Please select your home edition
Edition
sMRT ALERT UK 1

Formula 18 World Championships in Italy - Day 2

by Formula 18 World Championships 10 Jul 2013 00:51 BST 5-12 July 2013

Three heats were competed today in the Formula 18 Worlds which run at Marina di Grosseto, the home waters of the Compagnia della Vela, until Friday, July 12th 2013. The star of the day was British sailor Hugh Styles who leap-frogged to the top of the standings ahead of French sailors Francois Gabart and Gurvan Bontemps who are within two points of each other.

Tomorrow brings the final two qualifying heats before the finals which the Committee is hoping to get started by afternoon The Marina di Grosseto racing waters, currently hosting the Formula 18 Worlds 2013, delivered a splendid day's racing today.

After yesterday's rain forced the committee to halt the action after just one start, today a 9 to 15-knot westerly and a calm sea served up the perfect conditions for the 161 teams entered to showcase their talents. The race committee successfully started all three races planned for today for each of the two groups into which the large fleet of Formula 18 catamarans is divided, delivering both public and crews a truly unique day's sailing.

The undisputed star of the whole day, however, was Brit Hugh Styles (crew Richard Mason) on GBR 7, who, thanks to one win, one second and a third place, shot all the way up to the top of the overall standings with just 5 points. After a second position garnered yesterday, the British team today proved they are capable of delivering superbly consistent results, securing their reputation as one of the two favourites to take overall victory.

Now lying second in the overall standings, on 6 points, are Francois Gabart and Matthieu Vandame (FRA 301), courtesy of one win and one third-place finish from today (the BDF in race 2 was cancelled out by the discard). This means that the French team now lies ahead of their fellow countrymen Bontemps-Amiot (FRA 004) who are currently on 7 points and thus take the third step on the podium ahead of a third French duo, Besson-Lagarrigue (FRA 1796).

Mitch and Jordi Booth (ESP 1910), however, slipped down to seventh position on 15 points as, after yesterday's win, they could only manage an 8th, a 6th and an 11th (discard) today. Mischa Heemskerk (OLA 1796) also had a fantastic day, taking home two wins and an 18th-place finish. However, the Dutchwoman also paid a high price for her disqualification from yesterday's race 1, slipping down to 11th in the overall standings.

The best performance of today from the large group of Italian teams racing came from Bissaro-Cesari (ITA 13) who, thanks to a 4th, a 14th and a 9th position, are now in 13th position, while De Paoli-Stella (ITA 3) are 17th and RadmanCioni (ITA 23) are 22nd.

Results: www.compagniadellavelagrosseto.it
Information: 2013.f18worlds.com
Photos: www.sailingandtravel.it/gallery-f18
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MondialiVela2013

Update on disqualification situation

The race committee made the decision overnight to remove the disqualification slapped on Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij (NED 1796) for a contact with its own boat at the finish in race 1. This sent the team flying to the top of the standings in the Compagnia della vela Grosseto's Formula 18 Worlds with Gabart and Styles still hanging on in second. The change came in the course of the night when the race committee accepted the request for redress made by Mischa Heemskerk and Bastiaan Tentij (NED 1796) regarding their disqualification from race 1 for touching off the race committee boat at the finish.

The Dutch team, which had race committee boat at the finishbeen lagging behind in the standings until yesterday, now finds itself with an extra second place in hand and one disqualification less. The result is that it has bounced up to the top of the overall standings with four points in four races. Francois Gabart hangs on to second position (6 points), while yesterday's leader, Brit Hugh Styles has dropped down to third (6 points).

"A request for redress for the disqualification was made", chairman of the race committee Costanzo Villa declared. "Although the race committee boat at the finish was anchored, it wasn't holding well and was using engine power to try to maintain its position, with the result that it wasn't completely still. As a result, it wasn't the competitor's boat that hit it but the other way around. Once these facts had been verified, the competitor's boat's original position was reinstated".

"Obviously, we're very happy" commented Bastiaan Tentij, bowman of NED1796. "This morning we found ourselves facing a not-bad ranking. We were hoping for this decision as we were sure we were right. We're really delighted with the ruling and now we're focusing on the two last races today before the finals".

Related Articles

Gould and Mackley's Merlin wins at Grafham
In the Seldén Sailjuice Winter Series Gill Grafham Grand Prix Across three handicap racing fleets at the Gill Grafham Grand Prix, Chris Gould and Sophie Mackley race their Merlin Rocket to overall victory in a field of 130 monohulls and multihulls, with 10 different classes in the combined top 10 rankings. Posted on 31 Dec 2024
Worrell 1000 Race 2024 Lay Day & Leg 7
Folly Beach, SC is the new "lay-day" checkpoint for the race this year Folly Beach, SC is the new "lay-day" checkpoint for the race this year. Posted on 20 May 2024
Rutland Sailing Club Cat Open 2024
A-Cats, F18s, F20s, Shearwaters, Catapults and a lone F15, an F16 and a Dart 15 make up the fleet Rutland Sailing Club hosted its Catamaran Open in their traditional mid-May slot this weekend. Unfortunately, this year for some reason, attendance was somewhat below the usual numbers who would flock to this big and picturesque venue. Posted on 20 May 2024
Worrell 1000 Race 2024 Legs 5 & 6
Not only a physical and strategical challenge, but one of mental endurance On Thursday morning, May 16th - Teams lined up on the beach in Jacksonville, Florida, ready to set sail on the longest leg of the event: JAX Beach to Tybee Island, GA - 120 miles. Posted on 18 May 2024
Worrell 1000 Race 2024 Legs 3 & 4
The Ocean is a Sleeping Giant… For those who are familiar with the history of the Worrell 1000, they know this race has claimed many boats, bones & pride. The quote "The ocean is a sleeping giant..." started a post-race story by Bud Zimmerman in 1976, the Race Coordinator of that time. Posted on 16 May 2024
Worrell 1000 Race 2024 Day 1
Racing underway from Hollywood Beach, Florida The 23rd running of the world-famous Worrell 1000 extreme, distance catamaran race got under way Sunday, May 12th in Hollywood Beach Florida. Posted on 14 May 2024
Oldest videos of racing catamarans
We start in 1965, covering Hobie, Shearwater, Prindle and C Class, then the Worrell 1000 We delve into the past, and round-up all the videos which show racing catamarans, including Hobie cats, Shearwaters, Prindles and C Class, from the 1960s to the 90s. Plus some Worrell 1000 history. Posted on 7 Apr 2024
Allen Endurance Series 2024 dates announced
Promising a thrilling and competitive season-long event for catamaran and skiff sailors The Allen Endurance Series proudly unveils its 2024 schedule, promising a thrilling and competitive season-long event for catamaran and skiff sailors to compete for. 2024 marks the 5th year of the premier long-distance sailing series. Posted on 8 Feb 2024
New England 100: 100 miles of endurance racing
36 sailors competed in this test of athleticism, determination, and nerve around Narragansett Bay Last weekend, catamaran sailors took to Narragansett Bay for 2 days and 100 miles of high-speed endurance racing for the "New England 100". Posted on 18 Aug 2023
Canadian F18 Raid Championship preview
Sail around Prince Edward County in three legs, this August Around PEC Regatta will be the support event for 2023 CAN F18 Raid Championship. The regatta comprises three legs which cover about 250km sailing around Prince Edward County and starting in Trenton. Each day will stop at a different location. Posted on 27 Jul 2023