F18 French Nats 2024 for Volker & Polimeni

– All images Olivier Lhopez / La Rochelle Nautique

F18 French Nats 2024

F18 French Nats 2024 was owned literally by our Argies Pablo Volker & Federico Polimeni. The Argentine sailors racing under the ESP sail won 6 bullets out of 7 races. It was not a big fleet (16 boats) but a super competitive one with World Champ Ravi Parent, two of the top 3 French teams, multiple European Champs Demesmaeker-Tas, Northtrop-Cooper and 4 time Worlds podium Argies Gonzalez-Smith-Heuser.

Wind at La Rochelle saw 10 to 18 knots first day and mixed conditions last one with some light winds racing, the Arg team dominated both days. Pablo told us there were not easy bullets fighting Bader-Peters (Nacra Evo) and Dary-Fanouillere (Goodall Akurra) which finished second and third respectively.

Pablo and Fede got together on the spot at Travemunde last 2023 Worlds, Polimeni is an Argie living in Spain for a couple of years and in 2023 he bought an Akurra. Already in the first qualifying races at past Worlds the newly formed team showed tremendous speed and even led the regatta and had chances to podium title too.

On the lack of preparation sailing together and new boat for Volker, many thought they were lucky or a one hit wonder, but this season they are demonstrating they are serious candidates for the 2024 Championship to be held at Costa Brava in July.

Complete results below: