Formula 16 Worlds at Knokke, Belgium - Overall
by Jasper van Staveren 21 Jul 2016 23:46 BST
16-22 July 2016
On Thursday July 21th 2016 the last four races of the Formula 16 Worlds have been sailed in Knokke-Heist (Belgium). In perfect conditions Henri Demesmaeker & Alec Bagué were king and finished their series with eight bullets and two second positions. Frenchmen Emmanuel Le Chapelier/Eric Le Bouedec and Louis Flament/Charles Dorange fought till the last moment for silver and bronze.
"We're looking back at a great event where we've grown each day. On the first day it was difficult for us in light weather conditions competing the French and Swiss. During the event it became more difficult for all sailors with substantial guts and shifting breeze on the course", tell Henri (15) and Alec (20).
The Belgium Champs sail this area for almost a decade, but this weeks weather conditions were even for them an eye opener. Demesmaeker: "It was so bizarre, the wind was increasing from Force 1 to 7 in just two hours.... but we dealt with it! After 12 exciting races we won the title at our own club, something we could only dream about. This is really the highlight of the year for us!"
Henri Demesmaeker will be on a trimaran the next couple of days sailing the Tour de France, but will focus on the ISAF Youth Series with Alec after that. They will also start their Olympic campaigns next year to present Belgium in Tokyo in 2020 on the catamaran.
"Thanks to the youth coach program we've had at the Royal Belgium Sailing Club (RBSC) we managed to achieve this victory. Without the help of our coach Sebbe Godefroid we would not have been on the podium at all. The fact that four other Belgium youth teams are in the top 10 says enough. Hopefully we can have similar results in Switzerland next year at the F16 Europeans 2017!"
Full results: www.f16worlds2016.com/results
Photos and latest news: www.facebook.com/f16worlds2016
Official website of the class: www.formula16.net
Host club: www.rbsc.be
The Formula 16 Worlds cannot be held without our sponsors. We thank Knokke-Heist, Catacare, Goodall, Mymainsail.com, Land Rover Belgium, DUO, McDonalds Belgium, BMC, Delen Private Banking and Flamand & Partners for their support.
The Formula 16 catamaran is produced by eight different builders in accordance with the box rule administered by World Sailing.