After five day of intense sailing, crisscrossing thru the Stockholm Archipelago the 29 F18 catamarns finally reached the finish In the middle of Stockholm, close to the famous Wasa Museum. It was a close fight all the way in, between Team Patrick Demesmaeker / Olivier Gagliani from Belgium and the Swedes Jakob Lundqvist / Rasmus Rosengren. Eventually tit was the belgiens who took the gold, leaving Jakob och Rasmus with the silver. Another Swedish team, Fredrik Karlsson och Niklas Nordblom took bronze.

– It was stressful in the beginning, we were very close with Jakob and Rasmus all the way, said Patrick after the finish. Not until we could pass them, about 10 minutes before the finish we could relax.

– Before the race we said that anything could happen today, commented Olivier Gagliani. And almost everything happened.

The first race of the last day started in very light winds and thru a part of the archipelago which is quite dense, wit narrow straits and high islands. There was to obvious routes, on longer and more open. One narrower and shorter. The field split with approximately half boats on each course. Coming int the finish at Grinda it showed that the narrower part had been a little better. Interesting was that the leader boats choosed to change from the one to the other and made a massive loss. So before the start oft the last race Demesmaeker / Gagliani had just one point more than Lundqvist / Rosengren. Now the wind picked up and it became a long upwind into Stockholm. It became something like a match race between the two top boats. And at the end Demesmaeker / Gagliani could pass the Swedes and bring home the Gold to Belgium.

– Of course a silver gives somewhat mixed feelings, said Jakob Lunqvist after the race. There are like just two kinds of persons, those who are world champions, and those who are not. But we couldn’t match their speed. But it is the first time we sail together so, we are happy with the silver.

The best finish however, was performed by the team Fredrik Karlsson and Niklas Nordblom. By hoisting the gennacker about 25 meters before the finish line they managed to pass one boat and gaining the single point more that they needed to get the bronze.
All and aa, it has been a fantastic World Championship, with very varied, but just conditions. Although there are plenty of daggerboards that will need some love before next sailing, there have been no serious incidents. And on the dock at Djurgården we saw a lot of happy faces.

Day 4: …And action!

On the Saturday we were treated with true action sailing. The expected hard and gsutsy breeze did really kick in an send the racers off in smoking down wind start. We saw speeds in the 20 knot range and knowing that any minor mistake would cause a crash made the sailor fully focused. After the down wind leg came a short upwind and after that a long hard beam reach in about 20 knots of wind with gusts at 28. You could see expressions of utter joy shifting to fear and back again in the faces of the sailors.

It is very tight in the top, but the Swedish team Lundqvist,Rosengren took the lead early and the Belgians Demesmaeker, Gagliani wre further down the line, but have during the race showed a unique capacity to work their way up in the field. Despite the hard and gusty wind there was no severe breakage or incidents. Actually it was more dramatic during the night when a squall hit the harbour at Fejan. A F18 catamaran that was moored by one of the safety RIBs was lofted by the almost 50 knots wind and tipped over and pulled the Rib with it, and both landed upside down on the quay. Miraculously none of the bot were damaged and ad could serve in the race on Saturday.
Back to the race. On the way towards the finish at Nässlingen was another screaming beam reach and when team Lunqvist, Rosengren suffered a minor technical problem, it caused a capsize and Demesmaeker, Gagliani and two other teams could pass. The Australians Burvill, Skewes did also make decents race and the top three before the last day of racing now looks like this:

1. Patrick Demesmaeker,Olivier Gagliani Belgien 202 points
2. Jakob Lundqvist, Rasmus Rosengren Sverige 196 points
3. Brett Burvill, Bailey Skewes Australien 179 points

Due to increasing winds no more races will be sailed on the Saturday.

Day 3: Young Swedish guns still close to the top after hard fights in light winds.

