So would you rather have only Hobies in the F-18 Class? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Then nobody would have to ask.

The best thing about a formula class is that a number of manufacturers can get involved in making the boats. Why would they want to do that if they aren't ever going to be mentioned and never get any publicity?

More manufacturers means more boats sailing in the class and growth of the class. It means more competition at the top end of the class as manufacturers compete for the top spots SO THEY CAN GET SOME PUBLICITY and sell boats. All of which is good for the growth and diversity of the formula class.

We watch a lot of motocross, which involves formula classes, and it does not take anything away from the riders when the announcer is constantly mentioning who is on what Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, etc.

It's just human nature to want to know the brand of the car or bike, the lineage of the horse, the manufacturer of the sailboat, even though they are all racing straight-up.

The tiger has won the F18 worlds quite often. I do get a smile though. When the Tiger wins, it is because of superior sailors but when the Capricorn wins it is because of the boat. Isn't that taking just a little away from the guys who won??? (I refer to several emails that are floating around from various dealers etc)

I do like to know what brand wins but only as a passing interest.

Tiger Mike

Are you kidding me? Hobie said almost exactly the same thing last year! By the way, Mr. Alter was not present. This is the headline of an article posted on the IHCA website after the 2005 F-18 worlds.

"Hobie Tiger Wins F18 World Championships AGAIN!"

I particularly like "AGAIN" in all capitals. And then shortly thereafter,

"Hobie Tiger 1st and 2nd at the F18 World Championships"

IHCA article on 2005 F-18 Worlds

Eric
A-Class
USA 197

I used hobie as an example.

My post has the same implied meaning as:

"NACRA WINS F18 WORLDS!"

or

"AHPC WINS F18 WORLDS!"

or

"<Insert another manufacturer here> WINS F18 WORLDS!"

In other words, when people start caring more about the boats than the sailors on them.

JOHN WILLIAMS WINS F18 WORLDS!!!!

*sigh* <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sorry - you missed my point - I was saying to the origional poster that Hobie put out the same headlines too.

Can't say I've ever seen Hobiecat say that (whoever) had a worse chance of winning because they were on (a competitors) make boat though.

Tiger Mike

I vote JW wins the Worlds! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Firstly, Hobie crowed about there F18 achievements for years...... Now it is AHPC's turn. For the next 8 months, the Worlds fastest F18 is the Capricorn (and fastest F18 sailors are the Sach Brothers).

Also take notice of the top 5 manufactures. 2 x Capricorns, 2 x Hobies, 1 x Nacra...... Just shows you how close it is. The NACRA finished 5th in its frist Worlds which is a very creditable result. Note the Capricorn also finished 5th in its first Worlds, 6 months after the 2 x prototypes were built. Is this a sign of things to come. The more manufactures up at the pointy end fighting for the #1 position, the better it is for the class.

I also believe it is in the sailors best interest that the boat makes are made public. By doing this, it is advetising the competitive platforms and forcing the manufactures to compete preformance wise as well as price wise, to give us the best value for money products.

If it was never made public that the top F18 was X class, then what will be the incentive for NACRA for example to search for that last small % off preformance.

The other thing I'd be interested to know is the weights of the top few crews, particularly as it was a light wind event.

SOOOOO, John Williams WAS the winner?? I thought so. (Hall of fame here he comes) Well done John, keep up the nocturnal exercise.

I trust john will be defending his title in Australia <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

thanks was just intrested how new nacra went i have a tiger and really don't care who wins I would prefer the top ten to one boat from every manufacture. well done to john

JOHN WILLIAMS WINS F18 WORLDS ON F14!!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

"How about Hobie Tiger is dominating the F18 fleet."

We heard that one plenty in the past.

You know, those tiger come with a button and when you press that you win the World championship, isn't that a great feature. Apparently both the flyer A-cats and Tornado's have the same button as Darren and Glenn win those as well.

I for one am not ashamed to say that I'm loving every minute of this. Just as when the Boulogne brothers won the Worlds in 2002 on their own design against the same onslaught of Hobie hired guns and Hobie money.

You know what this proof to me ? That the formula concept is really working.

Wouter

As far as I can see, this class is working really well. The results show that there's nothing in it between the boats, so we get good competitive racing. At the same time, people are happy to believe that there's something to be gained by having one boat rather than another, so we get a good competitive market with multiple manufacturers putting a lot of money back into the sport.

Have a look at the Hobie/Nissan videos at La Torche and tell me that that's not good promotion for the sport as a whole. Now would we see that kind of interest if the manufacturer of the winning boat didn't get bragging rights?

Paul

I second that!

It's just marketing folks...Hobie has always run a good campaign - they have a solid boat with solid sailors who are very talented and sail a lot. All the ra-ra does get to be a bit agressive but the excessive chest thumping, as Wouter said, shows how well the formula is working. The manufacturers are fighting hard for such a tiny edge.

Here's a question... who came up with the formula? Seriously. Go back far enough and there's probably like one or two guys who got behind the original concept. And when was the last significant change to the formula? I don't mean changing the dimensions of the paddle or limits on carbon fiber, but substantive changes like hull width or volume.

Also, I've only read bits here and there about an inordinate number of protests at Worlds... anyone who was there able to talk about that? Someone cited 20 protests a day?! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

F18 was originally born from SCHRS and the rules basically define a platform that would carry the same rating within that handicap system and target the two particular crewing weight ranges. Pierre-Charles Barraud and Olivier Bovyn were the two behind F18. This speaks pretty well for the parameter driven SCHRS (small catamaran handicap racing system).

http://www.f18-international.org/history.htm

I think a lot were based on boat's etc. I.e. weights, carrying all the equipment that the class rules say you must etc.

Plus, the closer the champs (and the lighter the wind), the more protests happen.

Scoob -

I'd agree with you on the race conditions generating protests between competitors, but there is talk that some (maybe many?) of the protests were filed by the RC against competitors... I'm re-reviewing the NAF-18 rules now so that I don't get sideways at Nationals. Didn't realize that the jib must be able to furl from the tramp during racing. I have a furler, but hadn't run any line to it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Also noticed that the NAF-18 logos have to go on the port and starboard hulls under the rear beam... right where my "Capricorn" logo is. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Just wondered what the Worlds-level RC protests might have been about.