Where are the F18s in the US?

Where are the F18 fleets primarily found in the US?

(I used to see a lot of Tigers around but haven't in the last couple years around Northern and Central California.)

I was just talking with a Cali sailor about that very thing. I'm told that a bunch of F18 guys are on 16s in preparation for Nationals and Worlds. The guy I was talking with estimated about half of them (eight or so in SoCal) would be back on F18 for next season. I'm moving to the LA area with an F18, so I hope that is true.

There are ten or twelve F18s in Florida that race, but some have gone back to the Nacra 20 for things like Tybee and N20 Nationals in Pensacola this October. I understand that Performance will allow an open class at Nacra Nationals, and several F18 guys are talking about going - it is one week after F18 Nationals in Texas is over.

Eric:

We still have a large number of Formula 18s in So Cal. You have not been to a regatta here lately if you have not seen them. I know you have not as I have not seen you.

I have a list of about 40 in the Western area and contact them about twice or more a month. We are also getting more interested and some coming in from other areas like JW and Charles from the Netherlands. I have talked to a couple of sailors from other classes that are seriously considering Formula 18s as well.

As John mentioned there are several F18 sailors in this area that are on 16s this year in practice for the Nationals in Alameda or the Worlds in Fiji, but will be back on the F18 right after.

In Northern CA there is a big Miracle 20 fleet so some of the Formula sailors are sailing that boat so they can have boats on the start line. They will come down for a nice sized Formula race in So Cal though.

For those of you thinking about sailing here there will be 2 Infusions available for charter during the Santa Barbara Wind and Roses regatta, August 18th and 19th. I do not know how much they are. I suspect that they are being chartered so the boats can be set up and ready to race when they get to the delivery site in Canada. I suspect we will have more than 20 F18s on the line at that regatta.

Later,
Dan

In Minnesota we now have or will soon have five F18s, I believe there is a sixth but I am not in touch with that one so a I can't confirm.
In Wisconsin there are seven total, four of them actively raced. (one cabin boat, one semi retired, two with the same owner)
Last year in Iowa there were two, however, one may have been sold, and the other maybe for sale (aren't they all).
There are at least two in Northern Illinois. Don't believe any F18s are down in the St Louis area anymore.
That's a potential grand total of 17, not bad when you consider four years ago there was only one!

Michigan and Indiana has a number of boats, hard to get a handle on the exact numbers. I would estimate 6-10 racing at least occasionly in that area.

And this is a true formula fleet of boats with Hobie, Nacra (all three versions) and Capicorn all represented.

There's one in Las Vegas.
I purchased a used Tiger Through Fast Lane Sailing in San Diego. There's a bunch of sailors at Mission Bay YC 18's and 20's.
Dan... I'm going to go sign up for the NAF18 membership.
Larry

We've had a good fleet of F18s in the EMSA area. Here is breakdown of boats that race regularly:
GA- 3
SC- 4
NC- 3
VA- 2
I'm sure there are more, but these are the only ones we see at our events.

Larry:

That is great! Welcome on board. Make sure you introduce yourself when you see me at a regatta.

Dan

I just bought a Nacra F18 in San Diego. It'll be staying at the Mission Bay Yacht Club where there are already several Infusions and Tigers.
-Robert

We now have 12 F18s racing on the Division 6 circuit in Texas. 2007 saw an explosion - with a number of top racers moving onto the platform in 2007. Holding the North American Championships here really helped drive interest in the class.

We had 8 F18s on the line at the last regatta of the season and agreed to create a local F18 points championships in Texas based on 5 of our Division regattas.

Good times!

Chris Green.

There's me(Bim) and Joe(Tiger) on Coeur d' Alene Lake in northern ID, wishing we had company. Do I get to be part of the gang even if it's an HT?

dave

Dave,
The Tiger's from Seattle are coming to an event that Miles is putting on at Coeur d' Alene Lake. I don't have my calendar with me now. Check the Division 4 Hobie website's proposed schedule. We'll be in Moses Lake around April. That's not too far for you is it?

Hey Don,
I'll be sure to make the CdA event, and Moses Lake is only an hour and a half west of Spokane, so I should be able to pull that off too. Keep reminding me!
Any advice on simplified racing rules? I'm pretty clueless about racing, have primarily been interested in blasting around.

Dave

Don,

Is the Moses Lake thing a Hobie only event? Or are you able to slum with us Nacra types?

"the mosses lake area" thing is for all. It is a fun sail where there will be lot of boats out just getting warmed up for the season.
This event is April 4-6, I am the coordinator. Scott I will send you an email.

If you would like a info, email me at
mikehensel220(at)msn(dot)com

It is also the first event in our Youth Series. I can also send info on these events.

Potholes Warm Up, a family fun sail event. April 4-6.
Hobie 101 and Youth Clinic, put on at Sail Sand Point. May 10.
Summer Celebration, a Youth Only Regatta. July 26, 27.
Oktoberfest, Anouther Youth Regatta. September 27, 28.

Yea, same thing I try to advise all the others that I race with..."just follow me!" <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

There's a computer game called VSK5 that is getting some of us through the winter. It's an online virtual sail racing game. Cost is cheap and you play head-to-head with skippers from around the world. Kind of addictive though...

Consider it a family reunion. Plus, we're getting tired of talking badly about each other; And we don't like to talk about you behind your back. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />So we need you to come and let the smack talk begin. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Robert Todd:

Email me so you can be on my mailing list of Formula 18 sailors in So Cal. I send out reminders of regattas and the schedule.

Dan DeLave
ddelave"at"aol"dot"com