We were looking forward to a day of fast sailing and a long stretch from Sandhamn to Fejan in the north end of the Archipelago. But, the forecast didn’t match reality. No wind. First start was postponed and the race officer decided to tow the boats to the first checkpoint and shortened the course. The wind did come eventually, and it turned out to be a rather tricky race, where standings changed all the way. In the top though, it was the same gang. First the Belgian team, Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani, second Fredrik Karlsson and Niklas Nordblom who did a magnificent comeback after hitting rocks in race four on Thursday. On third place another couple of swedes Jakob Lundqvist and Rasmus Rosengren. So after five races Demesmaeker, Gagliani and Lundqvist, Rosengren shared equal point in the overall standing.

After lunch at the beautiful Rödlöga a steady 8 knots south easterly wind prevailed and sent the racers on a long downwind stretch. Passing through the really narrow strait at Norrpada, where only one team did have a casual encounter with the Swedish granite. It was a tight fight all the way to the finish line and we could really feel that the competitive temperature is rising. On third place was Demesmaeker, Gagliani , second twin brothers Becker from Holland. First was the young swedes Lundqvist and Rosengren. This will also make Demesmaeker, Gagliani the overall leader tonight. But with just three points margin to Lundqvist, Rosengren. Tomorrow forecasts says 20 to 26 knots of wind, but hey we heard that one before…

Day two: A day of tactics into the fog, and a Swedish team in the lead.

The start of the sailing on the was postponed due to prognosis of light winds. And the teams could have a soft wake up in the morning. The start was set to 11 o’clock and by then there was warm weather and a steady breeze at about 6 to 10 knots. The wind came from Northeast and it became a long upwind to Sandhamn. What also came in was fog.

Despite the sometimes bad visibility it turned out to be a day of a tactical game. Where it really paid off to find the right shifts. And Belgian team Patrick Demesmaeke and Olivier Gagliani won both races. But they are not on top of the podium. After four races Swedish team Jakob Lundqvist and Rasmus Rosengren are number one, second is Australians Brett Burvill and Bailey Skewes and on third Patrick Demesmaeke and Olivier Gagliani from Belgium. The difference however, between the three teams are just two points.

Tomorrow promise to be a highlight of the F18 Raid World Championships. The race will crisscross through the spectacular outer archipelago in three races, with more downwind than we have had up till know. Stay tuned.

Day one: What a wonderful Wednesday

In the morning the waters outside KSSS harbour in Saltsjöbaden looked smooth and shiny like a polished hood of car, the sun trickled through a light mist and the warm and humid air felt like a Turkish bath. Then the 29 focused teams launched their catamarans and slipped out to the start of race 1. However, the wind picked up and the first long upwind out in the archipelago started. The field stretched out with the predicted favorites steadily increasing their lead. The Belgian team with Patrick Demesmaeker and Olivier Gagliani took a reassuring lead all the way to the finish line. Despite the perfect conditions there were some teams who found under water rocks on their way and had to use the lunch brake for repairs. One team broke their sprit and had to resign, but they will be back tomorrow.

After lunch race Race 2 started with a long upwind out to the open sea and around one of the archipelagos larger islands, Utö. The breeze was steady and the tactical choice few, so this race proved to be something of a drag race. And it was a close all the way to the finish line. But first over the line was the Swedish team Jacob Lundqvist and Rasmus Rosengren.

Follow the race:

Live tracking: TracTrac

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29 teams from 10 countries finallåy made it to start. Th eFreanch helmsman Nicolas Touchot who won the Raid Costamoricaine in France 2 weeks ago hyrt himself during the race and had to withdraw from the Raid WC.

Teams started to arrive on Saturday to a warm and sunny Stockholm. During Monday and Tuesday the registration and measurement control and safety inspection have kept the sailors busy. THere has also been a tune up race on Monday evening.

On Tusday evening, when all boats were donor with all inspections, there was a gathering with some hot dogs and beer before a photo shoot followed by the team breifing.

At the end of the breifing the Check Points that will be used for leg 1 and 2 on Wednesday where communicated. Each evening the sailors will get the Check Points to be used the next day.

