International Formula 18 Catamaran Association

Official Website

2002 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

MORE ABOUT THE 2002 WORLDS IN TRAVEMUNDE : http://www.travemuender-woche.net

THIRD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP REPORT :

Mitch Booth Takes Third World Championship Title in Formula 18 !

The third World Championship has been sailed in Travemuende, GER, from 22 to 27 July, in various weather conditions. Almost 110 crews, including numerous top Tornado sailors, entered the event, coming from over 10 nations and four continents.

Thanks to his President Claus-Dieter STOLZE and staff, Luebecker YC did his best to provide a great event. Warmfull thanks too to Wolfgang Bahr and his wife Dina, Franck H. Blohm and all the German F18 friends involved in the organisation.

As usual, Mitch Booth, Silver Medallist in Savannah, and his crew Herbert Dercksen, sailing a Hobie Tiger, got a third title of F18 World Champion, followed one more time by Jean Christophe Mourniac, crewed by Franck Citeaux, members of the French National Tornado team, sailing a Cirrus, who finished once again at the second place, but closer to the lead than ever.

As in 2000 and 2001, it is important for the concept, the spirit and the future of the class to underline once more the various type of efficient designs affordable on the market : three different platforms on the final podium : the Hobie Tiger, the Cirrus, and the new Nacra Inter 2.

REPORT from Karin Böge, Press Officer - Travemünder Woche :

Mitch Booth (AUS) and Herbert Dercksen (NED) went into the Formula 18 Championship in Travemünde this year alert and focused. The last three races run today were their weakest, but they still managed to come out of this high-wind regatta series on top with 18 points. Placing sixth, fourth and second was enough for 39-year-old Booth and 29-year-old Herbert Dercksen to get them into the lead, ahead of Jean-Christophe Mourniac and Franck Citeau (FRA). There was some excitement down at the Jury Office at the end of the day too, when Christophe Oudar (FRA) from the Silver Fleet came in to pick up a complaint form - with the intention of filling it out against Mitch Booth. Oudar did not have any starts on the last day of the races, but also did not come in before 4:30 pm to personally give the jury his complaint form either ! And it was first then that the winner could be announced : Mitch Booth and Herbert Dercksen - Formula 18 World Champions 2002 ! Olympic Silver and Bronze medallist Mitch Booth accepted his ninth world championship title today. Herbert Dercksen has become World Champion for the fourth time.

With a US 200 sail, Jean Christophe Mourniac and Franck Citeau (FRA) took second place with 23 points. After deleting a seventh (Race 7) they managed to rise up past Darren Bundock and Luca Remagnino (AUS), who came in first during the first race of the day. Helge and Christian Sach (GER) took fourth place. After yesterday's upset, they gave it all they had today, and the brothers were pleased with their results. "We head into the last race right behind Mitch," Helge Sach commented, "and they've had more advantages than us during the last couple of days. They started fading as the wind waned, though, and we managed to get faster and faster. We were really focused." Fourth place may only be a consolation prize, but this was an exciting regatta to follow, packed with top notch sailors and first-class sailing.

Results :

Third Formula 18 World Championship :

Venue & Hosting Club :

Travemünde, GERMANY
107 entries
Lübecker Yacht Club : http://www.lyc.de

Officials :

International JURY

Martin SMETHERS, IJ, (GBR), Chairman
Siegfried ADLOF, IJ, (GER), Member
Lars GRANDE, IJ, (NOR), Member
Gert GSELL, IJ, (AUT), Member
Oleg ILYIN, IJ, (RUS), Member
Miklos NEMETH, IJ, (HUN), Member
Manfred PISO, IJ, (AUT), Member
Leif ROLSTED, IJ, (DEN), Member
Jesper WILKEN, IJ, (DEN), Member

Race Officers

Walter MIELKE (GER) & Klaus LAHME (GER)