F18 European Championship 2022 at Circolo Vela Arco
by Elena Giolai 11 Jul 2022 15:55 BST
4-10 July 2022
The United States, Australia, and Argentina were the stars at the European F18 Championship just concluded on Garda Trentino and organised by the Circolo Vela Arco, in collaboration with the Italian Sailing Federation and the F18 class, catamarans from yards as diverse as Goodal C2, Viper, Shockwave, Nacra, Mattia 18, Hobie Cat, and Cirrus F18.
An overseas internationality then for a Championship that involved 88 crews, who battled it out on the waters of Garda Trentino in very varied wind conditions, light, stronger, from the south and north, in seven qualifying races and five finals.
Some twenty nations were present, including not only the aforementioned USA and Argentina, but also Chile as non-continental nations.
The overall podium was played out mainly between the three who eventually occupied the three steps, given the gap between third and fourth, which was 22 points. But as there were non-European crews in the top positions, the battle, apart from the Belgian Demesmaeker-Tas in third, was interesting with the French Bader-Bjornholt fourth overall and second European and the Germans Wunderle Manuel and Fabian, seventh overall behind Australia and Argentina and third European. First women were the Germans Donitzky-Wittman.
The Italians, present with 18 crews, were half in the first part of the ranking and then in the gold fleet. Ninth European and 13th overall was Marco Radman with Pierpaolo Cirese (Centro Vela Sunset).
For everyone it was a great week of sailing with a class that was both challenging and fun.
Full results here