Follow the race here on the homepage and your favorite team on the TracTrac that can be found on the Official Notice board.

Two weeks remain until the start of the Stockholm Archipelago Raid (SAR) which is also the F18 Raid World Championship this year. As the start gets closer the 30 teams from 11 countries go through and update their navigations equipment, safety devices and personal gear. Meanwhile, the Race Organisations review the Checkpoints and Sailing Instructions, set the menues together with the restaurateurs of the remote islands at the base camps and prepare all volunteers and the film and media team that will follow the sailors around the course.

The level of competition is very high, it has never been as tough to get on the podium. All SAR winners since 2016 are represented and the best F18 long distance sailors on the planet will participate. It will also be a battle between F18 boat manufacturer since all major brands are present: the Goodall Akurra, Goodall C2, Windrush Edge, Exploder Scorpion, Cirrus R and Nacra Evolution. 

Some of the most renowned teams that have a good chance at going home with another F18 medal:

• Demesmaeker/Gagliani (BEL), Champions and SAR winners 2021, sail an Akurra. 
• Burvill/Brown (AUS), Australia Champions came 2nd in the European Championship in Garda last month (ahead of Demesmaeker), first time in SAR. Sail a Windrush Edge.
• Karlsson/Nordblom (SWE), F18 raid veterans and the only team that has won the SAR together more than once (2018, 2019 and 2020). Sail a Scorpion.
• Noordzij father and son (NED), have sailed the SAR together many times, last year leading after the first two days (finished 4th). Sail a Cirrus R.
• Lundqvist/Rosengren (SWE), Lundqvist is the reigning Swedish Champion now sailing with former Swedish Champion Rosengren who won the SAR in 2016. Sail a C2.
• Dahl/Bredberg (SWE), Multihull expert Dahl won the first F18 Raid World Championship in 2017. Sail a C2.
• Waterhouse/Pixell (AUS), Multihull legend Waterhouse won the extreme long haul race Worrel 1000 in May 2022 in the USA. Sail an Exploder.

In the mixed class three teams will have a go for gold

• Jensen/Wyon (DEN), SAR winners of mixed class in 2021 and 2019. Sail the Akurra.
• Windrike (SWE), the Swedish multihull couple just came back from a successful F16 European Championship. First time sailing the SAR, sail the C2.
• Gijsbers/van Toorenburg (NED), have done well in the iconic Round Texel, but first time in SAR. Sail a Hobie Wild Cat 

Follow the race in real time

It has never been easier to follow the race in real time. The boats will have trackers that send the positions, speed and course continuously. A team of film and still photographers, commentators and media experts will provide updates several times per day in social media and YouTube. Follow and share the Stockholm Archipelago Raid channels on Facebook and Instagram and the Official Notice Board for updates, results and more information.

Join the spectacular finish in Stockholm City

After 5 long days of sailing from early morning to late afternoon the teams will finish in the heart of Stockholm, just outside Junibacken at the Royal park Djurgården, sometime after 15.00 on Sunday the 21st. The boats will then be pulled up, demasted and loaded onto trailers just next to Junibacken. Friends and family are welcome to greet the winners, talk to the sailors and get a close look at the spectacular boats on land. Food and drinks will be available at the pricegiving cermony that follow as soon as a final result is established.

Stockholm Archipelago Raid – A race through 36 000 rocks and islands

Stockholm Archipelago Raid (SAR) is a yearly recurring event. This year it is also the F18 Raid World Championship. The raid is a mix of sport, nature and adventure in the perfect F18-playground; the stunning Stockholm Archipelago. It is the largest archipelago in Europe with 36.000 rocks, skerries and islands and the most difficult one to navigate in. It offers limitless possibilities for exceptional courses between the check points on islands, buoys, light houses and beaches. Many famous sailors from all over the world have competed in the raids over the years. For a full list of winners of the Archipelago Raid / Raid Revenge and Stockholm Archipelago Raid, see the F18 hall of fame.

