Photos & Complete report sent by Marc Kühn / Johannes Kemler / German F16 Assoc. Good to have this material from the 2019 F16 Euros, as we couldn’t get much data.

Report from the 2019 Formula16 Europeans

Maubuisson, Lac d‘Hourtin/France. From July 21st to 27th the Formula16 (F16) European Championships were held in this superb sailing area. This year’s Euros could also have been called “Small Worlds” due to participants from Australia and New Zealand as well. With the lead of the French Class Association and hosting club Cercle Voile de Bordeaux (CVB), an exceptional organization team provided the sailors with one week of racing. In 9 races and under varying wind conditions teams from France and Switzerland from all ages managed to get on the podium:

1st:  FRA 850, CLABON Armand / BERTHOMIEU Lou (Viper)

2nd: SUI 10, LUTZ Andreas / LUTZ Andrea (Falcon)

3rd:  FRA 99, LE CHAPELIER Emmanuel / LE BOUEDEC Eric (Bimare)

Full results: 

https://www.cerclevoilebordeaux.com/regates/resultats-2019/european_f16_g.htm

For this event, the so far biggest fleet of all F16 Euros ever registered and 54 boats showed up at the CVB. The teams among the F16 sailors, many of them attending the major events of the last years constantly, show to be both divers and competitive as well: youth teams from the Nacra15 taking the chance for racing in bigger fleets, father-son, mixed sailing in all age bands as well as girl teams all fought hard around the bouys in an impressive manner.

All currently available F16 models from all builders (Goodall Design – Viper, Falcon Europe – Falcon F16, Nacra – Nacra F16, Bimare – X16, BCM – Cirrus Q and Mattia – Mattia F16) were present at Maubuisson and for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) a short discussion with the builders could be held where Goodall Design, Falcon Europe, Nacra and Bimare representatives attended. 

With the latest adaption of the F16 box rule, at first hand the  new lower weight limit of 125kg, the builders are happy to have certainty and therefore a good basis for developing and building competitive and economical boats. All boats seem to be built now close to this weight limit and therefore are fighting head-to-head on the course. 

Evolution and ongoing development of the class can be perceived from:

-The new Nacra F16 having new shaped carbon hulls and a carbon mast as an option,

– The 2nd generation Viper being also available as a convertible to provide both legal fleet racing and foiling, 

– Bimare boats continued production in France, 

– The Falcon F16 now also being built in Europe with carbon mast, carbon beams and standard sails from 1D.

Deck sweeper technology has found its way to the class, currently mainly with the single-handers. Due to the currently still existing luff length limitation in the F16 box rule the single handers gain most from a better pressure distribution while two-ups obviously wait for the next possibility for a rule ballot/change in 2020/2021. 

Brett Goodall from Goodall Design not only attended by himself to the event but brought with him the latest convertible Viper in foiling configuration. While a convertible Viper in standard configuration raced the course single handed, this demonstration boat was available to everybody during the whole event for getting foiling experience and for testing, creating a lot of attraction. Many thanks to Brett for this great experience!

From the reports of the national class associations during the AGM meeting, a small, but constant growth in terms of members can be attested. This underpins in a welcomed way the growing racing fleet.  F16 sailing obviously provides a good compromise for a wide range of regatta-ambitious and sports-minded sailors as well. 

With professional trainings the class’s level of sailing could be raised impressively among the attendees. The F16 spring training at beautiful Lake Como, offered in the fourth year in a row now, this year under supervision of Silvia Siccouri, and a race clinic right in advance to the Euros on the race area, this time with Mitch Booth, both will be continued and maintained.

Upcoming F16 events are the 2020 World Championships that will be held in Gravedona, Lake Como and in 2019 the Belgian, Dutch, German and Swiss Natinonals are still to be sailed. Stay tuned on the international and national associations’ web sites and Facebook. 

Marc Kühn / Johannes Kemler, 

German Class Association