World-class catamaran racers take over Hilton Head Island for F18 Americas Championship

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (WTOC) - Some of the best catamaran sailing teams in the world are setting sail off Hilton Head Island this week as the Formula 18 Americas Championship takes over Coligny Beach.

The prestigious regatta marks the first time the championship has ever been held on the island, drawing 30 elite two-person crews from across the country and globe.

Participants include Olympic hopefuls, former national champions, and former world titlists.

Defending champions John Casey and Dalton Tebo of Florida have also returned, looking to repeat their title run after capturing last year’s championship in Rhode Island.

Following a Monday practice session designed to test local waters and fine-tune equipment, teams gathered for an evening opening ceremony at Slowcountry BBQ.

Official competition begins Tuesday at 11 a.m. with the first four of 16 scheduled races.

Full Schedule of Events:

“If the wind is blowing here, then it’s as good as anywhere in the world,” JoyriderTV’s Joe Bennett said. “I would imagine the top 10, maybe 15, is going to be extremely tight. It would be of a very high quality you would find anywhere in the world. To get into the top 10 is going to be a tough game to play, which is going to require excellent boat handling, strategic choices, and great boat setup throughout the day.”

Organizers say Hilton Head’s open waters offer an ideal venue for both competitors and spectators.

“This is our third year of organizing and running regattas on Hilton Head, and I think what had happened is that people came from outside of Hilton Head, they saw what we have here and word spread,” President of Beach Cat Sailors of Hilton Head Island, Dr. Joe Tobin, said. “They said if we are going to do a big championship, we need to do it on Hilton Head. I’ve always said that Hilton Head is a world-class sailing destination.”

Tobin added that the regatta delivers a unique spectator experience for beachgoers.

“People love to come to the beach, but when they come there’s not a lot to watch,” Tobin said. “So when we go out in the boat, everyone is looking at us because it’s the only thing happening in the water. So if you’re down here and 30 boats are going out, it’s entertaining, it’s great to watch, and it’s an athletic competition.”

Town leaders also highlighted the economic boost the multi-day regatta brings to local businesses during the late-summer shoulder season.

“To be able to see them come back is awesome, kind of during a shoulder season where things have slowed down a bit to bring some business to the island,” Hilton Head Island Mayor Alan Perry said.

Racing continues throughout the week off Coligny Beach, weather permitting.

The champion will be crowned on Friday night.