On Thursday the 21st an information meeting was held for the sailors of the F18 Raid World Championship. The meeting had 3 agenda points

• Race information
• Logistics and accommodation
• Gear and safety

Scroll to 9 minutes to skip the pre-talk.

Some high lights:

Håkan talked about the race and the importance of reading through the Sailing Instructions (when published) and the rules. There is a high point system and the race committee can shorten the race for the last boats that will then get a point deduction, but they are still in the race.

Lars informed about logistics and what to expect when arriving in Saltsjöbaden and tips on accommodation, importance of having papers in order, the measurement of the boats and where to park cars and trailers during the race etc. He continued to talk about the finish in the city of Stockholm, where to take the boats out of the water, the price giving etc.

Some tips was shared about what to bring and not to bring, the common toolbox and spareparts and how that works.

Richard talked about the film and media production that will deliver both daily updates, short films, reels, interviews every day and a longer film afterwards. TracTrac will be used to trac all boats and how they choose their ways through the rocks and skerries of the archipelago.

Check out the whole presentation here.

100 days to the start of the F18 Raid World Championship. 30 teams from 10 countries already pre-registered. The level of competition will be high and all winners from the past 5 years are all in the race.

Sailors that concider to join need to hurry up and register prior to the 1st of June.

The Raid will be a 5 day event for the first time since 2009, which means a longer course that will stretch across all parts of the Stockholm Archipelago and 4400 squere kilometres of beautiful wilderness. The course will be spectacular and will be adopted to the wind conditions. The aim is to reach places that are rarely visited and that make the F18 racing something extra. Nature, sports and adventure in one race.

The start takes place in Saltsjöbaden, just outside Stockholm. And the finish is in the very heart of the Capital outside the Vasa Museum. The fleet of F18s sailing into the city will be a sight followed by thousands of Stockholmers and tourists.

The partnership with the Stockholm Business Region will make this the best covered F18 raid of all times. There will be a camera team, drone pilots and photographers who will capture the adventure and make sure it will be distributed in differing channels every day to make it easy to follow and get close the the adventure from all parts the world.

100 days to the greatest F18 adventure this year. See you in Stockholm – the Capital of Scandinavia!

The Swedish F18 Association and the Stockholm Business Region have signed a marketing support agreement. The purpose is to promote the F18 Raid World Championship, the capital city and the nearby magic Stockholm Archipelago to an international audience.

The F18 Raid World Championship / Stockholm Archipelago Raid meet the high demands to receive the marketing support. It is an event that

• Has a high international status and spectacular air
• Will increase the knowledge about Stockholm as a tourist destination around the world
• Will show a positive image of an innovative, sustainable and dynamic city
• Is sustainable and respects the wilderness and sensitive environment just next to the capital city

The marketing support will mainly be used to produce great films, photos and content from the event that will be distributed in paid for and earned media channels. The aim is to make the event available and accessible with daily reports and interviews, live tracking and films. The viewers will get closer to the sailors, the sport and action than ever before. Onboard cameras and drones will be used to bring the action and adrenaline to the spectators.

The film and media team will also supply the Stockholm Archipelago social platform with content to increase traffic and raise awareness of the uniqueness of the archipelago.

As six months remains to the start of the Stockholm Archipelago Raid the planning and preparation is now entering a more intense phase. As announced earlier, the 22nd edition of the raid will also be the F18 Raid World Championship 2022. So, if you haven’t already pinned August 17-21 in your calendar and started planning for the big adventure maybe the following news will help you make up your mind.

1. Five days of sailing instead of four
For the first time since the Archipelago Raid in 2009 the race will be five days again. It is a great opportunity for sailors around the world, since a long trip will be even more worthwhile. It is most likely to go back to 4 days again in 2023. 

