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All images by https://www.ringtale.media/ , complete gallery here

Below report by our good mate Pablo Volker, who has now two F18 World Titles under his belt as helm, plus several Arg Nats crowns, and now he adds a North American trophy crewing for Charles Froeb, who wins yet another North Americans.

Nice to see him dominate the Formula 18. A kid coming from Optis and later 420s (World Champ too) growing up on a 100% monohull focused environment in the local Argentine yachting scene, adopting Catamaran Racing and the Formula 18 as his preferred Class, shows how you just need to give youth a chance to sail Classes beyond what the local status quo impose.

The wide range of regattas and event around the globe for racing cats is huge, and you will be able to have fun along serious competitive racing for decades.
Charles is a great example, he keeps top level performance even in the toughest conditions, like the one they encountered in Perth Worlds earlier this year. With a couple of North Americans titles already won, Charles has many years left for him to continue to collect more crowns.

Congrats to Pablo and Charles for this 2026 North Americans Title racing a Nacra Evo + 1D Sails by Marton Balazs

F18 Americas Championship 2026: Team Report & Insights

By Pablo Volker.

Overview & Schedule
The championship took place over four days of racing, running from Tuesday, September 22nd to Friday, September 25th (preceded by a practice race on Monday). Throughout the entire event, the breeze consistently blew from the North/Northeast sector, shifting slightly more to the North-Northwest by the final day.

Day 1: Squalls, Delays, and Big Shifts
The practice race on the eve of the championship was marked by light winds. However, Day 1 of the official racing kicked off with high drama right on the starting sequence, as a series of squalls rolled through the course. Race management had to postpone the start until the storm passed and the breeze re-established itself, resulting in a two-hour delay.

We finally got underway in medium winds. On the first downwind leg, a massive 40-degree shift hit the fleet accompanied by a significant increase in wind pressure. The race finished in a bit of a procession, with the second beat turning into a single-tack fetch, and the final downwind leg too tight to even hoist the spinnaker. However, since the major positional changes had settled by the time the big shift rolled in, it felt like a fair shake overall rather than a lottery.

Day 2: Shaking off the Rust and Figuring Out the Course
Conditions on Day 2 delivered medium breeze, building slightly towards the end of the day.

Teaming up with Charles [Froeb] again after not sailing together for over three months meant we felt a bit rusty during Day 1 and the early part of Day 2. We were definitely missing that razor-sharp boat-on-boat synergy at first.

Other top contenders, Matthew and Liam, had started the regatta very strongly with a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the opening races. However, in the third race of Day 2 (race four overall), a communication error led to a serious collision with another boat. We heard over the radio that it was a heavy crash, and they unfortunately missed two races. By the end of Day 2, it was clear they were out of the running, leaving John Casey and Dalton Tebo out in front with a solid lead.

By the 3rd and 4th races of Day 2, though, we started clicking and got a much better handle on the course logic. Generally, the left side paid off, but there were specific shifts that rewarded those who played them rather than blindly committing to the left corner. By the final race of the day, we finally put it all together: we secured a bullet (1st place) and managed to beat our direct rivals.

Day 3: Heavy Breeze and Strategic Focus
Day 3 (Thursday) brought the strongest winds of the event. After a brief postponement, a large portion of the fleet hit the water, and we managed to sail a much cleaner, more consistent day.

Charles Tomeo and Matthew Whitehead joined the fight on this day, racing on an akurra and showing incredible speed in the heavy breeze, they stole us the 1st race of the day. However, our main objective was clear: we needed to consistently beat John and Dalton, especially since we had dropped the first four head-to-head encounters against them. Our strategy was to stay clean, keep tabs on John and Dalton, and chip away at their points. We executed this plan well on Day 3, securing three bullets and a 2nd.

Final Day: Closing the Deal
Entering the final day, we were ahead on points. We knew there would be a bit less breeze—conditions where John and Dalton matched up more evenly with us—so we went out highly focused and disciplined, playing the correct side of the course.

In the first race of the day, we were leading the fleet, but in the final downwind leg, our focus on covering John and Dalton allowed Tomeo and Whitehead to slip past us to take the win. Dropping that position didn’t hurt us, as our primary goal was strictly covering our main rivals. In the following race, we led from start to finish, which mathematically sealed the championship and gave us some breathing room.

Although we had already secured the title, we decided to race the third and final race of the day (and the last of the championship) purely for the enjoyment, shedding all pressure. John and Dalton led that race until the very end of the final downwind, but they overstood the layline, allowing us to sneak past and take the win.

