IF18CA invests in Communications & Promotion

Press Release by Gral Sec Don Findlay:
The International Formula 18 Catamaran Association (IF18CA) are delighted to announce that they have joined forces with Jasper van Staveren to help support the marketing, communication for the F18 sailors. This shows real confidence in the future of the Class at a time when multihull sailing has been so much in the public arena with the Olympic N17 and the success of the AC72’s.

Jasper is 37 years old and lives in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. After he got his Bachelor Degree in (marketing)
communication he worked for 15 years in management roles at a large Telecom company in the Netherlands. In July 2013, he started his own company in communication, extreme sport photography and freelance text writing. He knows the F18 builders, coaches, sailors and most of the youth so knows what’s going on in the catscene.

As an active monohull sailor he sailed many Dutch regattas. Because his spot was on the foredeck he grabbed his camera (after permission from the skipper) in a steady downwind course. At the North Sea Regatta in 2007 he took photos of the prize giving of all classes, the next day Hobie Cat Holland contacted him to use these photos. After that phone call he got several communication and photography assignments and has become a familiar face in the scene.

Jasper will be attending to report on F18 regattas, as well as articles on key sailors in every F18 country and also talking to the technical people to give a real insight into their views on F18 racing. He will not just be looking for the “hot shots” but also keep a close eye on all the youngsters coming forward. Likewise it won’t be just the larger European memberships, but the smaller newer countries to F18 racing that need all his support.

We have prepared a detailed Marketing Plan as we seek a real expansion in F18 sailing, and will be presenting this to Council in next few days.

But it is not just us that provides information, websites are only as active as information that is fed to them, so PLEASE feed Jasper with details of F18 sailors and regattas on [email protected] or [email protected] , Skype is jaspervanstaveren and phone +31 6 2999 0800.

IF18CA wish him every success in his new role as we all work to move the F18 Class forward. We know that all members will welcome Jasper to his new role.

Don Findlay.

Sec. Gen. IF18CA.