2. Partnership with KSSS 
The Royal Swedish Sailing Association (KSSS) has always been supportive to the Swedish F18 association in previous editions, but this year the club will formally be organising the event in partnership with the F18 association instead of the other way around. We could not be more happy about this since a World Championship is a big enterprise and KSSS will bring to the table the people, resources and skills to make this raid a world class event and championship.

3. Five more teams allowed
In order to welcome and accommodate as many teams as possible from all around the world that maximum number of teams allowed will be raised to 35 this year only. 30 places will be assigned following the regular registration procedure (to be announced later in the NoR) and 5 will be wild cards. 

4. An extra spectacular race course
With one extra day of sailing it will be possible to sail a longer course and pass all parts of the archipelago, from the South, to the far East and the very North. The four best base camps have been selected for the stop overs which will make this extra memorable to the teams. The registration and measurements will take place at KSSS in Saltsjöbaden just next to the start. The first base camp will be Rånö, the second Lökholmen/Sandhamn, the third Fejan and the fourth Nässlingen. The last day will be a shorter day with a final sprint to the finish in Stockholm.

5. Finish in the Stockholm City centre
The finish will be located in the best possible place at KSSS guest harbour in the centre of Stockholm. It means that the final stretch to the finish line will be seen by thousands of people on both sides of the harbour entrance. This is also very nice spot for friends and family to greet the teams after five tough days and to salute the winners at the price giving ceremony.

6. A new logo
The Stockholm Archipelago Raid has evolved over the years, but the somewhat sturdy Stockholm Archipelago Raid stickers and print on the t-shirts has remained the same. Time has come to update the look and feel of the logo to strengthen the brand and reflect what this raid is about. Big thanks to Roman Pixel for the great design.

However, rest assured that the winning Stockholm Archipelago concept remain the same with long days of sailing followed by sauna, good food and drinks and a place to sleep and recharge the batteries for the next day of sailing. The event is a World Championship with some of the best F18 sailors in the world. But it is open to F18 club sailors who are coming for the adventure and the thrill to sail in the amazing archipelago of Stockholm.
Registrations will open on the 16th of April and as always teams who sign up early will secure a spot and will get the best price. Stay tuned for more information.

Looking forward to seing you in Stockholm this summer.

/Lars Linder

On behalf of KSSS and the Swedish F18 association

After four days and 8 races in everything from tough conditions to light winds the Belgian team Demesmaeker/Gagliani broke the 10-year Swedish win streak since Bundock/Leeuwen won in 2011. And what an achievement that was after a catastrophic start hitting a rock with their Akurra in race one and droping the jib in race two. After that the Belgians where unstopable with one second place and the rest bullets, ending on 176 points.

The phenomenal Swedish raid experts Karlsson / Nordblom did everything right until the last day and seemed to have their 4th consecutive win within reach, but had a bad day in the light winds. After finishing 10th in the 7th race they only had a few points lead over the Belgians and lost it in the last race, 3 points behind overall. Previous years they have more than once won the raid in the last race by only a few points, but this time margins where not on their side.

The Finnish-French team Nieminen / Backes came 3rd overall after a very solid performance in all winds. They managed to avoid all the rocks with a handheld GPS (not mounted) which meant that Olivier Backes had to sail much of the race with only one hand. For sure they can sail even faster with a hands-free navigation solution.

In the mixed class Antman/Wetterling (SWE) took the lead the first day. But the Danes Hedmann Jensen/Wyon (DEN) where going faster for every day and after a 3rd place overall in race 7 they where beyond reach for the Swedes finishing on a very fine 12th place overall.

The Noordzij father and son (NED) did not manage to defend their first place they had after four races and they ended on a forth place overall.

On 5th Place the former Raid World Champion Dahl and crew Bredberg (SWE) just managed to beat the other Swedish raid specialists Linder/Brunnberg (6th place) after a bold route choice in race 7 that made them pass many teams.

All teams are to be congratulated for great sailing, good sportsmanship and making it to the finish. Welcome back next year to the F18 Raid World Championship.