Final Thoughts
Looking back, while the final standings might make the victory look dominant, it was far from a blowout. Every single race was fiercely contested with constant lead changes; you had to fight for every inch.

A major tactical challenge throughout the event was the windward mark, which was always set very close to the coast. This made the approach and the exit quite tricky, especially dealing with the shifts and gusts right near the mark. The first part of the downwind leg required maximum concentration and precise gybing until you broke through into the more stable pressure closer to the middle of the course. Once Charles and I wrapped our heads around that dynamic, that’s where we were finally able to make the difference.

Official results here

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All images & vid by Italian F18 Assoc

Found some time to update the web. This past weekend the Formual 18 Italian fleet went racing to beautiful Punta Ala spot, 21 boats at the start. The locals are lucky to have many first class venues to host their series & Nats.

Top 3 teams sailing Goodall platforms: Akurra, C2, Akurra

Below Rerport & pics sent by Alessandro Pelliccia (Ufficio Stampa / F18 Italy). Official web plus plenty of pics at www.formula18.it/f18/vigano-vigano-campioni-italiani-2026/

Matteo & Andrea Viganò Dominate to Win the 2026 Italian Formula 18 Catamaran Championship in Punta Ala

PUNTA ALA — Three first places out of three races contested on the final day. With this flawless finish, Matteo and Andrea Viganò secured the 2026 Italian Formula 18 Catamaran Championship, which concluded this weekend at the Centro Velico Punta Ala.

The event featured over twenty international crews racing off the coast of Maremma. Despite three days characterized by light and unstable breezes, the Race Committee successfully completed seven of the nine scheduled races, delivering a valid and fiercely contested championship right down to the wire.

Race Report

Friday morning’s rain gave way to a North-Westerly wind ranging between 8 and 14 knots, allowing the first two races to be completed. The opening leaderboard immediately highlighted a tightly contested top tier, with Maurizio Stella and Davide Recalcati (Centro Vela Dervio) tied with Elia Mazzucchi and Jacopo Lisignoli (CV Canottieri Domaso).

Saturday started with the Class Assembly, which elected the new Board of Directors. The fleet then took to the water in light westerly breezes (5–7 knots). Amid frequent wind shifts and drops in intensity, the race committee managed to run two more races, leaving the mid-event standings tied with three boats sharing first place at 11 points apiece.

Sunday, the decisive day, featured a Western wind of around 7 knots. High pressure at the starting line triggered two general recalls before the black flag was hoisted, successfully clearing the start for the seventh and final race.

Final Standings

The Viganò brothers (Centro Vela Dervio) delivered the decisive blow by securing three consecutive bullets in the closing races, claiming the national title with 11 net points.

The silver medal went to Maurizio Stella and Davide Paolo Recalcati (Centro Vela Dervio), finishing second with 15 points.

The podium was rounded out by Elia Mazzucchi and Jacopo Lisignoli (CV Canottieri Domaso), taking third place with 16 points.

In fourth place were Andrea Sanzone and Leonardo Ruggeri (CV Anzio Tirrena, 21 pts), while Dutch sailors Remco Kenbeek and Jelien Taselaar claimed fifth place (34 pts).

The Punta Ala event marks the official conclusion of the 2026 racing season for the Italian Formula 18 Class.

Final Standings (Top 5 after 7 races)

1. ITA 303 – Matteo Viganò / Andrea Viganò (Centro Vela Dervio) – 11 pts
2. ITA 2 – Maurizio Stella / Davide Paolo Recalcati (Centro Vela Dervio) – 15 pts
3. ITA 69 – Elia Mazzucchi / Jacopo Lisignoli (CV Canottieri Domaso) – 16 pts
4. ITA 1701 – Andrea Sanzone / Leonardo Ruggeri (CV Anzio Tirrena) – 21 pts
5. NED 1 – Remco Kenbeek / Jelien Taselaar (Netherlands) – 34 pts

Final resutls after 7 races:

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F18 Raid Worlds 2026

The 2026 F18 Raid World Championship were held past weeks within the Costarmoricaine rannual raid organized by CVB Erquy.

Crown went to Charles and Maxime Hainneville sailing a Goodall Akurra. The long distance raid format had five stages and took place along Côtes d’Armor coastline in Brittany.

All iamges by CVB Erquy.. Complete gallery here

Top Ten Results, below. Complete list at https://cvberquy.org/costa/resultats/2026/

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I had a busy past weeks in the are where I make an actual living and couldn’t maintain the web updated. Also was playing with some local AI offline 3B development. If some expert AI Nerd around let me know.

