18s fire up in San Fran

The US' major annual 18ft skiff regatta starts Monday

A fog-shrouded Golden Gate, a chilly 20-knot breeze herding a flock of whitecaps down the sun-bathed bay, the world's best 470 sailors wearily packing up their boats - the past week had was quite a show in this wet and wonderful sailing arena, but locals ain't seen nothin' yet.

Even as the 470s hauled out on the beach at Crissy Field Sunday, a much smaller but wilder fleet was launching alongside for a last practice round before starting the 18ft Skiff International Regatta Monday. Ten races, including the five-mile Bridge to Bridge adventure for 18-foot skiffs, sailboards and kite boards, are scheduled through Friday.

The class, featuring an overpowered, completely unstable sail platform that defies the usual description of a boat, has been a fixture in Australia for decades and has been energized in recent years as its thrill factor caught on in other parts of the planet, including this ideal venue.

Australia's John Winning, 53, is back to defend the title he won last year in one of the class's three top regattas, alongside the JJ Giltinan world championship at Sydney and the European 18-Foot Skiff Championship at Sardinia.

"I think it will be harder to win this year," Winning said, checking out the other contenders, including a new three-boat Pegasus Racing team entered by Philippe Kahn, who at one time seems to have campaigned two or three boats of almost major racing class in the world.

One - Pegasus Black - will be sailed by his 16-year-old son Samuel, a.k.a. Shark, of nearby Santa Cruz with Cameron MacDonald and Paul Allen as crew, and another - Pegasus White - by former world champion Howard Hamlin of Long Beach, Calif., with longtime sidekick Mike Martin and young Trent Barnabas. The latter is the son of semi-retired Australian class veteran Trevor Barnabas, who placed second last year with Trent on board, edging Hamlin/Martin on a tiebreaker.

Pegasus Yellow will be sailed by Anthony Young, with Euan McNicol and Casey Smith. McNicol sailed with Winning last year.

A fifth entry Fisher & Paykel is being sailed by Australia's Andrew Cuddihy. with Brent Dennis and Gerard Smith, and the fleet is expected to top out at 9 or 10 following late entry submissions. Cuddihy won the International 14 North Americans here in 1996. "I love the Bay area a lot," he said, "the people for a start, and you have a fantastic bit of sailing water with strong breeze all the time."

The 18s need about 15 knots just to stretch their legs. "We like 18 to 23," Cuddihy said. "When you get over that it gets scary."

Cuddihy, who has sailed on America's Cup class and other big boats, said, "The fun of sailing boats like these is the outstanding performance---depending whether your insurance is paid."

Starting times for races will be determined daily according to conditions.