Formula 18 (Sailing)
Three F18s starting a downwind leg at the 2006 North-American Championship
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| Development | |
|---|---|
| Designer | various |
| Year | 1994 |
| Design | Box Rule |
| Boat | |
| Crew | 2 person |
| Boat Weight | 180 kg (400 lb) |
| Draft | 1.40 m (4 ft 7 in) (upwind) |
| Trapeze | helm and crew |
| Hull | |
| Type | catamaran |
| Hull weight | platform 130 kg (290 lb) (minimum) |
| LOH | 5.52 m (18 ft 1 in) (maximum) |
| Beam | 2.60 m (8 ft 6 in) (maximum) |
| Hull Appendages | |
| Keel/Board Type | optional: daggerboards / centerboards |
| Rig | |
| Mast Length | 9.15 m (30 ft 0 in) (maximum) |
| Sails | |
| Mainsail area | 17 m2 (180 sq ft) (mainsail and mast combined area maximum) |
| Jib / Genoa area | 4.15 m2 (44.7 sq ft) (maximum) 3.45 m2 (37.1 sq ft) (maximum for lightweight crews) |
| Gennaker area | 21 m2 (230 sq ft) (maximum) 19 m2 (200 sq ft) (maximum for lightweight crews) |
The Formula 18 class, abbreviated F18, is a non-foiling, restricted development, formula-design sport catamaran class. It was started in the early 1990s and quickly grew getting class recognition by World Sailing, with large racing fleets all over the globe.
The overall objective of the class is to offer popular, safe, exciting and fair racing in 18-foot catamarans.
The F18 class is a "box rule" class, which means that any boat that adheres to the limited set of general design specifications may participate in all F18 races. This has led to a score of homebuilders and professional builders to design their own F18 boats and race them in this class. However, it is the mainstream production F18 designs that have dominated the top of class. The presence of multiple boat builders and sailmakers in the class stimulates innovation and helps limiting costs to sailors.
The F18 box rule allows limited development, striking a balance between the class remaining close to the front edge of multihull design and preserving capital invested in the fleet. Since its introduction, the F18 has seen a steady evolution in both hull and sail shapes, which has led to a remarkable improved performance in terms of both handling and speed. Crewed by experienced teams, F18s can reach speeds of over 13 knots upwind and more than 20 knots downwind.
The relatively high platform weights lead to robust construction and limit the benefits from fragile advanced construction techniques, keeping costs down and increasing longevity. It also facilitates adding interchangeable parts to the platform, for example for use of the platform as a foiling catamaran outside F18 racing. Moreover, the relative high weight of the boat reduces the sensitivity of performance to crew weight.
The F18 class also uses an equalizing system, with corrector weights and alternative sail area limits, in an attempt to offer competitive racing for a larger crew weight range.
The Formula 18 was created in 1994 by Olivier Bovyn and Pierre-Charles Barraud to introduce first across the line / elapsed time (versus handicap / corrected time) competition to the sport catamaran sailing community at an affordable cost. The concept became popular very quickly and due to its fast growth the F18 attained ISAF Recognised Class status already in 1996, within 18 months after its inception.
Mainly an Europe-based class at the beginning, class membership eventually spread to Australia and the Americas and the F18 class currently has full racing circuits in many places around the globe. Several thousand boats have been sold over the years. The F18 attracts both female and male as well as mixed crews and it is particularly popular among teams with combined crew weights of approximately 140-170 kg.
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