Today was an offday in Arg so I felt the need to get the web running again so here trying to get up to date with latest events. This Nacra 17 Regatta at future 2028 Olympics venue was worth to have it in the post records.

Seeing Emil Jarudd & Hanna Jonsson’s progress is an eye-opener. The Swedes are aiming high for the 2028 Olympics. Emil has an F18 World Title and went to test foiling A-Class cats. He caught the rhythm fast enough, and we foresee a possible Triple Crown in his future.

Photos by Lexi Pline / US Sailing Team

Report by Alexia Lahoud / Nacra 17 Class Assoc

San Pedro OCR Crowns Three Champions on LA 2028 Olympic Waters in Final Week of Racing

Across 2 weeks of racing, San Pedro OCR gave Olympic-class sailors their first extended opportunity to compete on the waters of the future L.A. 2028 Olympic Games. The 6-day second week brought together 140 competitors from 20 countries, including 27 Olympians and 7 Olympic medalists.

For the sailors who will ultimately return to this venue for next year’s OCR and for the 2028 Games, the results will be only one part of what they take home. The conditions, start-line dynamics, and tactical patterns discovered across the race area and throughout the week will shape their training plans for the 2 years ahead.

Racing concluded Saturday, August 8. Event details, entry lists, results, and schedules can be found at sanpedroocr.org and you can find the regatta on instagram at @SanPedroOCR.

Generous support for the regatta is provided by Capstan, BP Home, American Marine, and the Pacific Environmental Corporation (PENCO). Race Committee and volunteer support is made possible with the help of World Sailing, Los Angeles Yacht Club, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Balboa Yacht Club, California Yacht Club, Long Beach Yacht Club, and Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

San Pedro OCR is 1 of only 2 major Olympic Class events that take place in the United States.

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In the Nacra 17 Class

the Netherlands’ Willemijn Offerman and Scipio Houtman finished third overall. The Dutch team said they spent much of the week learning rather than chasing results, emphasizing the value of understanding the Olympic venue and experimenting with different approaches.

“Every day is just a little bit different, and recognizing what works and what doesn’t is an important lesson here,” said Houtman.

“The devil is in the detail,” added Offerman.

Their medal capped a week in which the Nacra fleet experienced some of the most intense racing of the regatta, particularly on the inner course.

Great Britain’ s Gimson and Burnet finished second overall, completing one of the most impressive recoveries of the race week. After opening the regatta in second, they endured a difficult stretch that dropped them back to fifth, starting with a UFD on Day 2 and ending with a DSQ on Day 3.

“I feel like we’ve been collected every letter in the alphabet,” Gimson lamented on Wednesday.

Determined not to let the penalties define their week, the Brits mounted a stunning comeback from Thursday forward, completing 8 consecutive top-3 finishes. The work landed them back into second, positioned within a point of the leaders entering the Final, though the class title was ultimately claimed by Sweden’s Emil Järudd and Hanna Jonsson.

Järudd’s and Jonsson’s slow-motion ascent of the podium started with a third place finish on Day 1. They moved to second after Day 3, and eventually took over the outright lead on the fourth day of racing. They entered Sunday’s medal races with a tight 1-point advantage over Gimson and Burnet.

The Swedes held their nerve. After finishing outside the top 3 in the opening race of the Finals, they returned to post a second-place finish in the last race, securing the overall victory.

“You really had to keep your head out of the boat,” said Jonsson. “Just try to fly high and go as fast as you can.”

“It’s the most intense teamwork you can imagine, which makes it really fun,” added Järudd.

The final day also highlighted the sportsmanship that has been a constant throughout San Pedro OCR. American 49erFX sailor Helena Scutt, racing with Paris Porter, attended the awards ceremony to support fellow competitors and cheer on their achievements, despite not finishing on the podium and without an American team among the medalists. Scutt had also attended the previous race week’s closing ceremony to support her friend and U.S. teammate Charlotte Rose after Rose won silver in the ILCA 6.

Top Ten, complete results here

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All images by Joe Woodyear / Nacra 15 Class Association, source N15 FB page here

2026 Nacra 15 Worlds Results

Regatta held this past week, more than 50 youth teams gather at Plymouth this past week to race the 2026 Nacra 15 Worlds. Plenty or races completed and good conditions judging from pics above. No report received from the org or Nacra 15 Class.

