F18 ARG Nats 2022: Krevisky & Benitez 1st

All images YCA / Karina Feijoó. – This past weekend we had an excellent four days of racing at the Yacht Club Argentino, located within Buenos Aires port area. Same venue for the 2016 Worlds and recent Moth ones.

First day 4 races in light but fun 8/10knots tops. Friday Argentina was playing NED so all including the PRO wanted to be early back on land to watch Football Worlds Quarter Final Match. A light dying Northerly allowed only one race so we all went to shore, same as the 49er/Fx and the Star fleet which was racing their South Ams.

Saturday we had 20knots from South East, and pretty big waves/chop, powerful drives downwind surfing out the high chop. Four races completed in sunny perfect day.

Sunday a strong North East offering the usual flat conditions, delivered more perfect F18 playground.
The downwinds were a blast, so much fun getting 20knots speed with my friend from Rosario, Gonzalo Nieto. Both in our 50s, this class is hard on the crews on the breeze, but regaining hours onboard will smooth the handling.

The top pack was dominated by Agustin Krevisky & ‘Tigre’ Benitez (Scorpion / 1D) scoring 10 bullets out of 12 races. Second place for Fran Venetucci & Nico Quagliotti (Phantom / 1D) , the high wind specialists from Rosario were super fast and third overall for JP Sucic & ‘Cuco’ Benitez (Scorpion / Landenberger DS).

Good 14 boats fleet with some crews that couldn’t attend, like Cruz G Smith & Mariano Heuser. Many wanting to participate again. We had to rebuilt the fleet after the s* pands…. we were +20 F18s locally racing back in 2019.

The Yacht Club Argentino delivering such a Classy event, with barbecue, beers, fruits , water all at hand for the competitors, plus the Arg Quarter Final Football Worlds Match we watched together, it was one of the best local regattas ever.

Seeing the Star fleet, all talented experienced sailors I kept wondering what they are all really missing.
The F18 downwind in the breeze its the essence of high performance archimidean sailing. Good time to remind that the F18 will never ever need to foil to maintain the allure, that special feeling that comes from blasting a Catamaran through the course race.