World's finest at F18 Worlds

The F18 World Championship has attracted the top names in the catamaran world to Parkstone in England

Making the fourth nacraF18 team will be sailmaker Peter Vink and Sven de Laaf from Holland. Vink has developed the new sail for the boat which incorporates much more roach with a maximum flat head, to maintain maximum area since the foot to the sail has shortened as a result of moving the rig aft.

Another long-time competitor in the F18 class is Gerard Loos and with crew Esther van Zeggeren he will be looking to improve on his fourth behind Colby at the Tiger Worlds

You can get the impression that the championship is a battle between the Hobie and NACRA boats but it is well to remember that there are other designs competing.

One of them, the Cirrus, will be in the hands of the top French Tornado team of Jean-Christophe and Philippe Mourniac.

Olympic competitors in 1993 and 2000 they were third at the Tornado Worlds last year. Second at the first F18 Worlds, they were third to Bundock at this year's Carnac regatta so they are another team to factor into the possible podium finishers.

Another F18 design that cannot be ruled out is the Dart Hawk, especially when in the hands of French 'maestro' Yves Loday.

Recently overshadowed by the Tiger and Inter18 designs, Loday and Reg White are reported to have taken back the design and a revamped version should be on the circuit next year. Meanwhile Loday and Elodie Lesaffre will be racing a slightly tweaked Hawk for this championship.

Racing for the F18 World Championship starts in earnest for the 80 plus teams on Monday under the control of Race Officer Ray Page.

If you need that extra edge then take a look at our Venue guide for all the tidal and wind information on Poole Bay.

The F18 is a restricted class allowing various designs built to the rule to race together. The basic outlines are :- length 5.52m, width 2.60m, with an all up weight of 180kg; mainsail 17sqm, jib 4.15sqm and spinnaker 21sqm, with a crew weight control.of 150kg.