F18 Worlds 2018 @Sarasota YC: Practice Race

All images by Elevated Creative, more at F18 Worlds Fb page. Complete gallery at Elevated Creative website. – – Light winds for the practice race today. Many not finished as usual but the info I have is that Burvill-Puttman (Edge/Next Gen) was leading along Salerno-Grimaldi from Arg (C2/Goodall Design DS).

Burvill was short on the layline for a gate and abandon race while the Arg team continued and actually passed through the Finish line. Scores for those who complete the practice race were available at regattanetwork.com/event/14553.

Light winds expected for the week as well.
On the contenders, we have plenty this time around but these two crews have the weight on their shoulders: 2017 defending Chamops Heemskerk-Dekker and Paschalidis-Trigonis (2018 Europeans Champs.
Then locals  Easton-Burd and Reiss-Whitehead. Australians Burvill-Puttman & James Clark-Brett Goodall,  and Mitch & Ruben Booth . Add to the list Melvin-van West.
4 Arg crews are in good shape and will put them as Dark Horses.

This will be the first Worlds with all top riders sailing DS mainsails, first major event was already Europeans 2018 in July. In 2017 Mischa Heemkerk sailed a Scorpion with the first DS used on an F18 Worlds and swept the fleet with Stephan Dekker.
With all their closest competitors using DS too this time around, we will have a more leveled field and a good test for the 2017 World Champs.
Sarasota Worlds will be one of the most competitive Worlds ever in my view and we expect lots of tight racing at the top.

We will be updating info as it comes, also follow  official F18 Worlds 2018 fb: facebook.com/F18Worlds2018  and official regatta website: regattanetwork.com/event/14553.