals organizing this event which grows every year, and it will become bigger when things return to normal.
F18 Worlds are a full Go next July 3rd at YC Gaeta, Italy with almost 100 entries now. Official web www.f18world2021.org

Murter Challenge 2021 photos we selected from F18 CRO Fb page, click for slideshow.
Images credits : Dalibor Ljubić & #oceanisyachting www.oceanisyachting.com

Results top 3:
1st place – ITA 008 – Maurizio Stella & Davide Recalcati,
2nd place – AUT 003 – Klaus & Bettina Dreier,
3rd place – CRO 005 – Marko & Nikša Orešković,

Report sent by Drasko Andric:

6th Murter Challenge 2021 – VENI VIDI VICI
After unexpectedly winning the Eurovision, winning the Murter Challenge was not that unexpected for the Italians, knowing Maurizio Stella is often a guest at the national and international championship podiums.They certainly showcased another level of F18 sailing.But back to the beginning.Although 18 registered teams, only 10 showed up on the starting line, but our battlefield didn’t look vacant. Weather was typically Murter like for this time of year, stable seabreeze averaging between 8-12kts. Days before the race mistral was picking up to 18-20kts, slowly decreasing towards the end of the week. 

We had two new teams, Italians and Austrians Klaus & Ron and many of the known guys that kept coming year after year, without which we could not imagine the Murter Challenge to be the same.On the First day the longest navigation was scheduled, 30+ Nm, split into the 3 legs, approx 45 Nm of sailing for the day. Beautiful weather, magical surroundings, and fast boats. What more to ask for? Finish line of the first leg was a bit hidden, what seems to be the Murter Challenge tradition, we will certainly incorporate this concept for the next races as well. Next leg was a lot of upwind sailing to the lighthouse rock Galijolica, followed by a long downwind leg with pressure increasing. Third leg was a blast, with a hidden upwind mark directly in the sun, double trapping all the way downwind, racing back to the base. We plan to source transparent marks for the next races, it will be more fun.

The next day the plan was to round the largest island in the south part of the Kornati archipelago, Kurba Vela. We hoped for the wind turning from the SW to the NW, allowing us fast pace, but the wind stayed west, meaning long windward-leeward sailing, 21Nm long exactly, collecting 30-35 miles of sailing for the day, without any technical sailing possible after the navigation. And this long upwind leg was the only time I was able to observe Italians from our stern all the way to the Kornati entrance, losing sight of them after the Kurba Vela downwind leg. Gosh they know how to use any tiny bit of wind pressure. Results were incredible, with 3 teams “sharing” 3rd place, just 1 point behind the 2nd place, and 1 point in front of the 6th team (Klaus & Bettina).

For the last day 3 windward-leeward courses in the Pirovac bay were scheduled (playground laboratory area) later in the afternoon, with a very light wind, expecting to increase after 4PM, and it did, but after 5PM. Italians proved their quality in every heat, collecting only bulls eye’s no matter how they performed in the starting procedure. Thanks to our loyal member Luka we ended up with double portions of the roasted pork catering for all competitors and organisers, just after a brief prize giving ceremony where Maurizio Stella and Davide Recalcati engraved their names in the DSR Adria Sport Hall of Fame Murter Challenge Trophy.Big thanks to YC “VAL” team (RC), Dalibor Ljubić (photos), Jezera Village Holiday Resort (venue), Luka Grubišić (double portions), LOGO d.o.o. (t-shirts) and all involved.It was once again a successful event for the true lovers of the sea, nature and cat sailing. Thank you all for coming, see you next year on the 7th edition.