After 19 races Italians Mattia di Martino & Nina Cittar won the title with a good gap ahead their fellow Italian team Vargui & Lisci. Third overall for Fontanille & Jean-Albert and fourth for Dylan Tomko & Casey Small.

Dylan son of an avid Texan Catsailor John Tomko, father should be proud having his kid competing in Europe at such level, where the majority of the Nacra 15 fleets are based.

The Italians with this new crown have now a total domination over the current Olympic Catsailing path: N17 Gold Medal, Nacra 17 Worlds, Nacra 17 Youth Worlds and now the Nacra 15 Worlds.

From a quick recall in recent years Argentina had a similar Olympic & ISAF/World Sailing Youth Chanps with Lange-Carranza 2016 Gold Medal and Dante Cittadini-Teresa Romairone winning Nacra 15 Euros, Worlds and Youth Olympics (BA 2018).

But the Italian catsailors are showing an impressive control in the entire Multihull Olympic realm. They just need to crown an F18 World Title too, and in the A-Cats Lambi Cesari is already top 3 contender.

Glad to see the Nacra 15 Fleet having multitude of kids racing cats. Let the Olympic path aside, Catamaran racing is about the only performance dinghy class that you will be able to race your whole life. As for ie 29ers are not for grownups and 49er is Olympic oriented.

Instead after Nacra 15, you can go Olympic path Nacra 17 or just go to the F18 / A-Cats for top perf or still big Hobie 16 fleets, Darts, Tornado, etc you name it. You will be able to sail & race Cats till your 70’s!

Top Nacra 15 Worlds below. Complete results here

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Photos by © Klaas Wiersma –

Italian sailors dominated the Nacra 17 Youth worlds, thy already have two winning crews in the senior/open Olympic category. Great job done by the Italian sailing Fed. Argentina had the Youth World & Youth Olympic champ team not long ago but the process was abandoned.

We (the F18 Arg fleet) have requested the local sailing Fed to release the two Nacra 15s they had on land collecting dust, and we’ll try to revamp the project with the kids currently sailing F18s with us.

Never expect others to do the work, when complaining you’d better take action yourself.

Congrats to the Italian Youth squad who also took the Youth 49er title at Medemblik.

Report sent by Nacra 17 Class Assoc – Event results available here

Day Five in Medemblik: World Champions Crowned in the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Fleets

Italy topped the 49er and Nacra 17 fleets, Poland took the 49erFX crown with a race to spare, and the 2026 Junior World Championship wrapped up with three tight, dramatic finishes

MEDEMBLIK, NETHERLANDS, July 26, 2026 Racing wrapped up today at the 2026 Junior World Championship. Organizers moved the start up earlier than the rest of the week, with the first warning signal going up at 10:30 for the 49er gold fleet, the 49erFX and the 49erFX Open, all three sailing three races to close out the regatta. The battles at the top of several fleets had been tight all week, and the final day was no different.

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Italy’s Federico Figlia di Granara and Caterina Sedmak (ITA 46) were crowned Nacra 17 world champions, a result that surprised nobody given how dominant they had been all week, stringing together close to all ones and twos across the regatta. Heavy rain moved in for the closing races, making for a dramatic finish on the water, but Figlia di Granara and Sedmak had already wrapped up the title with a race to spare, so they were able to sail the final race without needing to push. Figlia di Granara has spent time training alongside Caterina Banti, one half of Italy’s two time Olympic champion pairing, while his regular teammate Ruggero Tita has been tied up with America’s Cup commitments, and picking up some of their speed secrets along the way has clearly paid off. Sedmak has been the engine of the boat all week, and the pair have looked genuinely faster than the rest of the fleet on the foils. Their training partners, Arto Hirsch and Sofia Borgia (ITA 76), backed them up with a great week of their own to finish second, well clear of Switzerland’s Andrea Aschieri and Tine Rossel (SUI 370) in third, a result that shows just how strong Italy was in the Nacra 17 fleet this year.

The 49er silver fleet only managed to complete one race today. The wind built well beyond what had been forecast, capsizes piled up across the fleet, and the race committee made the call to wrap up racing for the silver fleet for the week.

Switzerland’s Henri Rothacher and Noah Strempfer (SUI 434) topped the FX Open fleet from start to finish, holding onto the lead they took on day one all the way through to the final race. The United States’ Samantha Gardner and Noah Nyenhuis (USA 49) held on for second, with fellow Swiss crew Jacob Ryu Bruendler and Thierry Stucki (SUI 515) rounding out the podium in third.

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