F18 Argentine Nats 2011: Gunnar Larsen-Sam Frank Champs
Photos Marcela Zapiola marcelazapiola.com.ar – Full album facebook/catsailingnews –
Gunnar Larsen and Sam Frank finally could demonstrate that extra marging on the final day. Just when it was needed, as I can assure you, they had none going to the final races. Showing their Pro skills as one of the best crews of the planet. They were on a 2010 Infusion MK1 with Longboards.
Light winds coming from 20knots dying North. Two bullets to grab the lead, followed close by Esteban Blando-Nico Aragonés and Juan Faustín-Lucas Gonzalez Smith.
Pierre Le Clainche-Antoine Joubert 6th adapting to the Infusion (they race C2) and conditions were peaking at the end. With this training watchout for them at Canarias.Hunter Stunzi crewing for Mehl on 4th place, next year he will come with Robbie.
I had a bad day although we maintain the 8th overall, and again my respect for Esteban Daneri for crewing at 54, quite a promotion for the class, as you have no age excuse to join us.
The C2s always up there and going fast, catamaran rookie Sergio Armesto (crowned World J24 champ as a crew last week) had more speed than many on his new C2, the performance diff compared to his last events on a Cap was huge and he agreed on the C2 being a key factor. I had to cover him on the final day to defend our 8th.
Esteban Blando and Nico Aragonés were crowned as the Nr1 crew in Argentina, beating some locals with international experience not only on the F18.It was hard work for Esteban, investing lots of time and money as he does not lives in BA, and he traveled every week to train here. (Photos Left and below from Nico Aragonés)
The Wildcat/SI combo was superior in some mid range conditions as also reported several times, but the key factor was how they raced quite consistently and they even had the handicap of not starting the 1st one that could have change the final overall results.Nico proving that right now he is the best crew of the fleet, after having excellents results with Mehl in the past and now excelling with Blando.
So now you have a good excuse to travel to Argentina next offseason, come and match your level against us and our ‘Buenos Aires’.
| Pl | Crew | Tot | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 |
| 1 | Gunnar Larsen & Frank Sam | 12 | -4 | 3 | 2 | -5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Esteban Blando & Nicolas Aragones | 16 | dns | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -5 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Juan Faustin & Lucas Gonzalez Smith | 17 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | -5 | 2 | -4 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Sergio Mehl & Hunler Stunzi | 22 | 3 | 2 | -7 | 2 | 4 | -10 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | Cruz Gonzalez & Mariano Heuser | 27 | 2 | 5 | -10 | -7 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
| 6 | Le Clainche Pierre & Antoine Joubert | 40 | 7 | 6 | 4 | -9 | -9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| 7 | Ian Rodger & Juan M. Benitez | 40 | 5 | -9 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | -9 |
| 8 | Martin Vanzulli & Esteban Daneri | 60 | 6 | ocs | 6 | 12 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 11 | dns |
| 9 | Franco Greggi & Gastón Terrab | 62 | dns | 7 | 11 | 10 | 10 | -12 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| 10 | Agustin Krevinski & E Lopez Segura | 66 | dns | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 17 | -21 | 12 | 8 |
| 11 | Sergio Armesto & J Duarte Argerich | 69 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 8 | -17 | 7 | 8 | 16 | dns |
| 12 | Alberto Veira & Harold Meerhoff | 75 | 10 | 12 | -13 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 12 | -15 | 11 |
| 13 | Cristian Vilate & Fernando Sotelino | 79 | dns | ocs | 12 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 13 | 9 | 10 |
| 14 | Gabriel Berberian & Leo Culotta | 103 | 11 | 10 | 15 | 15 | ocs | 16 | 19 | 17 | dns |
| 15 | Juan P. Sucic & Juan C. Copani | 104 | 8 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 14 | dns | dns | dns |
| 16 | Alejandro Caputo & Suizo Mazza | 104 | dns | ocs | 16 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | dns |
| 17 | Juan Grunwaldt & Juan Grunwaldt | 109 | dns | 11 | 17 | 20 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 14 | dns |
| 18 | Guillermo Castro & Jose M. Collazo | 120 | 12 | 17 | -19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 18 | dns |
| 19 | Alfonso F. Gutierrez & T Perez de Castro | 122 | dns | 15 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 14 | dns | dns |
| 20 | Nicolas Petre & Hernan Vazquez | 130 | dns | dns | dns | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 13 | 12 |
| 21 | Gustavo Ozuna & Javier Poclava | 136 | dns | 16 | dnf | 19 | 15 | 22 | 16 | dns | dns |
| 22 | Federico Heuser & Javier Heuser | 154 | dns | ocs | ocs | 22dnf | 21 | 15 | dns | dns | |
| 23 | Lucas M. Leiva & Gonzalo Nieto | 156 | dns | 18 | dnf | 23 | 21 | dnf | 22 | dns | dns |
So a Wildcat won the ARG nationals using Sail Innovation sails!!! Well done all.
We hope that the international class in a short time take a right decision about these sails illegal, it is not right that can compete with the normal sails…
Yeah!! It's such a massive advantage to have sails that last longer!! May the world council punish this sail maker for bringing a well designed and fast set of sails to the market!
Gunnar also had illegal sails?…
by the current class rules all sails are illegal!!
There is the photo with Gunnar and Sam twin-trapped with the kite up: is this during a race? Was there a big windshift? I am not used to seeing twin-trap with spinnaker on windward-leeward courses and was wondering what the situation was. -GSW
Good turnout. Would be nice to hear what is going on in other South American countries with regard to F18s.
GSW, maybe they are reaching to the finish?? or they are trying to roll the other. the level is not that high of the sailors that you can refer them as on of the best crews of the planet.
And you anon 13:03 are top 5 like Gunnar at the F18 Worlds for how many years?
GSW: I asked Esteban and he told Gunnar Larsen is trying to overtake them in one of Saturday's races.
To the guy saying Larsen is not one of the best multihull sailors of the globe, we invite you next year to give us some clinics, maybe you can teach Gunnar how to start for ie…
Then of course you are going to give a lesson while racing winning with all bullets….mmm don´t think so!
Walk the Talk, if you can. You are officially invited.
Thanks for clarifying! – GSW