Solid day at Formula 18 Worlds

Published on July 15th, 2015

Kiel, Germany (July 15, 2015) – The 2015 Formula 18 World Championship continued with its qualifying series, with strong winds on day two allowing the 167 teams to complete four races. Defending 2014 World Champions Gunnar Larsen/ Ferdinand van West (NED) stayed in the top five all day to now hold the lead, with Americans Taylor Reiss/ Matthew Whitehead as the only other team to post all top five scores, and are now tied for third.

Conditions on the water were spectacular and sailors often did double trapeze. Although the wind was very shifty, sometimes shifting 50 degrees, Larsen and Van West did a very good job. In their highly competitive (yellow) fleet they are racing some of the other top dogs already and showed that they will do everything to take take the trophy back to Holland again.

Unfortunately also a big crash occurred where three boats were involved. Simon Flack was one of the victims: “Shortly after the start of race 3 of the series Neil and I sailed a port lane out and sailed past a French boat stuck ‘in irons’. As we passed, the boats powered up behind and upwind of us. This was just at the moment that we were crossing behind a German boat. The French bore down on us at great speed hitting our boat and knocking myself off the back. The result was our boat screwed hard into wind and into the passing German boat. We hit his shroud causing his mast to fall down and cutting a huge slice out of mine.”

Only one more race is needed to complete qualifications but on Thursday conditions are expected to be very light. Races are scheduled at 10:00 and hopefully qualifications can be completed.