With one week to go until the Formula 18 North American Championships, RE (Rockledge Engineering) will be talking daily to a participating sailor. We look forward to hearing their thoughts about the event, as well as how their preparations are proceeding. The event is being Webcast live on the internet site www.F18NAOnline.com
Today we had the pleasure to speak with Alex Shafer, from Eustis, Florida. Alex is a 4-time Inter 20 National Champion, Hobie 20 National Champion, 7 time Alter Cup participant, and has sailed in the US Sailing Championship of Champions. He has also sailed the Worrell 1000 twice as well as the Tybee 500.
RE: The Formula 18 class has taken root in the US, perhaps because of the wider range of sailors that can be competitive on the boat. How do you feel about the future of the class?
ALEX: I see the class continuing to grow. Whether its accepted to the point it is in Europe though, remains to be seen.
Read the rest of the interview at www.F18NAOnline.com
Continuing a week of pre-event interviews, today we talk to Nigel Pitt who hails from Hartwell, Georgia. Nigel has won National Championships on the 18 Square Meter, Hobie 18, Hobie 20, Nacra 6.0 and multiple titles on the Inter 20. This is an impressive assortment of catamarans over a number of years.
RE: Your area (southeast US) was one of the first to start building an F18 fleet. How much do you feel the extra time on the boat will help you next week?
NIGEL: Time on any boat is going to help. However, the time I have spent on the F18 is not necessarily what makes the difference. It is just time on the water regardless of the type of boat. The more time you spend sailing, we call it tiller time, the better you are going to get.
Full interview: www.F18NAOnline.com
Today we had the distinct pleasure to speak with one of the great sailors in our sport, Matt Struble, from Wixon, MI. Matt provides some great insight into the sport of catamaran sailing, about Olympic campaigning, and about the upcoming F18 North Americans.
Matts list of accomplishments is more than impressive, Olympic Tornado Campaign, 3 time US Sailing Alter Cup Champion, Inter 20 National Champion, European F18 Champion, Nacra 5.5 Uni National Champion, 3 time Ice Boat World Champion, 7 time Ice Boat Champion Jr, and a North American Iceboat Championship. He has also won the Worrell 1000 with Randy Smyth.
RE: First of all, what have you been sailing lately?
MATT: Mostly on the Nacra F18, sailing CRAM events, as well as some long distance events. We have also been sailing Lightnings, and Randy (Smyth) and I have been sailing Corsairs. The Lightnings have been a lot of fun and good practice.
Read the full article at: www.F18NAOnline.com
Its almost time, and we speak with another incredible sailor, Greg Thomas
Its almost time. Sailors are making final preparations, double stacking their boats, and in many cases beginning the drive to Virginia. This morning we got a glimpse of the custom trophies for the event, and all I can say is they are spectacular. The week however is about much more than trophies, its about catsailors coming together, on boats from multiple manufacturers, for a week of fun competition.
As a past regatta organizer, I am totally impressed with the level of planning and organization that Event Organizer Tracie VanHouten has put forth. This is going to be a spectacular event.
RE had the opportunity to speak with another incredible sailor last night, Greg Thomas, who hails from California. Greg is the current Alter Cup Champion, 3 time Hobie Tiger North American Champion, a past Hobie 20 and Hobie 18 North American Champion, as well as runner-up Hobie Tiger World Champion. Greg has also done 2 previous Olympic campaigns.
RE: Jacques and yourself recently won the Alter Cup in Longbeach, CA sailing on Hobie Tigers. How has that event affected your confidence level coming into next week?
GREG: Actually, that was the last time we have been on the boat, about 4 months ago. We have been a little bit burnt out, but we have put in a lot of time on the water over the last couple years, so it should come back to us quick.
Read the rest of the interview: www.F18NAOnline.com
Brian, I missed the interview with Nigel. Is there a way to view it? I really enjoy your interviews! Keep up the great work! Thanks!
All of the interviews, updates, everything we write for the F18 event is and will be available on the event multimedia site in a section called "The Blog"
The site address again is:
There are a couple of links to "The Blog" on the front page