RACING > Formula 18The F18 is one of the fastest growing catamaran classes in the world. It carries 3 sails including a spinnaker and has twin trapezes. The F18 rule specifies overall length and beam dimensions as well as sail area maximums. Materials are limited to fiberglass with foam core and aluminum extrusions for the spars and beams to keep costs down. Hull shape and underwater foil size and shape are completely open. These new generation catamarans are a blast to sail and can be driven harder and faster than previous catamaran designs. Most of the Formula 18 designs have modern rigs, high-volume hulls, high efficiency foils and well thought out rigging plans including an asymmetrical spinnaker. The asymmetrical spinnaker is fun and relatively easy to use and provides a huge boost to performance and enjoyment. Large as well as small manufacturers have produced designs and there are many to choose from like the DIAM, the Dart Hawk, the Hobie Tiger, the Mattia Flash, the Alado, the Inter 18 and the Cirrius. No one design has dominated the racing and this is perhaps why the class has enjoyed such outstanding growth. EDGE SAILING TEAM (EST) has raced on many different kinds of F18's. |
Updated : June 19, 2004
