F18 Argentina, Cerrato Grand Prix final day

Photo: Martin Erikson – 2nd Smith-Heuser, Mehl-Aragones, 3rd, in front.

Photo: Martin Erikson – Winners: Juan Faustin- LucasSmith

Photo: Martin Erikson – Laser top world sailor, Julio Alsogaray with Javier Heuser

Photo: Martin Erikson – Tornado Sailor , Esteban Blando and his girlfriend Pilar

Photo: Martin Erikson – 4th Rodger-Benitez

Photo: Martin Erikson –
Photo: Martin Erikson – 5th Martin Vanzulli-Martin Vari
All Photos courtesy of Martin Erikson: WWW.MARTINERIKSON.COM
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End of the Cerrato grand Prix in Buenos Aires.
The F18 fleet races were more close this weekend, with one of the ‘Rosarinos’ present, Tornado sailor Esteban Blando, that could drive from home finally, pushing the top crews with some excellent reults: 2,1,7,2,8 with those two high numbers on reported hardware problems.
He also is riding 130kg with his girlfriend Pilar, using the new rules on weight : +130 you need to add the weight difference to 135 plus 7,5kg : he added 10kg-
We had calm winds races, and for sure he was in front but with no margin with his closest opponent, and today I kill him in speed and angle in the regatta start with less wind of the championship to the top mark, where Vari and I reached 2nd at the buoy, for ending 9th?? wtf?? ….I couldn´t helm the boat yesterday and today downwind with calm weather, I was awfull. I felt too much pressure on the rudders and we changed the mast rake from last weekend , we also had bad layline calls all day , whatever the excuse it was a shame.

Championship to Juan Faustín and Lucas Gonzalez Smith with an Infusion, , 2nd Cruz Gonzalez Smith and Mariano Heuser. These two crews were the best the whole championship- But their good advantage over the rest on the water was almost none on the final races with some ‘high’ scores for boths as the other crews got better too-

Sergio Mehl ended 3rd with his Crackers & Biscuit C2 (Hey Brett, can you arrange sending one so I can make the official review???… apologies in advance if not returned afterwards…) , followed only 1 point behind by Ian Rodger and his local made Capricorn. We were 5th overall, and although we have some really excellent moments in all races we couldn´t finish the job, happy with the speed and a good result without any hard training compared to top 4-

Photo: Martin Erikson – Capricorn made in Argentina

Excellent finish for Ian Rodger and Juan Martín Benitez with 3,3 and a bullet on the final race. Good reward to Ian as he is doing an excellent work with the local Cap, all by himself, building it and racing her to to it’s best , with a solid final win over the Infiusion fleet.