Formula 18 2021: Our view
Photo above by Gianluca Di Fazio resumes 2021 for the F18 Class in a perfect way. Mitch & Ruben leading, Argies behind on the Scorpions with the Akurra & Evo on the move.
In spite all the restrictions, prohibitions and Liberty cuts the IF18CA rightly decided to go forward with 2021 Worlds at Gaeta and we had a great regatta.
For me it was a joy to see Mitch Booth sailing with Ruben grabbing the Worlds after a long term project for both, on board the Scorpion was a plus.
The fest was completed when my Argie mates filled the rest of the podium sailing Scorpions I personally got for them, delivered to Gaeta by the great hard working Exploder Team, just in time for them to prepare for a previously planned (and finally completed) podium Mission.
The Scorpion project has now 4 Consecutive World Titles.
Having Mischa Heemskerk, Darren Bundock (who I invited to race again F18 that year) , Mitch Booth as World Champs sailing the Beast its too much for such humble project which started back in 2012.
Seeing Dany & Kostas also winning was excellent, setting the F18 as the Open remaining performance Class of choice. Helping Marton and his 1D project reaching full Scorpion / 1D podiums in 2019/2021 was also another nice project.
Class Status
The health of the F18 was always measured on new boat sales, new designs move the used market forward offering cheap alternatives for newcomers. 2021 saw the launch of three new platforms to try to stop the Exploder Scorpion dominance.
Nacra Evo & Goodall Akurra followed the Scorpion hull shape, and they copy its main assets too (which we took from Fischer’s Wildcat/Phantom and Melvin’s Infusion).
Both new F18s showed excellent performance, leveling the field even further. The Cirrus 901 was a risky bet, and did not fulfilled the hype created by them previous the Worlds at Gaeta, but at the North Ams the 901 did pretty well with Manu & Matt on board. More time on the water and trimming hours might get full potential out of the new Cirrus, thus final word is still to be written on this project.
The F18 will endure long term, if we continue to allow the controlled incremental development. Latest ones were our own idea to allow convertible platforms along Epoxy resins and the full acceptance of the Decksweeper Mainsail introduced by Mischa in the F18 in 2017.
We don’t see right now any other critical upgrade or modification to be made, this full 3.0 version will stand some years in current configuration.
Pushing a bit, maybe small Landy winglets might add safety and control in the breeze, but will be hard to implement, target a fixed restricted small area stabilizer as Andrew Landenberger pioneered in the A Class.
On the rest, we are in a consolidation stage of modern big volume wave piercers and DS mainsails, which has some additional room to play surely. No big changes foreseen ahead.
2021 Sailors of the Year
Vice World Champs at Gaeta, Vice Champs North Ams and St Bart winners. Argies Cruz Gonzalez Smith & Mariano Heuser were close to complete this year Triple Crown, and demonstrate around the Globe they are currently at the top of the F18 Class performance. Hard Work and Dedication are too common phrases to describe success, but be sure these two are just that. The #1 World Title (they finished 2nd too in BA 2016) is the only thing missing for them, and surely it will come their way sooner or later.
2022
Coming Worlds will be held in Clearwater, FL. Strong local teams are favorite but the Argies want even more. The performance is there for a 1-2, that would be the epitome of our local Class although current achievements are beyond what was thought possible some years ago.
Another big event will be Europeans at Garda, and we hope to see our mate Gavin Colby showing his performance, the old guy has renewed will to race F18s, as happened with Bundy when he returned in 2019. This revamp of the Old Guard coming back full bore is direct result of the controlled latest devels and current F18 platforms configurations mentioned above.
In both events we also want the Aussie Armada present, led by Brett Burvil & Max Puttman on their Windrush Edge/Nxt Gen Sails platform.
Personally I will finally have my own Scorpion, container coming to Arg end of January, and we will work again with our long time friend Felix Egner / Landenberger OD to get more sails alternatives on the market.
My target for 2022 is to sail the Scorpion with my kids, that surely will close a great F18 Class cycle started in 2004 when from thin air I decided to “design” and build a local F18 platform.
Don
On Don Findlay, our tribute along Gunnar’s was published this week, read here.
Respect
In the end, the great highlight of 2021 were the Sach bros, Helge & Christian, showing how its done at Gaeta Worlds. The new Goodall Design Akurra provided the former World Champs a perfect platform for them to handle +22kntos breeze days plus their usual light wind performance.
Hats off to both, and keep pushing.
